ARMONK, NY–( EMWNews – April 8, 2008) – IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced new services and

advanced tools to help customers better focus on the crucial architectural

decisions when implementing a service oriented architecture (SOA).

A recent study of SOA engagements by the IBM Academy of Technology found

that the chief cause for difficulty among clients in implementing SOA is

the lack of emphasis on getting the right architecture blueprint in place

with an eye to future growth.

To address the challenge, IBM is introducing:

--  The Infrastructure Architecture Healthcheck for SOA - The new

    healthcheck service provides readiness assessments for the infrastructure

    architecture -- one for those about to start a SOA project and one for

    those who are extending their SOA environment. This will help clients look

    at both the functional and non-functional requirements for their

    infrastructure using "what-if" scenarios provided by the Performance and

    Capacity Evaluation Service (PACES) running on an IBM cloud computing

    platform and SOA PARA-medic.

--  SOA Architecture Decision Accelerator - Leveraging new Web 2.0 tools

    developed with IBM research, new decision models help our service

    practitioners speed planning with documented best practices. A client

    version with templates for people to download and use is also available to

    help architects ensure they have the right blueprint.

--  Infrastructure Events Management and Monitoring - A new service that

    provides clients with a full end-to-end view of the environment -- what's

    going on in the infrastructure and what issues may need to be addressed in

    real time.

--  Automated Testing Facility for SOA - Enables clients to automate the

    provisioning of testing equipment and validation of new services. The

    facility can help reduce manual tasks, eliminate common mistakes and deploy

    services faster. It also provides clients with a view of possible impacts

    to the infrastructure ahead of deployment.

--  IBM SOA Integration Services - Enhanced services for process integrity

    that can provide a cohesive SOA across the enterprise. IBM SOA Integration

    Services pull together components from multiple vendors and enable them to

    work as a single system. IBM experts can provide implementation support for

    any SOA deployment from pilot projects to complex engagements across the

    full enterprise.

    

“We’ve learned how to help build a successful SOA by checking the fitness

all through the journey,” said Liz Smith, general ganager, IBM Global

Technology Services. “In stressing the architecture first, IBM can help

clients avoid potential difficulties in the strengthening of their SOA.”

IBM’s years of experience with more than 6,500 SOA implementations have

shown clients often face similar challenges in implementing a successful

SOA architecture. They include:

--  Ensuring their architecture is able to handle major changes in demands

    on infrastructure after implementing SOA.

--  Melding business goals with IT goals to enable future growth.

--  Build on the skills, culture and management systems that exist within

    their business today and what is planned for the future.

--  Maintaining end-to-end operational visibility.

--  Ensuring scalability and process integrity.

    

Following these lessons helps IBM ensure clients can realize the potential

of SOA.

For more information about IBM, visit www.IBM.com