SAP AG has created EcoHub, an online marketplace that is intended to ease the process by which the vendor's customers evaluate systems that complement their SAP installations. According to SAP, EcoHub offers enhanced transparency into the universe of applications that link to its software. The tool includes user feedback, ratings and demos. It addresses a wide range of certified partner offerings, including SAP extensions and applications that are rated as "powered" and "certified" by SAP Netweaver. EcoHub also covers software certified for use with applications from Business Objects, an SAP company. Users can navigate the new site by industry or application, search by key words, sort by relevance or partner, monitor "most-viewed" applications and research those that are "highest rated." They can also schedule a demo on SAP EcoHub with an SAP partner, request information on any application, verify its certification and integration details, and initiate purchase. In another company development, SAP has joined with Cisco Systems Inc. to offer a composite application for enforcing data privacy across business networks. The effort combines SAP software for governance, risk and compliance with Cisco's intelligent network services. Users can enforce real-time global and local data-privacy policies throughout their organizations at the network level, the companies said. The system encompasses policy-orchestration capabilities from Cisco networking devices, in concert with the company's Unified Communications tools, to help users effect real-time communication about severe data-privacy violations. EcoHub SAP and Cisco
