SOA Software Attains Microsoft Gold ISV Certification

Microsoft and SOA Software Strategy provides Full SOA and API Lifecycle Governance

Los Angeles, CA – – SOA Software, a leading provider of Enterprise API Management and SOA Governance solutions, today announced that it has been recertified with Gold Independent Software Vendor (ISV)/Software Competency in the Microsoft Partner Network. As the technologies and strategies of the two companies evolve, SOA Software’s full lifecycle governance of service-oriented architecture (SOA) and APIs is proving to be an excellent fit for Microsoft’s cloud/on-premise hybrid strategy.

“Microsoft’s emphasis on cloud/on-premise hybrids intensifies the need for governance of Web services at every phase of the SOA/API lifecycle,” said Roberto Medrano, Executive VP of SOA Software. “Organizations that are extending their on-premise Microsoft-based SOA solution into the cloud invariably find that the openness of the cloud creates pressure to control Web services without reducing the agility of the overall system. That’s where we can help.”

Microsoft’s concerted push into the cloud, which stresses the advantages of creating hybrid cloud/on-premise solutions, has gained momentum in the last year. New offerings such as Office 365 and Windows Server 2012 leverage a combination of cloud and on-premise IT resources for enterprise benefit. Microsoft stalwarts such as Dynamics CRM are showcasing customer success with cloud/on-premise hybrids that offer unique return on investment by stretching existing infrastructure into new, flexible configurations.

The expansion of connectivity and points of origin for APIs and Web services in the Microsoft cloud/on-premise model creates fresh governance challenges, however. More points of policy definition and enforcement result in more opportunities for governance policies to fall apart, raising risk across SOA and API programs. SOA Software’s API & SOA governance suite for Microsoft offers a solution, enabling enterprises to manage all services, regardless of whether they are Microsoft-based or not, cloud-based or on-premise, across the complete service lifecycle. SOA Software’s Portfolio Manager enables governance of public cloud/private cloud/on-premise Microsoft Web services at the architecture planning stage. SOA Software Lifecycle Manager provides governance and policy definition for the development stage of the lifecycle, integrating with Microsoft Visual Studio, and Team Foundation Server. At runtime, SOA Software Service Manager and Policy Manager provide monitoring, management and policy enforcement for services running on Microsoft IIS & BizTalk Server as well as on Windows Communication Foundation (WCF). For more information about SOA Software’s solutions for Microsoft, please visit www.soa.com/microsoft.

Organizations accredited with the Gold Partner status are among an elite group of companies that have proven to be experts in providing customers with quality solutions. As a trusted Microsoft Gold Partner, SOA Software receives enhanced support from Microsoft and has access to a multitude of partner-exclusive resources. To earn a Microsoft Gold Competency, organizations must complete a rigorous set of tests to prove their level of technology expertise, have the right number of Microsoft Certified Professionals, submit customer references and demonstrate their commitment to customer satisfaction by participating in an annual survey. The Microsoft Gold Competency signifies to the market that a company has demonstrated the highest level of skill and achievement within a given technology specialization. All 28 Microsoft competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner’s specific technology capabilities, helping customers find solution providers quickly and easily. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the industry.

The Microsoft Partner Network is designed to equip organizations that deliver products and services based on the Microsoft platform with the training, resources and support they need to provide their customers a superior experience and consistently successful outcomes. Through the Microsoft Independent Software Vendor (ISV)/Software competency, a firm can gain access to the latest technology, market opportunities, and sales and marketing resources that have been specifically created with ISVs in mind. From planning the development cycle to supporting customers, firms will have the tools and resources they need to build innovative solutions and bring them to market.

About SOA Software
SOA Software is a leading provider of Enterprise API Management and SOA governance products that enable customers to plan, build, run and share enterprise services and APIs. The world’s largest companies including Bank of America, Pfizer, and Verizon use SOA Software products to harness the power of their technology and transform their businesses. Gartner placed SOA Software in the Leaders Quadrant for the 2011 “Magic Quadrant for SOA Governance Technologies.” The company is also recognized as a “Leader” by the Forrester Research Waves for Integrated SOA Governance , SOA Management, and SOA Life Cycle Management. For more information, please visit http://www.soa.com.