Yes, thank you Adam for the information. -Tod
> On Feb 21, 2017, at 12:10 PM, Peter Murray <[email protected]> wrote: > > Thanks for posting, Adam. So OpenAthens is like an > identity-provider-as-a-service? I didn't appreciate that before. > > > Peter > > On Feb 21, 2017, 1:01 PM -0500, Adam Snook <[email protected]>, wrote: >> Dear All, >> >> It has been brought to our attention that there was some interest and some >> questions about OpenAthens and Shibboleth. >> >> This is something we spend a lot of time thinking about. >> >> OpenAthens and Shibboleth are both built using a SAML protocol that means, >> technically, single sign on will work between federations. >> >> If an institution is using Shibboleth for their single sign on and all the >> resources they want to sign into are within InCommon, there is no need to >> register with OpenAthens. However, they may be some resources within the >> OpenAthens federation they want to access in which case they can register >> with OpenAthens. This would be very rare. A full list of resources >> OpenAthens connects to already is here: >> http://www.openathens.net/resources.php >> >> However, OpenAthens can be used instead of Shibboleth to register into >> single sign on federations like InCommon, the UK Fed or the OpenAthens >> federation. The benefit there is the managed platform that OpenAthens >> provides for managing user accounts, setting up permissions and connections >> to resources. OpenAthens also provides statistics and reporting tools to >> measure patron engagement with resources. The institution would then be able >> to use OpenAthens to register itself within a federation. >> >> OpenAthens can also connect to an existing user directory like Microsoft >> Active Directory so the creation and management of user accounts only needs >> to happen in one place. >> >> The goal of 'interoperability' means that there are always different ways of >> managing single sign on across federations - but our goal, and the goal of >> other federations, is to increase the scope and scale and connectivity of >> federated single sign on so more people benefit. >> >> OpenAthens prides itself on being a tool for librarians to manage single >> sign on and user accounts - while making any necessary connections to IT as >> simple as possible. Which federation people then choose to use is really >> based on which federation has the best coverage of resources for their >> patrons. >> >> The flexibility of single sign on federations can create complexity and >> we'll be happy to answer any questions off-line. >> >> In addition to the above, OpenAthens also has service provider products >> allowing organisations to make their content available to identity >> providers. Service providers are currently using OpenAthens to make their >> content available in over 20 access management federations. >> >> I hope this gives a little more of an overview to this list but if you do >> have any additional questions, please let me know. >> >> Many thanks, >> >> Adam Snook >> Technical Pre-Sales Consultant (IAM) >> Eduserv >> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> >> | +44 (0) 1225 437 722 | Skype: asnook8 >> www.openathens.org | @openathens<https://www.twitter.com/OpenAthens> | >> Blog<http://www.openathens.org/category/blog/> | >> LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/openathens >> Eduserv is a company limited by guarantee (registered in England & Wales, >> company number: 3763109) and a charity (charity number 1079456), whose >> registered office is at Royal Mead, Railway Place, Bath, BA1 1SR.
