StrikeIron Introduces IronCloud™: Web Services Delivery Platform
Enables data to be exposed to internal and external sources
while managing and controlling usage
Research Triangle Park, NC – April 22, 2008 – StrikeIron, Inc., the market and
technology leader in providing innovative solutions for delivering data over
the Internet, today announced the StrikeIron IronCloud™ Web Services Delivery
Platform. IronCloud is the only comprehensive Web services delivery platform
that opens up new channels for data distribution and consumption through Web
Services.
“To move at Internet speed, companies need to increasingly rely on the 'cloud'
for data storage and -- most importantly -- shared data management and
provisioning," said Dana Gardner, principal analyst at Interarbor Solutions.
"There's virtually no other way to share and manage partnered data at scale
when it comes to business ecologies and extended enterprise processes.
StrikeIron is pioneering new models for Internet data use and lifecycle by
developing the tools, platform and business models that support such managed
data in the cloud."
StrikeIron IronCloud makes it easy for companies of all sizes to externalize and
control the critical information they need to run their business. Companies can
leverage the platform to expose internal and external data, either publicly or
privately, to more effectively communicate and collaborate with employees,
customers and partners without any hardware or software to download, install or
maintain. This solution, along with the ability to integrate over 100 other
live data sources and business functions offered in the StrikeIron Marketplace
enable an organization to fully take advantage of the emerging class of Web 2.0
and cloud applications as a key competitive advantage.
"StrikeIron has pioneered new ways to access and deliver Data as a Service. We
have been pivotal in the success of delivering critical business data to over
1400 companies through our Web Services Marketplace,” said Dave Linthicum, CEO
of StrikeIron. “Now, we are bringing the same benefits that the Marketplace has
offered and delivering them to enable businesses of all types to effectively
manage and expose their data in the cloud. Customers can focus on their data,
not the infrastructure needed to deliver that data to the emerging Web."
Following are the key components of the StrikeIron IronCloud Services Delivery
Platform:
Create Custom End Points for Data Access
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Custom APIs:
StrikeIron will work with enterprises on the best ways to distribute and
integrate their data that fully incorporates an organization’s business
requirements
-
Multi-Data Source Integration:
Integrate and externalize a company’s existing data from multiple formats and
platforms, including raw data files, whether or not an API already exists.
-
Multi-Protocol Support: Expose a company’s data in popular XML
Web services protocols such as SOAP and REST for easy integration into popular
third party solutions and standards-based development
Superior Controlled Access
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Authentication:
Controlled User management and usage reporting: For secure delivery of data
-
Choice of Delivery Models:
Distribute data as private, public, free or commercial with ecommerce-based
consumption and provisioning capabilities
-
Comprehensive Account Management: Flexible security and policy
mechanisms to maintain managed control of many user accounts.
Reliable Integration Out of the Box
-
Code and IDE Integration:
Facilitate integration of data with code samples for popular languages such as
C#, VB.NET, PHP, Java, PERL and Python
-
Application Integration:
Provides “last mile integrations” into popular open platforms so an
organization’s data can be incorporated into applications already in use on a
daily basis
-
Out of the box integration with Microsoft Excel: Delivers
simple drag and dropping of externalized data sources directly into Excel for
the creation of “live” workbooks.
Managed Infrastructure, Scalable Architecture
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Real-Time Monitoring and Reporting:
Comprehensive usage and real-time operational statistics delivered via multiple
online reporting dashboards for trend discovery
-
24X7 Availability:
Leverages StrikeIron’s Web services and data distribution platform ensuring
mission-critical uptime and reliability
-
Complete User Provisioning Control:
Enabling business rules to govern access
-
”Data Services Gateway”: Provides consistent metadata, access
and integration experience so API access points are externalized using
StrikeIron Best Practices, significantly reducing adoption and usage friction
“The StrikeIron Web Services Marketplace provided the architectural foundation
for delivering XML-based Web services in a wide variety of usage scenarios over
the Web,” said Bob Brauer, president and co-founder of StrikeIron. “Now, we are
entering a new era where any business can become an innovator and take
advantage of the sophisticated infrastructure we have developed over the years
to significantly reduce the costs of delivering data within a comprehensive and
consistent platform that leverages StrikeIron’s years of expertise in managing
Data as a Service.”
About StrikeIron
StrikeIron is the leader in providing innovative solutions for delivering data
over the emerging Internet. The company’s innovative Web Services Marketplace
provides a technology platform, micro-transaction management and a consistent
interface across many XML-based Web services from multiple, diverse sources.
This allows business users, application developers and enterprise IT
professionals to customize and integrate external data sources and additional
external functionality into enterprise, Web, and composite applications.
Currently, StrikeIron provides over 100 live data sources and business
functions from organizations such as Cortera, D&B, Gale, MapQuest, Midnight Trader,
Tax Data Systems, The Sports Network, and Zacks.
StrikeIron also offers IronCloud™, the only comprehensive Web services delivery
platform that opens up new channels for data distribution and consumption
through Web Services. Enterprises of all sizes can now reduce the cost and
complexity of managing the challenges of data distribution which include
leveraging an existing external hardware and software architecture, controlling
and metering access and usage, external monitoring for 24x7 reliability, full
usage analytics, as well as multiple authentication scenarios and instead
concentrate their focus on making information easier for partners, customers,
and distributed business units to access and use. StrikeIron delivers value to
over 1,500 customers and partners such as Avaya, BEA, Delivery.com, IBM, Honda
Europe, D&B, Siemens, Nike, Swarovski, ShoeBuy, and Exclusive Resorts. For
more information, visit www.strikeiron.com.
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