What is Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)? Few in IT have a solid definition of the concept, given the many products and vendors that misbrand using the SOA label. This research will define and outline its most compelling business benefits. Find out why a number of enterprises are turning to SOA as the guiding principle when creating mission critical applications and processes. Adopting and building SOA can be complex and expensive. Keep the SOA initiative on track by focusing on the long-term benefits (such as increased business flexibility and IT asset reuse) and planning for the common challenges outlined in this research.