SOLUTION BRIEF

ArcESBA Unified Integration Solution for
Digital Transformation[Type here]

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ArcESB: A Unified Integration
Solution for Digital Transformation
Executive Summary
The road to digital transformation is paved with data integration. Whether organizations are looking
to streamline internal operations, automate business-to-business processes, or transfer data to data
lakes/warehouses for analysis, data integration plays an indispensable role.
Enterprise application integration is a huge market that will be worth $13.34 billion by 2019,according to MarketsandMarkets. But application-to-application (A2A) and business-to-business(B2B) electronic data interchange (EDI) integrations are highly complex. They typically span multiple
data types, formats, and standards not to mention cloud and on-premises platforms. Existing, legacy
data integration solutions consist of complex manual processes, extensive coding, expensive
services, or archaic technologies. Integration projects thus can require an army of consultants tosetup and configure.
This white paper describes a modern solution that dramatically simplifies integration across onpremises and cloud-based processes, services, application and data—both within individualorganizations or across multiple organizations. A modern integration solution, ArcESB provides
comprehensive application and data integration that does not require coding or multiple, complex
development tools.

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Data Integration is Key to Digital
Transformation
Organizations are increasingly undergoing digital transformation, using digital technologies tooptimize business operations and create value. Data integration is essential to this process. It
enables organizations to simplify internal workflows by sharing data A2A, automate B2B workflows
through EDI, and take advantage of analytics by moving data into data warehouses and data lakes.
But data integration is easier said than done. These data integration scenarios require the exchangeof all types of data—structured data from databases, unstructured text and social media information,
streaming data from IoT sensors—across cloud-based and on-premises databases and applications.
This data may need to move in multiple directions: on-premises-to-on-premises, cloud-to-onpremises, cloud-to-cloud, and on-premises-to-cloud.
A2A integrations must consider the many data types, formats, APIs, databases, email, and so on.
Each business may have customized its systems to store additional data relevant only to them thatmust be integrated into other applications. Internal business processes for using even standard tools
like Salesforce can differ dramatically from one company to the next, impacting integration
requirements. As a result, sharing data between applications typically requires complex manual
processes, extensive coding, or expensive services.
B2B integration is even more complex. Foundational technologies, such as EDI, dominate messaging
across the supply chain, retail, logistics, and finance, but embody the complexity of more than 50
years of technical debt. Because the data is not tabular—it has its own structure and highly technicalsyntax—organizations must understand the data to map it to or from internal systems.
Troubleshooting networking issues on often unreliable networks is challenging. At the same time,
many EDI solutions are archaic, using complex interfaces with a substantial learning curve rather
than modern technologies such as Web-based UIs.

ArcESB Facilitates Data Integration
ArcESB is an integration solution that provides a suite of connectors that simplify the development,
execution, and governance of integration flows that connect on-premises and cloud-based
processes, services, applications and data within individual organizations or across multiple
organizations. With ArcESB, organizations benefit from application and data integration capabilities,
eliminate the need for coding or development tools because the solution is process driven, and cantake advantage of pre-packaged integrations and API management.

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Specifically, ArcESB offers the following capabilities•

Standardized integration using Connectors and APIs•

A global 360360-degree view of multimulti-step data exchange workflows•

An APIAPI-driven architecturearchitecture•

Comprehensive monitoring and logging•

Scheduling•

Flexible deployment•

Security•

Full extensibility•

Hybrid integration

Standardized Integration using Connectors
and APIs
Central to the ArcESB integration architecture are standardized Connectors that can be used to build
workflows that provide a global view of an organization’s integrations.
Bundled Connectors are reusable building blocks for creating a flow of data through ArcESB. Each
Connector inputs messages and either transforms them from one format to another or transports
them to and from their destination. Transform Connectors are used to change the format ofmessages to another format such as XML, JSON, EDI, and Excel. Transport Connectors connect tomany different types of systems including applications, databases, and other servers.
Each instance of a Connector has an input folder that it monitors for new messages to process andan output folder where it places files that have been received or processed by the Connector. Eachinstance contains specific information about how to process an individual message. This
information can include server connection information, XML schema information, or other settings
that tell the port how to process the messages it receives.
ArcESB uses the file system to store messages it creates and passes from one Connector to thenext, simplifying complexity by eliminating the dependency on a database-driven messaging model.

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Connectors can be used for:•Application Integration — Connectors include everything you need to move files between
applications; for example, between HubSpot and Salesforce. For A2A transfer, users can takeadvantage of pre-packaged workflows to connect to a wide range of applications (CRM &marketing automation, ERP & collaboration, accounting, social networking, financial, andeCommerce).

•

Database Integration — Connectors connect directly to all types of databases including
traditional RDBMS systems as well as NoSQL and large data warehouses, enabling you toeasily move data in and out of these systems.

•

EDI messaging — Connectors can translate, map and change file formats from your enterpriseapplications to EDI messaging standards, such as X12, EDIFACT, IDoc (SAP), TRADACOMS,
VDA, and XML.

