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Here are the top 5 strategic factors that customers must consider while choosing a new XML Gateway appliance as
replacement for their existing technology:
Select a patented product or face replacement issues as the patents are enforced.
Pick an XML Gateway and not a product that is like an ESB/Application server.
Demand an Independent Security Assessment on the ENTIRE XML Gateway.
Validate feature/function availability and innovation leadership.
Demand flexible replacement costs and options.
In 2003, Network Computing published a bake-off between vendors in XML Gateway space. Reactivity (acquired by
Cisco), DataPower (acquired by IBM), Westbridge (acquired by Actional) and a number of other gateway vendors
including Forum Systems, VeriSign and Xtradyne were also a part of the assessment.
Looking back at this vendor assessment, one can see a clear trend: companies such as Cisco and VeriSign that
changed their directions to pursue the pioneer (Forum Systems) eventually gave up on the space. Others like
DataPower that started off as an XSLT network device tried to morph into security and still struggle with their XML
Security Appliance architecture rooted in XSLT transformation.
Although the strategy of a company changing direction to follow a viable market seemed like a good idea at that time, it
had profound future implications on product viability. When a product is not built ground-up to address a specific
market, architectural comprises ensue that result in the demise of such products in the future. The key factor in picking
any technology solution is to identify the leaders and the followers.
New "me too" vendors continue to follow Forum Systems, the leader in the XML Gateway space, by changing their
ESB-like products to look like secure XML Gateways, however, they lack the innovation and intellectual property
established by the leader. See fore example, Forum System Issued Patent 7,516,333 for XML Security Gateway.
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Cisco ACE XML Gateway Replacement Strategy 11/25/10 3:35 PM
(IP). They prefer to minimize their risk by avoiding trailing "me-too" technologies that continue to copy the leading
patented XML Gateways. Ask for vendors patents. Forum Sentry is the only XML Gateway Appliance with a published
patent (Patent #7,516,333).
Review vendors' XML Gateway architecture before replacing the Cisco ACE Gateway. Don't make the same mistake
twice. Cisco's architecture permitted dropping code on the Gateway that resulted in a poor security model. Other XML
Gateway vendors have followed Cisco's XML Gateway architecture that permits adding custom code. IBM DataPower
and Forum Sentry are the only products that do not permit arbitrary code to be dropped into their XML Gateways and
stay true to the XML Gateway roles.
Selecting patented, industry-leading XML Gateway is paramount. This ensures that there are no functional gaps
between existing and replacement products. XML Gateway companies that continue to innovate and patent their IP are
more sustainable and provide broader features than vendors that follow the leaders.
Select vendors that can work within your budget and time-lines. Vendors should be flexible in reducing your CapEX
expense while working with your planned multi-year support and maintenance budgets. Depending on the complexity of
your policies, vendors should be open to helping you with your migration costs. For a duration, you may be required to
run both Cisco ACE and your new XML Gateway together while you migrate away from the ACE Gateway. Your
selected XML Gateway vendor should provide pricing options to accommodate this transition process.
Summary
XML Gateways are essential components of corporate infrastructure. Choosing the right vendor initially or for
replacement should be a rigorous and methodical process based on key factors as listed above. Without this rigor,
corporations may to choose inferior technology that, in the future, will have to be replaced yet again.
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