Future of XML Encryption
Having designed the basic syntax and specifications, the challenge for industry lies in evolving language and platform-specific APIs for building XML encryption services within Web service applications. Products and toolkits have started appearing in the market: Take a look at IBM's XML security suite and Verisign's security toolkit.
From the Java side, JSR 106 is an exclusive community request for the XML Digital encryption API. It is expected to cover many of the aspects we need to deal with XML encryption inside Java Web service applications. The same API should also be useful for distributed J2EE applications.
In the Microsoft camp, the giant is involved in defining a much broader Web service security framework with its WS Security initiative with IBM. XML encryption will become a part of this bigger framework with native support in Microsoft's .Net framework as well. Explore http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp and select cryptography, if you are interested in looking at the cryptographic services currently available in .Net.