Information as a Service
Information as a Service (IaaS) is a concept coined and explained mainly by Forrester and others which is described as a strategy for introducing integrated Data Services as a part of a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) in a way that the whole ecosystem of applications feeding from that architecture can exploit the advantages of this data.
Information-as-a-service (IaaS) is a comprehensive strategy for the delivery of information obtained from information services, following a consistent approach using SOA infrastructure and/or Internet standards. The information delivered May Be required to conform to a common information model.
An information service provides a simplified, integrated view of real-time, high-quality information AbOUT a specific business entity, such as a customer or product. Information is provided in the form needed, including XML, SQL tables, or files. Information is often delivered through SOA infrastructure.
This approach provides:
- A means for applications to benefit from elaborate, filtered, integrated and/or strategic Business Intelligence-oriented data without the need to build on the specific integration or BI infrastructure itself.
- A potential reduction in costs thanks to reusability of data services and schemas across the ecosystem.
No exact definition or vision of this concept currently exists in the software market, but defines the core building blocks of IaaS as:
- 1. Virtual Data Access & Federation.
- 2. Virtual Data Placement & Management.
- 3. Virtual Runtime Management.
This approach also has a strong relation to Master Data Management.
See also
- Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)
- Data Integration
- Data Virtualization
- Web integration
Primary vendors
Per a 2010 study by Forrester Research.
- IBM
- Informatica
- Composite Software
- Denodo
- Microsoft
- Red Hat