Composable Architecture: Build Flexible IT for Modern Challenges

Composable Architecture
Composable Architecture: Build Flexible IT for Modern Challenges

Ali Akthar

Middleware Practice Head

August 26, 2024

Implement Composable Architecture for Flexibility

Introduction to Composable Architecture

In an era of rapid technological advancements and unpredictable economic conditions, businesses must evolve, and IT systems must adapt to remain competitive. This adaptation can be disruptive, costly, and time-consuming, but businesses can navigate uncertainty more effectively by designing IT systems for easy adaptation. Composable Architecture offers a solution by applying modularity, composability, and reusability principles, enabling organizations to build flexible, agile, and adaptable IT systems.

Change is the New Normal

Economic uncertainty has risen due to various external factors, such as the pandemic, supply chain disruptions, geopolitical conflicts, and climate change. Businesses need IT systems like composable business architecture (CBA) that can quickly adapt to these changes. Traditional IT systems are often rigid, making adaptation difficult and slow. Preparing for change involves:

  • Creating flexible systems that can handle multiple scenarios.
  • Avoiding rigidity in system design.
  • Focusing on flexibility to adapt without significant disruption.
Watch our video where we discuss the future of digital architecture- Headless vs MACH vs Composable Architecture.  

The Challenge of Implementing Composable Architecture

Composable Architecture

While the benefits of Composable Business Architecture can be conceptually achieved, many practical challenges remain managing multi-cloud environments, hybrid cloud and on-premises setups, bridging the gap between business IT teams and corporate IT teams, and ensuring proper governance. Organizations need robust platforms, infrastructure, and technology support to overcome these challenges. Royal Cyber understands these challenges and provides robust platforms, infrastructure, and technology support solutions.

Why Companies Need Composable Architecture

In nature, flexible structures like bamboo withstand storms better than rigid ones like trees. Similarly, IT architectures should avoid rigidity and aim for flexibility to handle changes effectively. Building flexible architecture from the start, using composable architecture, can help businesses adapt to changing needs more efficiently. Royal Cyber advocates for building flexible systems, using composable architectures to help businesses adapt to changing needs more efficiently.

Principles for Flexible Architectures and Dealing with Change

To create flexible architectures, consider the following principles:
  • Modularity and Composability: Decompose systems into modules with high cohesion and weak coupling, representing them as APIs, events, and data.
  • Scalability of the Cloud: Utilize cloud-based platforms for flexibility and scalability, deploying components as needed in local regions or on-premises.
  • Democratization of Digital Solutions: Allow business-IT teams to create digital solutions with AI support while maintaining governance to manage complexity.

Implementing the Lego Principle for Composable Architecture

Modern enterprise IT landscapes are heterogeneous, comprising various cloud and on-premises applications. To achieve flexibility, data and functionality must be accessible as modules, typically via APIs exposed from any API Gateway such as webMethods.io, MuleSoft, IBM API Connect, Apigee, etc. A Super iPaaS platform can help create, manage, and govern these APIs, turning the system landscape into a platform that IT teams can build on. This platform supports three personas:
  • API Developer: Creates APIs and provides them as building blocks.
  • API Consumer: Uses APIs to solve business needs quickly and efficiently.
  • Platform Operator: Manages the platform infrastructure, ensuring governance and security.

Democratization of Access to Data and Capabilities

Traditionally, central corporate IT creates IT solutions, but this approach often leads to bottlenecks. IT teams within business units can take on digitization projects, offering closer alignment with business needs and quicker turnaround times. Collaboration between Corporate IT and Business IT is essential, with Corporate IT providing a safe platform and Business IT innovating. A Super iPaaS facilitates this collaboration by offering a secure and efficient platform for building integrations.

A Super iPaaS is the safe platform for Business IT to quickly and safely build integrations that Corporate IT can run and operate. Business IT can reach its goals quickly with a visual representation, predefined connectors, and AI support. Corporate IT operates the Super iPaaS platform, ensures seamless connectivity to cloud and on-prem resources, curates the available connectors, and watches out for IT security..

Embracing the Cloud

Many organizations move parts of their systems to the cloud for scalability and elasticity, often resulting in a hybrid landscape. This scenario presents challenges such as developing multiple deployment environments and maintaining an overview of deployed APIs and integrations. A Super iPaaS addresses these challenges with features like an independent control plane and develop-once-publish-anywhere capabilities, making hybrid and multi-cloud environments manageable.

Avoiding Accidental Complexity

Using the wrong tools for composable architecture introduces accidental complexity. Essential complexity is inherent to the problem, while accidental complexity arises from improper tools. A suitable iPaaS platform like MuleSoft, webMethods.io, Apigee, IBM API Connect helps avoid accidental complexity, providing a solid foundation for composable business architecture.

Conclusion

Change and disruption are inevitable, but they become problematic only when met with rigidity. Organizations that embrace the principles of composable business architecture can transform these challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth. Composable architecture empowers businesses to adapt swiftly and thrive in an ever-changing environment.

By adopting composable architectures, organizations can achieve the following benefits:
  • Enhanced Agility: Businesses can respond quickly to market changes, new opportunities, and unforeseen disruptions.
  • Cost Efficiency: Reusable components and modular systems reduce the costs associated with extensive system overhauls.
  • Scalability: Systems can be scaled up or down based on demand without significant reconfiguration.
  • Innovation: Teams can experiment with new ideas and technologies, leading to continuous improvement and innovation.
  • Collaboration: Seamless collaboration between Corporate IT and Business IT fosters a culture of innovation and efficiency.
Royal Cyber is dedicated to helping organizations leverage the power of composable business architecture and ensure they are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of today’s dynamic business environment. To learn more, contact us at [email protected].
Author

Harini Krishnamurthy

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