June 2007: New Web Services Authentication Alternatives
Quote of the Month
“SOAs will arise as part of a gradual, evolutionary process
that will take place over a period of years. Web services have proven
themselves to be robust enough to serve as stepping-stones in this
effort for many companies. For example, industry-standard interfaces
and messaging have already been deployed in many organizations as
cost-effective ways to build composite applications that link
back-end legacy systems.”
– Joe McKendrick: Time to drive a wedge between SOA
and Web services?
Note from the President
What’s New at StrikeIron?
What Can StrikeIron Do For You?
New Marketplace Web Services?
Note from the President: New Web Services Authentication Alternatives
Traditionally, StrikeIron has provided Web services that utilize SOAP headers for authentication with a UserID and Password. This is a preferred approach in many scenarios where it is beneficial to separate security from the data payload and is also helpful in creating re-usable classes for developers.
However, lately we have received increasing customer demand for enabling parameter-based authentication as many third-party products do not support the use of SOAP headers, especially many IDEs that generate client code to consume Web services. And of course with some development environments, it's just easier.
In response we enabled authentication via actual data parameters as well as SOAP headers. This can simplify accessing StrikeIron Web services for those who prefer this mechanism.
For example, with our sales tax rates Web service, here is the traditional WSDL using SOAP Headers for authentication:
http://ws.strikeiron.com/TaxDataBasic4?WSDL
and here is the WSDL utilizing parameters for authentication:
http://wsparam.strikeiron.com/TaxDataBasic4?WSDL. The only difference is the domain URL prefix.
The same is true with our free Super Data Pack services. Simply change the WSDL URL prefix from 'sdpws' to 'sdpwsparam', and you're off and running - no more SOAP headers. For more on these authentication methods, visit www.strikeiron.com/authentication.
As always, we will do our best to meet the requests of our customers and partners. Please keep them coming!
Bob Brauer
President and CEO, StrikeIron
What’s New at StrikeIron?
StrikeIron adds MapQuest Driving Directions to its Marketplace
Leading mapping data now available for use in applications and Web
sites.
<mapquest>
StrikeIron Co-Sponsors Business Mashup Challenge at Mashup
Camp
$500 prize awarded to developers that leverage
StrikeIron data to create business-focused mashups. <mashups>
StrikeIron is hiring!
Join our team as StrikeIron continues to lead the industry in Data
as a Service. Visit our career page to see our openings in
Development, and Support! <careers>
What Can StrikeIron Do For You?
New Authentication within Methods
StrikeIron offers two models for developers to integrate authentication into applications which leverage the StrikeIron
Marketplace Web Services. Whether you need to authenticate within a
SOAP header, or authenticate via parameter inside of the Web service
method, StrikeIron gives you the flexibility to best fit your coding
environment. <authentication>
eCommerce Solution Set
StrikeIron’s Web Services power eCommerce sites with live data,
allowing you to build applications that provide an exceptional sales
experience from verifying addresses, to enhancing customer data to
integrating live tax information into shopping carts. Receive a 10%
discount for any purchase of two or more services. <eCommerce>
New Web Services?
StrikeIron Reverse Phone Business Intel Web Service
Get detailed information about a business based on a phone number. <BusIntel>
StrikeIron Reverse Phone Residential Intel Web Service
Get detailed information about a residence based on a phone number.
<ResIntel>
OptionsOnTrack Historic Stock Option Data Web Service
Provides historical end–of–day data for U.S. Options. <options>