Due for inclusion in WebSphere Version 5.1 later this year, IBM's strategy is designed to give customers the ability to adopt a best-of-breed approach to incorporating competing security products into Web services environments.

Although the plan addresses enterprise concerns regarding the lack of standards around Web services security, industry executives argue that IBM risks being accused of pursuing its own agenda and adding to the myriad security efforts already under development by organizations such as the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS), and even the IBM-and Microsoft-led Web Services Interoperability Organization (WS-I). Meanwhile, the Liberty Alliance is expected to announce its federated, SSO (single sign-on) system for e-commerce in late July.

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