JISC

Overview

This study will explore: how institutions’ current arrangements for providing access to external BCE partners are organised; how the extension of access management into BCE might be achieved; potential barriers; and different approaches to identity and access management. It has a central role in setting the scene for fulfilment of other objectives within the JISC BCE Programme. The insight it will deliver on extending access management into BCE will, for example, contribute to work on facilitating collaboration between institutions, and enabling knowledge exchange and learning partnerships between institutions and BCE partners such as SMEs and third sector organisations.

Aims and objectives

The study aims to assess processes, risks, benefits and practicalities for all parties involved of extending access and identity management approaches to external BCE partners, to produce a detailed set of recommendations for JISC to inform next steps.

• Identify processes involved in identification, authentication and authorisation for external partners, and groups involved.
• Examine and evaluate: demand for extending access management into BCE activities; trust models and user confidentiality management; institutional capacity; and enabling tools and infrastructure.
• Assess potential solutions, such as federated log-in and service, use of third party identifiers or alternative approaches.

Project methodology

Consultation via telephone interviews and site visits with a range of relevant sector organisations and networks, HE and FE institutions, and a selection of their strategic partners, to seek their input and advice to the study. A first round of detailed discussions will take place during autumn 2008, with a second to cross-check findings and test our emerging conclusions in early-2009. In particular we are keen to consult with those institutions considered pioneering in their approach to offering and managing access to external BCE partners. We will report our findings to JISC in a Final Report in April 2009.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

Key outputs:

• Interim Report from Scoping Study.
• Final Report providing a detailed set of recommendations on next steps for the JISC BCE project.

Intended outcomes are the enhanced understanding:

• Of business processes, infrastructure resources and groups involved.
• In the sector, JISC community and among wider BCE stakeholders of the risks and benefits for in extending access and identity management into BCE activities and partners.
• Of demand (both internal and external), existing sector capability and potential tools for extending access management into BCE activities and partners.
• Of next steps required for JISC.