A framework for assurance in service-oriented environments

Assurance is an essential part of building any software system because it provides confidence and reduces the risks associated with system implementation. Assurance of service-oriented systems is similar to assurance of any distributed system. However, service-oriented environments have additional challenges because of their unique characteristics-reduced control, observability, visibility, and trust; and increased coordination and collaboration. Therefore, assuring service-oriented systems requires a new mindset; modification of existing assurance methods, techniques, and tools; new methods; and most importantly, successful collaboration and coordination between the broad set of participants in a service-oriented environment. This paper introduces a framework for assurance in a web-services-based, service-oriented environment. The paper discusses the challenges and implications of the characteristics of service-oriented systems on assurance activities, based on the framework. It then provides guidance to address some of these challenges using existing and new assurance techniques.