IBM extends SOA offerings

IBM has announced new offerings which it claims will help customers deploy service-oriented architecture (SOA) technologies more easily.

The programme include a mix of advice, measurement tools, trial environments, training and integration solutions.

A SmartSOA sandbox will allow customers to check SOA applications before they are released into full production by providing a hosted environment. Customers can test IBM middleware without having to install it locally.

To simplify SOA deployments, and the integration between existing web services and legacy applications, the firm has launched QuickStart for WebSphere DataPower. This will link WebSphere DataPower SOA Appliances with services from IBM Global Technology Services.

A new file transfer service called WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition claims to ease the transfer of files for customers moving from a traditional infrastructure to SOA, ensuring customers need to think about regulation requirements only once.

IBM's Internet Security Systems division has unveiled new Identity Assessment and Strategy Services to help organisations generate a roadmap once SOA technology has been deployed. A good roadmap gives organisations enhanced regulatory compliance, greater security and reduced costs, according to IBM.

New Tivoli Security Compliance Policy Manager software will provide customers with a unified SOA security policy, said the firm, while other software released today called InfoSphere Foundational Tools will help customers locate key data stored across architectures.

IBM will offer industry-specific analysis on SOA strategies compiled in a module called SmartBusiness Insight, and will try and bring customers together to talk about SOA deployment challenges with the launch of a Smart SOA Social Network.

IBM has updated its training on SOA infrastructures, which now include more role-based and inter-disciplinary features.

Additionally IBM customers will be able to calculate how quickly they react to change in targeted areas with the availability of Key Agility Indicators.

"It's how quickly they can alter their business processes in response to changing drivers in the marketplace," said Tami Cannizzaro, director of SOA at IBM.

"Examples include time taken to add a vendor to a supply chain, time taken to change a claims policy, and time taken to respond to business events.

"Key Agility Indicators are meant to complement rather than replace traditional key performance indicators."