We are living in a “connected everything” world, where users look for integrated experiences and workflows across networks, devices, mediums, and touchpoints. Thus, applications and software have to provide an integrated view of the users’ world to stay relevant. It means that the ability to integrate data, services, and events across systems, whether on-premises or cloud, has become a critical need. Enter, the “middleware platform” in the form of enterprise service bus (ESB) and API gateway. Some of these platforms are also provided as iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) on the cloud.
Multiple such integration platforms are vying for the top spot, and MuleSoft has been one of the rising stars. MuleSoft has recently been named a Magic Quadrant Leader by Gartner [1], and is recognized as one of the thought leaders in the API-led connectivity domain.
Let us look at some of the critical areas that current middleware and iPaaS solutions need to cover, and see how MuleSoft addresses them:
Cloud
Today’s solutions need to be cloud-ready and architected-for-the-cloud, and MuleSoft can claim to be both. MuleSoft is designed from ground-up to be able to connect services across cloud-to-cloud and on-premises-to-cloud situations. MuleSoft’s “Anytime Runtime Fabric”, users can reap the benefits of Kubernetes and Docker to deploy to AWS, Azure or on-premises. And now, with “CloudHub” it provides a global, fully managed, multi-tenanted and highly available platform for APIs and integrations, ensuring 99.99% uptime.
Reusability
MuleSoft has taken a robust stance on reusability by creating a marketplace for pre-built integration assets, including APIs, connectors, templates, and examples. It means that teams need not spend time on designing and building APIs for most of the common services on the web. It also means that a business can build and publish its own reusable assets that can then be used across various divisions, functions, and teams, thus reducing replication, improving governance and standardization and improving efficiency.
API Networks
The “connected everything” enterprise today needs a complex network of APIs to ensure all its integration needs are met. Not only does this require a middleware fabric on which to build the network, it also means that effective tools for managing, monitoring, and securing such networks become critical. MuleSoft has all these areas covered. The “Anypoint Design Center” provides the ability to design and build the network faster using a semi-visual interface, while the “Anypoint Management Center” provides deep visibility into the health of the network and allows engineers to diagnose issues. “Anypoint Security” provides security at every layer of the network, with in-built compliance for common security standards like ISO 27001, PCI DSS, SOC 2 and GDPR. It also allows for multi-level security and authorization policies providing both broad and granular control. Thus, the MuleSoft “Anypoint” platform has everything needed for a complex API network for a modern inter-connected, digital, globally accessible application.
Time to Market
As always, any transformational change needs to meet the “Time to Market” test, and the move to an API-driven, integrated system is no different. Many such projects fall by the wayside due to lack of resources to finish within time, so productivity and speed are essential for business success. MuleSoft’s combination of a unified platform, visual tools and workbenches, simplified integration runtime, support for the full development and testing lifecycle, and availability of reusable ensures that integration projects can highly efficient and agile. MuleSoft claims [2] 3X faster delivery and 70% higher productivity for app dev teams, resulting in faster time to market.
If you are looking for a market-leading integration solution that meets your business needs, MuleSoft should definitely be on your radar. Their success in the market and their 94% customer satisfaction claim seem to indicate that they are delivering on the tagline – “Connect anything. Change everything”.
What Next?
Tavant, MuleSoft’s partner and reseller, works closely with MuleSoft to offer solutions that allow enterprises to quickly and efficiently design, build, and manage their APIs, applications, and products. Tavant has a robust MuleSoft COE with core practice areas of financial services, aftermarkets, and media & ad tech. To gain more insights, reach out to us at [email protected].
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