Identity management

The issue

Education providers have to give staff and students a password and username so they can access online systems or content securely. That can mean providing them with access to multiple systems with differing levels of security. 

Simple, secure access has such wide-reaching benefits that institutions that do this well can increase efficiency, save costs and see paybacks across their business. 

Key terminology: federated access

Federated access is where there are mutually agreed, trusted policies for sharing user information, resources and services. However, not all access management is federated. 

We’ve produced an introduction to Federated Access Management terminology and concepts which points out the subtle but important distinctions between similar sounding terms.

Key terminology: single sign-on

Using one username and password to access resources across different platforms, applications and locations is called single sign-on, and you do it through systems such as Shibboleth.

Single sign-on has significantly reduced the administrative burden on institutions and removed barriers to access.  We’ve produced a 5-minute animation on federated access management and single sign-on.

Why do it?

You may be concerned about the cost of overhauling your identity management systems. However, in our experience the return almost always far outweighs the investment. Our interactive brochure includes several inspirational case studies.

Where should I start?

Auditing and optimising identity management systems can be daunting. You may find it helpful to start with UK Access Management Federation and our identity management toolkit. Commercial products exist, but with the right in-house team you can customise open source solutions to fit your infrastructure at a lower cost.

How can I verify the identity of external partners such as visiting staff?

Many organisations have well-established policies and processes for verifying the identity of staff and students, but may need more support with sharing resources with externals such as commercial partners. Our guide Access for Engagement draws on the experiences of several universities and colleges.