IBM extends SOA offerings

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

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 out 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 will ease the transfer of files for customers moving from a traditional infrastructure to SOA, ensuring customers only need to think about regulation requirements once.

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

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

IBM will offer customers 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 new network called Smart SOA Social Network.

IBM has updated its training on SOA infrastructures, now including 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 (KAIs).

“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 when changing a claims policy and time it takes to respond to business events. KAIs are meant to complement rather than replace traditional key performance indicators or KPIs."