Data integration is critical for companies that need to combine systems and databases after a merger or acquisition, or need to link legacy systems to new business applications. This need is vast throughout commercial and public industries, and the task can be daunting, especially for CIOs and IT managers of small- to medium-sized businesses, whose IT staffs and budgets may be constrained. Add to that the rise of cloud-based data integration services and the decision becomes even more confusing:

"Should we implement data integration on-premise, or choose a cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) solution provider?"

There are clear advantages to either approach, but for many SMBs, the hybrid approach -- where some data integration processes take place in one or multiple clouds and others remain behind the firewall -- is the most practical solution.
Reality Check

It's not always feasible for companies to move all their data integration functions to the cloud. Instead, some find it more practical to "dip their toes" into the cloud for a host of reasons. The trick is figuring out which toes to dip in -- or, more explicitly, which business processes to move. You want to be confident that your data integration processes will work as well in the cloud as they do on-premise. No one makes that decision without some trepidation. Choosing a cloud services provider that specializes in data integration and can meet your technical and regulatory requirements will help ensure a successful transition.

You can test the waters by moving one or more of your data integration projects to the cloud while leaving the rest on-premise. Establishing new integration processes in the cloud or moving customer-facing B2B processes to the cloud are much easier to do than moving the more complex back-office integration processes and will also provide a healthy ROI much more quickly.

The key to deciding what projects to move hinges on a slew of technical concerns, including the cost of data translation, connectivity, performance, scalability and security, all of which must be fully vetted with cloud services providers.
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