BEA boosts .NET interoperability with SOA tools

Middleware giant BEA Systems today continued its push into service-oriented architecture (SOA) tools by launching a new version of its AquaLogic Data Services Platform  with enhanced auditing capabilities and improved interoperability with .NET-based applications.

The Data Services Platform forms a key part of BEA's AquaLogic portfolio of SOA management software by helping developers automate the process of service-enabling data so that it can be used to build composite applications.

Until now the platform's usefulness in delivering data to SOAs built across heterogeneous IT environments has arguably been limited by its focus on Java-based systems - a situation BEA is now attempting to rectify with tooling designed to provide interoperability with .NET applications.

"This functionality represents a key step in allowing data to flow freely throughout the enterprise, and it’s an important cornerstone of an SOA implementation,” said Sanjeev Kumar, unit executive at BEA’s AquaLogic Data Business Unit. “In addition, AquaLogic Data Services Platform 2.1 can make it easier to choose an IT infrastructure that includes .NET and Java applications.”

The update also features a new Audit Framework to give firms enhanced visibility over their SOA environment. BEA said the ability to audit events across an SOA would help firms to comply with regulations by giving managers greater control over user access and would help them to track performance against service-level agreements.