This document discusses architecting a mobile solution using Microsoft Azure and Akana. It provides an overview of Akana and its unified SOA and API platform. It then describes a mobile platform project for a major US grocery chain to increase loyalty and sales through a mobile app. The technical goals and benefits of using Microsoft Azure and Akana's platform are outlined. The architecture reviewed includes data flow, on-premise systems, partner integrations, Azure services used, business logic, the API gateway, and mobile clients. It concludes with patterns and best practices for the architecture.

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Architecting Mobile
Solutions Using
Microsoft Azure
and Akana

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Agenda
• About Akana
• Mobile Platform Project Overview
• Architecture Review
• Patterns and Best Practices
• Q & A

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About Akana
• Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
– Managed Partner
– High Potential ISV
– Microsoft MTC presence worldwide
• Unified SOA and API Platform
– One Platform for both SOA and API
– Built for the Microsoft platform
– Full lifecycle management
– Integrated runtime support
• Rich Microsoft platform support
– Microsoft Azure
– BizTalk Server
– SQL Server
– Internet Information Services (IIS)
– Windows Communication
Foundation (WCF)

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The Unified SOA & API Platform
Analytics
Developer
Engagement
Gateway
Services
Service
Integration
Lifecycle
Management

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Mobile Platform Project Overview
• Mobile initiative for major US retail grocery chain
• Goal is to build a mobile platform to create new digital
customer relationship channels
• Initial features include store content, coupons, loyalty
program, and fuel discount program
• Business objective is to increase store sales through
increased loyalty, communication, and positive digital
experiences

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Mobile Platform Technical Goals
• Rich partner, application, and on-premise integration
• Support for mobile standards – JSON, REST, OAuth, HTTP
• Support for heterogeneous technology – Microsoft,
IBM, cloud
• Strong service management capabilities
• Rapid, cost effective time to value

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Microsoft Azure and SOA Software Benefits
• Cloud-based integration for agility, cost effectiveness
• Rich vendor product strategy and feature set to support
customer roadmap
• Heterogeneous technology support
• Rich service management features including security,
mediation, monitoring and metrics, orchestration, service
catalog

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Architecture Review

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Architecture Review – Data Flow

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Architecture Review – On Premise
• Critical backend systems for customer and other data
• IBM based information systems
• API Gateway for DMZ security and on-premise
management

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Architecture Review – Partners
• Rich partner ecosystem to support
critical content and business
functionality
• Majority REST based integration
• Cloud based services for rapid
integration and time to value
• Accessed via both orchestration
and business logic based on use
case

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Architecture Review – Azure Services
• Azure services providing core
platform technology to drive
solution
• Azure VMs for compute power
• Azure AD and traditional AD for
security
• Worker Roles for auto scaling
business logic
• Table Storage for security federation
and transactional lookups

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Architecture Review – Business Logic
• Business logic built on
NET.TCP and .NET
• Integration with backend
and some third party
partners

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Architecture Review – API Gateway
• API Gateway provides entry point to solution
• Orchestration drives integration with partners and
business logic
• Security key for both inbound and outbound

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Architecture Review – Mobile
• Support for standard mobile platforms
• REST / JSON / OAuth access via Gateway

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Architecture Review

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Patterns and Best Practices
• Clearly define interfaces and schemas at all tiers
– Data
– Service
• Ensure appropriate security over entire life of
transaction
• Anticipate mediation at all tier entries and exits
• Use the right technology to fit the needs of each tier

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Patterns and Best Practices (cont.)
• Clearly delineate environments (dev, QA, prod)
• Ensure all tiers support your target service levels
and goals
– Latency
– Throughput
– Uptime
– Peak load
– Scalability

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Questions?
akana.com/microsoft