The rise of cloud computing outside of a network's firewall has helped lead a comeback for application integration, David Linthicum recently wrote on InfoWorld. He said he finds it funny that many companies think integration is something new.

"This cloud-driven integration need is an opportunity for most enterprises," Linthicum said. "Many in IT have not done a good job in linking systems over the years, which would have allowed them to share behavior, transactions, and most important, data. Through the rise of the web, ERP, CRM, and even cloud-based systems, we've been building more silos, largely without a sound integration strategy."

Cloud computing is changing all of this, as data outisde of the firewall needs to be able to sync up with in-house data to have the best value. With this in mind, he said many companies are giving new thoughts to their old integration strategies or trying to create new ones.

In another InfoWorld article, Linthicum wrote businesses considering a move to the cloud should first evaluate their needs and how the technology can best serve them. When it comes to integration, companies should look for vendors that will provide guidance and support during the process, to ensure a seamless transition.