Microsoft's IIS has a feature called (Simple Object Access Protocol) SOAP.  Which allows a user to connect to a web service over https/https with an authenticated AD User/group.  This connection transfers XML data between computers such as your SharePoint server. If the web service allows it, you can control what data is selected and displayed on your page.

In SharePoint this can be done in SharePoint Designer in data sources.  all without a .net developer!!!!!

SharePoint web services Link