Service-oriented architectures are based on the notion of software services, which are high-level software components that include Web services. Oracle SOA Suite is a standards-based best of breed suite that enables you to build service-oriented applications and deploy them to your choice of middleware platform. SOA represents a fundamental shift in the way new applications are designed, developed, and integrated with legacy business applications, and facilitates the development of enterprise applications as modular business services that can be easily integrated and reused. It provides benefit in the form of faster application development and deployment, reduced maintenance and management cost.  EIS professionals have been extensively trained in the proper use of these tools to provide customers with proven solutions enhancing their application environments.