SOC 2 Definitions 1 slide-18

Service Characteristics

A "simple" server or service produces exactly one output per request: e.g. a stock quote server.

A "persistent" server or service may produce multiple outputs per request: e.g., an RSS server.

For many services, we assume they behave like a mathematical function: if we know the request inputs, we can predict the output.
E.g. if we know the postscript file, we know what the printer will print.

"Afunctional" servers and services behave more like a black box from the standpoint of the client. E.g., when one calls a web server with a URL, one does not know the current state of the web page, or even if one will be returned.

The agreement between the server and client need not be explicit. There may be expectations based upon assumptions and or there may be an explicit description of the service.

The request consists of some kind of communication signal, such as the wave of a hand, and may be ongoing, such as a subscription.

We now describe how CIT services are used within an SOA motivating formal descriptions of such services consistent with these informal ones.