On-Demand Enterprise: StrikeIron Introduces IronCloud

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April 28, 2008

StrikeIron Introduces IronCloud

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., April 22 -- 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 1,400 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

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

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 e-commerce-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

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 D&B, Gale, MapQuest, Midnight Trader, Tax Data Systems, The Sports Network, and Zacks. 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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Source: StrikeIron Inc.

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