Web services are growing in importance, and the best way to protect them is by using a dedicated firewall. For this portion of our Firewall Blowout, we tested a trio of XML firewalls in our Green Bay, Wis., NWC Inc. business applications lab. We liked all three products: Although DataPower's adaptable XS40 XML Security Gateway took our Editor's Choice award based on its strong performance, fine-grained management and ability to integrate into our NWC Inc. infrastructure, the runners-up are worthy of mention. Sarvega XML Guardian Gateway is a strong second thanks to attractive pricing and blazing performance--the device didn't add one millisecond of latency. Reactivity's ultramanageable XML Security Gateway rounds out the pack.