Potential Drawbacks
3. Maintenance Nightmares and Scalability Woes
The dark side of point-to-point integration often rears its head when it comes to maintenance. Each connection is a unique, custom-built entity. When one system changes, the integration needs to be tweaked. And if you have multiple point-to-point integrations, you'll be spending a lot of time keeping those connections alive, essentially playing integration whack-a-mole.
Scalability is another major concern. Imagine adding more systems to the mix. Suddenly, you're not just connecting point A to point B, but point A to B, C, D, and so on. The number of connections explodes, and your carefully crafted, simple system turns into a tangled mess of spaghetti code. This is where the "spaghetti integration" nickname comes from, and it's not a pretty sight.
Dependency is a big issue, too. Point-to-point creates very tight couplings between systems. One systems failure could potentially cause problems for the other integrated system. This tight coupling can hinder the ability to upgrade or replace individual systems without impacting others.
Security can also be a headache. Managing security across multiple custom connections is far more complex than managing it through a central integration platform. Each connection needs to be secured independently, increasing the risk of vulnerabilities. And while initially the cost can seem cheaper, the time spent patching and fixing the connections overtime will eat up the budget faster than expected.
