Service-Oriented Network Architecture (SONA) is an ongoing architectural framework that supports emerging technologies, IT strategies, and initiatives. As shown below in Figure 1.1, SONA is a three-layer model:
Figure 1.1 – SONA Three-Layer Model
The physical infrastructure, which is also referred to as the network infrastructure layer, is the bottom layer. This is where the servers, storage, and clients are located and it includes different modular design areas (e.g., WAN, Enterprise Edge, Enterprise Campus, branch, data center, and teleworker). The middle layer, which consists of an interactive services layer and management of the services, houses common core services:
- Real-time communications
- Mobility services
- Storage services
- Application delivery
- Management services
- Virtualization technology
- Transport services
The top layer forms the middleware and applications platform, which includes the following:
- Commercial applications
- In-house developed applications
- Software as a service (SaaS)
- Composite applications:
- Product lifecycle management (PLM)
- Customer relationship management (CRM)
- Enterprise resource planning (ERP)
- Human capital management (HCM)
- Supply chain management (SCM)
- Procurement applications
- Collaboration applications (e.g., Instant Messaging, IP contact center, and video delivery)
All of these components work together as an architectural framework, with the following advantages:
- Functionality
- Supports Enterprise operational requirements
- Scalability
- Expansion and growth of organizational tasks, as it separates the functions into layers and components
- Facilitates mergers and acquisitions
- Modularity
- Hierarchical design that allows network resources to be easily added during times of growth
- Availability of services from any location in the Enterprise, at any time.
The SONA network is built from the ground up with redundancy and resiliency to prevent network downtime. The goal of SONA is to provide high performance, fast response times, and throughput by ensuring Quality of Service (QoS) on an application-by-application basis. The SONA network is configured to maximize the throughput of all critical applications, such as voice and video. SONA also provides built-in manageability, configuration management, performance monitoring, fault detection, and analysis tools, in addition to an efficient design with the goals of reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO) and maximizing the company’s existing resources when the application demands increase.