Service-oriented architectures (SOA) are all the rage, but they don't manage themselves. Developing a governance model should be the first thing on the list. SOA governance is the process of determining how to create SOA-based services that conform to business standards. Right now there is very little understanding that SOA governance is an important enabler that makes SOA safe for business. The well-meaning practitioners are simply unaware that SOA needs to be managed both as part of IT governance and as a subset of corporate governance. This understanding does not happen without a set policy and set of best practices and an appropriate business process to manage it.

SOA governance is an essential element to making SOA safe.

Learn more about SOA governance:
- read the article at IT-Director.com

ALSO:
- read this blog on five things to consider when beginning an SOA project
- and this about taking it slow with SOA deployments