•Managed file transfer — Connectors perform secure file transfer to send files from one trading
partner to another. We provide a Drummond Certified solution for AS2 and AS4 messaging
and file transfer and support major MFT standards like AS2, AS4, OFTP, and SFTP. The
application is also certified with Odette for OFTP and e-SENS for AS4.

•

APIs — the API Connector can create APIs that kick of message flows for use in processbased orchestration. When a client calls that API and passes inputs, they kick off predefinedprocesses, and a result is returned. These processes are orchestrated through flows designedin the UI.

•Document generation — Connectors can process or generate documents based on predefined templates. Documents that can be generated or processed include Excel and PDF.
This capability can be used to generate reports, invoices, labels, and so on.

Connector Configuration Made Easy
ArcESB simplifies the process of configuring steps in a workflow.
All connectors operate by passing messages from one connection to another. Messages can haveany format. But most applications and databases use a relational model, defining a standard tablelike structure for all the entities they access to provide a standard mapping process across all
application and data types. Extensive support for SQL query language capabilities makes it easy tointeract with the data without the need to understand the underlying APIs for each connection.

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Many simple integrations can be completed without programming—although users have the option
to add scripting for more complex transformations and environments as described later. An intuitive
designer allows users to configure connectors/ports and mapping data between source and target
tables. Functions are available to modify data, perform lookups, execute conditional checks, maphierarchical structures, and format results.
Once the Connector is configured, ArcESB automates the process of inputting, transforming,
transporting, and outputting the message.
Unlike other solutions, all these capabilities are available in a single, end to end solution. Users nolonger need to do coding to integrate different pieces of the process. Having a single application to
manage all integrations also means there’s just one point of failure.

Get a Global 360-degree View of Multi-Step
Data Exchange Workflows
Most data integration solutions require users to configure and view each integration step as an
isolated process or event. With ArcESB, a common workflow canvas maps all processes thatfunction across the entire application. Our end-to-end workflows provide visibility into all integrations
in one place, so users can see how each integration impacts each process.
If a workflow requires multiple
connections of the same type (e.g.
AS2 connections), users can define a
Connector once and reuse that
Connector to simplify workflow
creation. Drag and drop capabilities
simplify workflow definitions.

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ArcESB provides a wide range of preconfigured “Packaged Integration Flows.” In these flows,
Connectors/workflows come preconfigured to perform various multi-step integration tasks thatmove files from one Connector to the next to complete a specific task. Examples include:•

Migrating accounts from DynamicsCRM to Salesforce•

Synchronizing data from Excel to Google spreadsheets•

Synchronizing Google Drive files to a SharePoint site

Users can easily customize these pre-configured workflows to their own requirements rather thanhaving to create workflows from scratch.

API-Driven Architecture
While the ArcESB UI is great for configuring relatively simple, straightforward integrations, manyorganizations need to automate complex redundant tasks or take advantage of ArcESB
management capabilities from within an external application. Our REST-based management API
exposes all features of the application through a modern web API interface like REST, JSON, or
OData, so users can onboard new connections programmatically, create their own complex scripted
management workflows, or take advantage of individual ArcESB capacities from another application.
Users can also create their own custom APIs (or microservices) to provide entry points that trigger
integration workflows, access data, and publish data without the need to write code. Workflows cando things like update data, send notifications and generate reports. Creating workflows triggered bywww.arcesb.com | 6

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microservices enables users to build an infrastructure that is easy to develop, test and maintain.
Such an infrastructure helps their business to scale and reduces the complexity of a large, monolithic
integration platform. Organizations can also build APIs that provide secure, real-time access to siloeddata stored in a custom database, files such as Excel, or in legacy applications.

Comprehensive Monitoring and Logging
Audit trails/logs are necessary for regulatory compliance and simplify troubleshooting by allowing
customers to track a message’s location when errors arise. ArcESB provides audit/log trails thatoffer a complete history of how each message was processed.
The product creates these audit/log trails by employing a standard, text-based, MIME message
format used by many mail clients to communicate data as it flows between Connectors. As
messages proceed through each step in the integration process, ArcESB stores metadata thatdefines and tracks what happened to the message.
The solution provides various levels of logging. For example, verbose logging options include theentire request and response, as well as informational logs. Users have full control over which logs toenable/disable so they can manage the amount of logging data the application retains. Users canalso automatically manage or prune logs using settings that automatically archive or delete logs
once they reach a certain age, allowing the user to minimize the application footprint.
Any editor can view log data for any file at any time on the file system without specialized software.
This eliminates the need to perform maintenance to keep the log performing well and allows users toaccess logs even if the application goes down. The standard API also connects to reporting tools
such as PowerPivot and Tableau.
Configuration files are all plaintext INI formatted files, making it easy to backup and edit.

SchedulingUsers have flexible control over when integration jobs occur with ArcESB. They can create eventdriven triggers to perform an action or employ fine-grained control over scheduling. Complex
scheduling options based on Unix Cron syntax allow users to schedule jobs to run periodically atfixed times, dates, or intervals (e.g. by the minute, hour, day of month, month, or day of week).

