Directories

Institutional directory service architects and designers face a number of unique technical challenges in higher education. Directory architects from the University of Southern California and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will share lessons learned while developing and implementing directory services at their institutions.

Topics will include designing access controls and institutional object classes; using federation identities, Shibboleth, and administrative tools; managing multiple data sources, members, accounts, and guests; mapping data sources to standard object classes; handling interactive and bulk updates; optimizing and monitoring performance, replication, and integration with external authentication systems; and managing groups and privileges.

The solutions offered are based on 14-plus years of practical experience working with the Netscape/iPlanet/Sun directory products. This seminar will focus on intermediate to advanced issues, and most information will be widely applicable to and suitable for any institutional directory effort.

These Key Findings describe the major discoveries of the ECAR research study called "Identity Management in Higher Education: A Baseline Study". This ECAR research study illuminates findings from a survey of identity management practices in higher education. In addition to exploring the adoption of identity management technologies, the study examines the importance institutions place on the benefits of identity management and their ability to deliver those benefits; the motivations that drive institutions to adopt identity management and the challenges they face; the policies and plans being prepared to support identity management; how identity management projects are organized and what resources and staff are dedicated to them; and the factors that influence good outcomes in identity management investment and capability. The study is based on a literature review, consultation with a select group of individuals representing organizations involved in identity management, survey responses from 403 higher education institutions, and qualitative interviews with 36 executives and IT personnel from 24 institutions. A corporate edition is available here.

This ECAR research study illuminates findings from a survey of identity management practices in higher education. In addition to exploring the adoption of identity management technologies, the study examines the importance institutions place on the benefits of identity management and their ability to deliver those benefits; the motivations that drive institutions to adopt identity management and the challenges they face; the policies and plans being prepared to support identity management; how identity management projects are organized and what resources and staff are dedicated to them; and the factors that influence good outcomes in identity management investment and capability. The study is based on a literature review, consultation with a select group of individuals representing organizations involved in identity management, survey responses from 403 higher education institutions, and qualitative interviews with 36 executives and IT personnel from 24 institutions. A corporate edition is available here.

This ECAR research study illuminates findings from a survey of identity management practices in higher education. In addition to exploring the adoption of identity management technologies, the study examines the importance institutions place on the benefits of identity management and their ability to deliver those benefits; the motivations that drive institutions to adopt identity management and the challenges they face; the policies and plans being prepared to support identity management; how identity management projects are organized and what resources and staff are dedicated to them; and the factors that influence good outcomes in identity management investment and capability. The study is based on a literature review, consultation with a select group of individuals representing organizations involved in identity management, survey responses from 403 higher education institutions, and qualitative interviews with 36 executives and IT personnel from 24 institutions.

In the last few years, federated identity management—the agreements, standards, and technologies that make identity and entitlements portable across autonomous domains—has become a topic of significant interest for higher education. This Burton Group research discusses federation standards and products, which are sufficiently mature that early adopters have successfully deployed federated sign-on environments. Standards groups are extending federation protocols into more complex scenarios, such as cross-domain authorization, provisioning, and service delivery. Burton Group (www.burtongroup.com) provides technically in-depth research and advisory services for colleges and universities, government agencies, and commercial enterprises. Burton Group's practical and unbiased research and advice helps technologists make smart IT infrastructure decisions in increasingly complex environments. Burton Group covers directories, identity management, application platforms, architecture, and network and telecom infrastructure topics.