SOA vs OIC, which solution should you choose?

Organizations are faced with strategic choices about how to build and manage their IT architectures, in order to optimize data interconnection and streamline business activities. Oracle Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA Suite) and Oracle Integration Cloud Service (OIC ) are two solutions designed to improve the agility, scalability and interconnection of enterprise systems.

This article presents the features ofOracle SOA Suite and OIC(SOA vs. OIC), as well as the key differences between these two solutions, so you can choose the approach best suited to your company.

What is Oracle Service Oriented Architecture Suite (SOA)?

SOA is an architectural approach that organizes a company’s IT systems around services. These services are autonomous, independent, reusable by several applications, and each represents a specific business function (e.g. payroll).

Services communicate with each other via standardized protocols such as SOAP or REST. Oracle SOA Suite is a middleware that enables several systems or applications to communicate with each other.

Oracle SOA Suite is a solution for companies looking to implement a service-oriented architecture. It offers all the management features needed to integrate, orchestrate and monitor services within a complex enterprise environment.

Key Oracle SOA features

The key principles of SOA are :

modularity, independence and decoupling: Applications are decomposed into autonomous services, each with a well-defined function. These services are deployed and maintained independently. Services are loosely coupled, i.e. they minimize the dependencies between them; this improves the flexibility, maintainability and resilience of the system as a whole.

Interoperability: services communicate with each other via well-defined interfaces, using standardized communication protocols such as HTTP, SOAP or REST. This enables services developed in different languages and platforms to work together.

Reusability A service can be used by several applications, reducing redundancy and increasing the efficiency of software development.

Discovery and Publication Services can be published in registries where they are used by other services or applications, making it easier to manage the services available. SOA is often used in complex enterprise environments where heterogeneous systems need to work together. For example, to integrate systems with new applications, develop modular applications and orchestrate business processes via a service-oriented architecture.

Things to remember for SOA

• SOA is an architectural approach based on complete, autonomous services
• Services are reusable and communicate via standardized protocols
• Particularly suited to complex corporate environments
• Advanced integration capabilities via middleware

What is Oracle Integration Cloud (OIC)?

OIC is an integration platform as a service (iPaaS) designed to connect on-premise and cloud applications, automate business processes and facilitate data exchange between different sources. As a service, OIC offers a more agile and scalable approach to enterprise systems integration.

Key features of Oracle Integration Cloud

Application connection OIC makes it easy to connect to popular SaaS (Software as a Service) applications such as Oracle ERP Cloud and Salesforce via pre-built adapters.

Data exchange OIC provides functionalities for exchanging and transforming data between different sources, including Cloud applications.

Business Process Automation Oracle Integration Cloud offers an intuitive interface and drag-and-drop functionality for modeling, automating and monitoring complex business processes.

API managementOIC enables companies to publish and consume APIs securely and efficiently, with tools for creating, managing, securing and monitoring APIs.

Oracle Visual Builder Service (VBCS): this low-code tool lets you develop web and mobile applications connected toOracle Integration Cloud services.

OIC is a comprehensive, easy-to-use solution for companies wishing to simplify their application, data and business process connections. It enables systems to be connected quickly and efficiently, while offering the flexibility and scalability of a Cloud solution.

To remember for OIC

• OIC is an iPaaS platform for connecting On-premise and Cloud applications
• Intuitive & agile interface for enterprise systems integration
• Includes Oracle Visual Builder Service for low-code development
• Pre-built adapters for SaaS applications

SOA vs OIC: What are the differences?

Deployment method

Oracle SOA is most often deployed on-premise, enabling complete infrastructure management. This is attractive for companies wishing to keep integration solutions within their own infrastructure, or who have data localization requirements. However, Oracle SOA requires specialized expertise to install, configure and maintain the suite and hardware.

In comparison, there’s no need to manage the underlying infrastructure, which makes it simpler to deploy.

However, this entails a dependence on the Cloud and possible performance problems depending on the location of users.

Ease of use

Oracle SOA Suite is ideally suited to the development of complex integrations, thanks to an environment offering greater control over integrations. Developments require more technical expertise, as the environment is more difficult to get to grips with.

Oracle Integration Cloud, meanwhile, offers a more accessible environment favoring no-code or reduced-code approaches. This enables less technical users to participate in the merger process, and facilitates communication between IT and sales teams.

Adapters

Oracle SOA offers comprehensive adapters for integration with on-premise and cloud applications and services. This enables SOA to meet the complex unification needs of companies using diverse technologies.

OIC promotes connectivity with applications, offering pre-built adapters for popular applications and services. This simplifies and reduces development time for connecting different systems.

Performance and scalability

The scalability ofOracle SOA Suite depends on the hardware and infrastructure used. This can have an impact on performance if services are not optimized, especially in high-load environments.

OIC takes advantage of the flexible nature of the cloud to allocate resources dynamically. This makes it possible to adapt the resources used to business growth within the limits offered by the Cloud.

Costs

To use Oracle SOA technology, you need to factor in licensing, infrastructure and maintenance costs. This model involves a significant initial investment (CAPEX), followed by infrastructure maintenance costs. It is also possible to pay for a subscription only when using Oracle SOA Suite on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).

OIC technology offers the advantage of paying for resources and services consumed, thanks to subscription plans (OPEX). This means you can get up and running very quickly, without any major initial investment. However, service usage must be carefully monitored to optimize load and costs.

Decision support – SOA Suite vs OIC: Which solution is right for your company?

To help you make the right decision, we’ve summarized the key elements that will help you choose the solution best suited to your context.

This comparative analysis focuses on three key areas: user and company profile, business implications, and specific use cases. Find out below which tool best meets your needs.

For whom?

Oracle SOA Suite

• CIOs and architects managing complex systems
• IT teams with advanced technical expertise
• Companies wishing to manage their infrastructure

Oracle Integration Cloud

• IT managers looking for agility and speed in projects
• Mixed IT/business teams
• Companies undergoing digital transformation Cloud

Considerations

Oracle SOA Suite

• Requires a dedicated technical team
• Suitable for large-scale integration projects
• Ideal for companies with strict regulatory constraints

Oracle Integration Cloud

• Quick project start-up
• Lower infrastructure costs
• Faster ROI on integration projects

Cas of use

Oracle SOA Suite

• Complex B2B integrations
• Orchestration of reusable services in different business processes
• Projects requiring total data control

Oracle Integration Cloud

• Cloud integrations
• Fast connections between SaaS applications
• Projects requiring agile deployment

Conclusion: Oracle SOA vs. Oracle Integration Cloud

In conclusion, the choice between SOA and Oracle Integration Cloud depends on the company’s specific needs, existing infrastructure and IT strategy.

Oracle SOA Suite, as middleware, promotes the merging of systems via reusable services, but may require more manual infrastructure management and technical expertise. It’s a sound approach for organizations that need to retain their internal systems.

Oracle Integration Cloud, on the other hand, as iPaaS, promotes agility and scalability, ease of use and reduced infrastructure management costs. In comparison, it is suitable for companies migrating to a multi-Cloud environment, as it enables SaaS applications to be connected rapidly.

Contact us to help you choose between SOA and OIC, to ensure the long-term success of your integrations.