WebSphere Application Server V7.0: Concepts ... - IBM Redbooks

► Security has been enhanced with the adoption of OASIS (Organization for the
Advancement of Structured Information Standards) WS-SecureConversation
1.2.
► Enterprise Java Bean (EJB) 3.0 components may now be exposed as
JAX-WS Web services.
► The Integrated Solutions Console has been improved with enhanced support
to policy sets, application bindings, and endpoints management.
► Enhanced Configuration Archive support for Web services specific metadata
(policy sets, policy types, and bindings) has been added.
11.3 Important aspects in using Web services
There are some business and technical aspects that need to be considered
when deciding to use Web services. The following questions represent the types
of strategic thinking that needs to happen if you want to provide or use Web
services:
► Do you have business functionality that is common and can be shared?
The typical reason to use a Web service is to save time and effort by reusing
existing infrastructure. Over time, this enables the entire IT infrastructure of an
enterprise to reduce redundancy and consist of mature, well-tested
components. Does your application have this sort of functionality? Can you
reduce the complexity of your application by using other Web services?
► Do you need a more consumable interface to existing exposed function?
Web services can be used as an easier way to expose application programing
interfaces (APIs) to consumers. Wrapping existing APIs in Web services
provides a more friendly interface to them.
► What business functionality do you want to expose to external parties?
You have the option to expose as much or as little of your application as you
want. This can range from single business functions exposed as services to
the entire application wrapped up as a single Web service. It largely depends
on your business strategy. There are no technical constraints. Does the
architecture of your application allow individual business functions to be
exposed in this manner?
Chapter 11. Web services 361