2007 will also see a rise in Web 2.0 technologies, despite concerns about security (see "Danger 2.0"). In particular, mashups provide a way to create new applications that draw on data stores and Web services, both inside and outside the organization's boundaries. IBM launched a set of tools for creating enterprise mashups in June, and BEA Systems plans to have its own mashup infrastructure tools available in 2007.
Mashups are popular because, by using pre-existing Web services and tools such as Ajax, developers can put these applications together much more quickly than in a conventional build. But the downsides are also significant.
Ajax toolkits don't interoperate, and Ajax's full impact on servers, desktops and network infrastructure have yet to be accounted for--an office full of employees running Ajax-enabled apps may bring systems crashing to a halt. There also are security implications. Unlike SOA, Web 2.0 technologies don't have the underlying protocols that provide security basics, such as authentication and encryption. Without tight control, Web 2.0-based applications could well violate policies or regulations by exposing sensitive data, such as personally identifiable information, to people who shouldn't be allowed to see it.
"Security concerns about the visibility of personal information, access to underlying business logic, are going to be manifested in some real exploits," said Jesse James Garrett, the man who coined the term Ajax, in a recent NWC Interview. "Somebody's going to get burned."
Network automation is gaining momentum. Here's how you can drive this powerful technology to its full potential.
Subsea cable alternatives can provide a level of comfort for those concerned about disruptions. Realistically, they will continue to play a small, but critical role in the short term.
Maintaining existing network infrastructures often incurs huge technical debt before newer technologies are adopted over time.
