Digital Evolution, a provider of Web services management and security software today launched XMP VPN version 4.2, which secures any XML Web service, providing specific extensions for discovery and automated provisioning of .NET services.

The proliferation of service-oriented architecture (SOAs) among enterprises has resulted in an explosion of Web services applications; .NET is widely viewed as encroaching on J2EE as the platform of choice for Web services implementations for sharing information to support critical business processes including inventory management, purchasing, accounting, and trading.

"Companies are increasingly using Microsoft .NET-based Web services for business-to-business interactions," said Ron Schmelzer, senior analyst with ZapThink. LLC, in a statement. "Tapping into this rapid growth, Digital Evolution's XML VPM for .NET will significantly add to the capabilities of the .NET platform by helping organizations manage the provisioning and security of partner communications."

"The applications we've seen that are being exposed through Web services include supply chain management or financial applications," said Roberto Medrano, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Digital Evolution, based in Santa Monica, California. "Partners want to be able to access those Web services quickly, easily, and securely over the Internet, which is what our XML VPN addresses."

The Digital Evolution XML VPM product family allows enterprises to securely extend XML and Web services-based application interfaces into partner organizations in three ways: by providing the security needed to manage transactions, authenticate users, authorize what can be done by users as well as provide privacy and non-repudiation; by providing a provisioning tool that gives enterprises an automated means to invite and then coordinate a community of Web services consumers; and by leveraging Digital Evolution's Web services management technology to give users the ability to guarantee quality of service, deal with change over time, and add additional services while supporting rapid growth of interactions with partner organizations.

The XML VPM for .NET is shipping now, and costs $35,000 for each appliance.