For an information-centric approach to SOA, IBM is delivering industry-specific models to help clients successfully launch their SOA initiatives. The enhanced IBM Banking Information FrameWork and IBM Insurance Application Architecture models provide a set of critical processes, workflows, and activities to help organizations reengineer their business processes to implement strategic initiatives such as master data management. These IBM models, methodologies and services bring together key components to provide a single view of customer information, thereby enabling a successful SOA and enterprise master data management strategy.

Reuse capabilities are among the most highly sought after requirements in building an SOA because reuse can be up to five times less expensive than writing new applications*. IBM’s new software that focuses on enabling reuse and easier SOA management is WebSphere Application Server version 6.1 and WebSphere Commerce version 6.0.

IBM Global Services is also strengthening its SOA capabilities with new services designed for the successful creation of an SOA throughout its lifecycle – model, assemble, deploy, manage – while ensuring customers are equipped with the knowledge and skills to independently extend an SOA. These new services help customers with readiness, implementation and management of an SOA.

The services include the Infrastructure Services Readiness Engagement for SOA to help assess and ensure that the customers’ infrastructure is prepared to undergo the creation of an SOA. Next are additional IBM Design and Implementation Services for SOA including support for WebSphere middleware, DataPower appliances, and Tivoli management and security for SOA. For management, IBM now offers the IT Service Management Design for SOA, IBM Performance Management Testing for SOA, and the SOA Business Dashboard and new maintenance services for SOA.