Jason Bloomberg on ESB usage

Yes, using an ESB can introduce a single point of failure, but that's like saying a circular saw can cut off your finger. Any powerful tool can be used improperly, but that's not necessarily the fault of the tool. The trick to using an ESB as part of a SOA initiative is to make sure the architecture drives the technology. It's more about knowing how to use the ESB -- and how not to use it -- than it is about whether or not to use the tool in the first place.