Flexible Deployment

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ArcESB provides a wide range of flexible deployment options to meet customer requirements. As a
web application, ArcESB requires a web server. Versions are available for Java and Windows. The
Java version runs as a Java .WAR file and can be deployed to any Java Servlet container, such as
Apache Tomcat, Eclipse Jetty, JBoss, Oracle WebLogic, and IBM WebSphere. The Windows version
gives users the option of using an embedded web server for ease of operation or Microsoft IIS for
more robust security options that provide full control over authentication and server configuration.
Many options are available for DMZ deployment. The web server can be installed on premise, in thecloud or hosted by ArcESB. Users can also deploy a hybrid model when they need to connect tosystems or trading partners directly in a DMZ or in the cloud outside their internal network and thenmove the data to the internal network. ArcESB also comes equipped with a Cloud Gateway featurethat acts as a DMZ proxy, eliminating the need to expose ArcESB through your company’s public
firewall. Users can even migrate from platform to another.
Built on a modern architecture, ArcESB is also optimized to run in containers, allowing users to easily
spin up new environments on the fly without configuration for load balancing, high availability,
scaling, and quickly creating new test environments.

Security
ArcESB secures customer data through a comprehensive range of security protections that include:•

Authentication: Existing Active Directory or LDAP servers provide granular control over user
directory permissions and authenticate users.

•

Certificate management: An integrated certificate management dashboard is available tomanage all Open PGP keys, SSH keys, and other types of certificates.

•

Secure file transfer: Connectors support many protocols for secure file transfer including
SFTP, FTPS, and AS2.

•

Encryption: ArcESB’s Open PGP Connector or AES encryption using the Zip Connector encrypt
data at rest or in motion. Windows encryption can be used encrypt passwords or sensitive
parts of the profile.

•

Secure access: TLS security on the Web server hosting ArcESB can secure access to theapplication. User-generated authtokens secure API access.

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Fully Extensible
While integration may seem simple from 30,000 feet, the devil is in the details. Users may need more
flexibility than a simple integration tool can provide for their integration scenario. For organizations
with more sophisticated requirements, RSBScript is a cross-platform configuration language thatallows users to extend ArcESB platform in a highly flexible manner. RSBScript delivers a full array ofprogramming capabilities including data manipulation formatters (e.g. string, add numbers),
operations (e.g. querying a database, calling REST services), and key word operators (e.g., If/else,
Switch/Case, Try/Catch).
With RSBScript, users can create custom events that kick off pre- or post-processing events, triggers
or other integrations that hook into existing Connectors. For example, users can employ RSBScript
to create a post-processing event that routes a file to multiple destinations or resubmits a message
after 50 minutes if it initially fails to transmit.
Users can also extend an integration by creating custom Connectors in the language of their choice,such as Java or C#, to connect with custom databases, internal systems, or enhance functional
capabilities of the application.

Hybrid Integration
Today’s pervasive integration challenges are putting new pressures on IT leaders to reshape theirintegration infrastructure. Forward-thinking organizations are adopting a hybrid integration approachbased on infrastructure building blocks that span on-premises application integration, API
management, Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS), and Integration Software as a Service(iSaaS) capabilities.
ArcESB is a natural companion for this evolution in infrastructure, combining cross-functional
integration with a universally available hybrid integration solution. The hybrid features span the corecapabilities of leading iPaaS and API management to provide a dynamic and highly flexible solution
for all types of integration. Users can use ArcESB as a standalone platform to power their businessor can pick and choose capabilities and functionality to augment current data connectivity. Whether
an organization needs to extend legacy integration, modernize data flow, or push leading-edge
integration technologies to the cloud, ArcESB’s hybrid integration capabilities can help them deliverrobust, secure, and reliable connectivity.

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Conclusion
As organizations digitally transform their internal and B2B processes to streamline operations andcreate innovative customer value, they must inevitably share data across internal and external
applications. While automating integration flows has been a complex and time-consuming process
in the past, it no longer has to be. With the ArcESB iPaaS solution, organizations dramaticallysimplify the development and visualization of end-to-end integration flows across on-premises andcloud-based processes, services, applications and data within or across organizations. They can now
easily perform integrations that connect on-premises and cloud-based processes, services,
applications and data within individual organizations or across multiple organizations integrations
without programming. At the same time, they gain the flexibility to create sophisticated workflowsthat meet their organization’s specific requirements.
Download ArcESB today and begin connecting data across your organization to drive the data
strategy of your company.

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About ArcESB
ArcESB provides high-performance, reliable, and fully-extensible products that simplify the process of producing,consuming, and integrating data. The RSSBus products enable a simple yet effective layer of middleware that helps
users drive information flow without the added complexity that is common across other integration solutions.
At ArcESB our goal is to provide customers with the tools necessary to seamlessly integrate applications, services,and data without having to manage additional layers of complexity. We know your organization places a large
investment on data management and we are proud to be a trusted provider of data integration products.
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