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NSF Middleware Initiative: Managing Identity on Campus. Michael R Gettes, Duke University Tom Barton, University of Chicago. Observations on: Identity & Access Management, Middleware & Security in U.S. Higher Education. Michael R Gettes Duke University gettes@Duke.EDU.
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NSF Middleware Initiative: Managing Identity on Campus Michael R Gettes, Duke University Tom Barton, University of Chicago
Observations on:Identity & Access Management, Middleware & Security in U.S. Higher Education Michael R Gettes Duke University gettes@Duke.EDU
Identity & Access Management? • #1 Issue in Higher Education - 2005/2006 EDUCAUSE IT Survey. • Less than 10 years old - some HE schools doing it much longer. • IAM is defined by many components as follows ...
IAM Componentsa.k.a. “middleware” (1) • Systems of Record (HR, SIS, Alumni, Telecom, Affiliates) • Information Switch (Vendor/build) • Entity registry (Vendor/build) • Identity business rule handling (Vendor/build)
IAM Componentsa.k.a. “middleware” (2) • Authentication • (Password, PKI, Kerberos (ECAR Survey - K5 everywhere), ...) • Privilege Mgmt (Authority/Authorization) • (Signet, HR system, ...) • Group Mgmt • (Vendor, Grouper, Build) • Directories - fast repositories • (Vendor, Open Source)
IAM Componentsa.k.a. “middleware” (3) • Service Provisioning • Vendor, Built, Nexus • Message Mgmt - real-time and queuing • Vendor, Built or Jabber/XMPP
IAM Componentsa.k.a. “middleware” (4) • Attribute Delivery • PKI, SAML/Shibboleth, Directory, Vendor, (Various) • Authorization, Act of (by Application) • Policy Decision Point (PDP) • Policy Enforcement Point (PEP)
Age of this Technology • Technology is young. • Lots of options - much more than just 5 years ago. • If you buy - you will still need to build your own Identity Business Rules. Buy *and* Build decision. • NSF/Internet2 Middleware - these “solutions” are simply options. If you believe in Open Source - they are good. If not, then use these solutions to drive vendors for what you want. Remain aware of trends.
Institutional Issues • STAY OFF THE FRONT PAGE OF NATIONAL NEWS!!! • IAM is part of any “good” security program. • Each institution having IAM leads to better National Security - or at least the perception of it. • IAM leads to Access Control via Authority Management, Authorization and timeliness
Institutional Issues (2) • Nobody cares about implementing IAM. Need to define it in terms of Infrastructure to deliver a set of Services/Goals. • Duke - Goal is 1 hour to get ID Card and NetID services for new employee and 1 hour for status changes to take effect (job changes). • Buy-in from VPs, EVP, Provost, etc...
Institutional Issues (3) • Consider rolling affiliates (non-student/fac-staff/alumni) into HR system - many contracts based on FTE (=paid person). You might get affiliate management for free. • How do ID Proofing processes (identity registration) need to change for students and staff to enhance Business services?
Institutional Issues (4) • How do we validate our processes? Is my institution doing a good job on IdM? • CAF - Credential Assessment Framework • How do we know if other institutions are doing a good job? • Federations! Like-minded organizations seeking like-minded services.
Institutional Identity • BRANDING of the institution via E-Identity • my.harvard, stanford.you, CNetID (Chicago) • How easy is institutional initiation? • How easy to change function at institution? • Uniting the institution electronically - overcoming typical political boundaries
Levels of Assurance (LoA)? • Classify the requirements of an application • Assign confidence levels for the ID Proofing and Electronic Authentication Processes • Define mapping between Reqs and Confidence • As simple as a number (Levels 1,2,3,4). • Define confidence in terms of application requirements and you can use the same value for both.
Federation? A collection of organizations, having implemented some form of Identity Management, where Credential Service Providers (CSP, Universities) and Service Providers (SP, Content Providers) agree to “rules of engagement” (policy and attributes) using federating software (SAML/Shibboleth, PKI, CardSpace ...)
Higher Ed Activity... • InCommon - SAML based Federation • Inter-Federations - Can they work? • USHER - US Higher Education Root - PKI • HEBCA - Bridged PKI similar to USGov • Federal eAuth involvement (www.cio.gov) • Research community seeking Id Mgmt • NSF CyberInfrastructure • Shy away from Biometrics - What if you lose your E-thumb? • National ID vs. Federated ID - NOT RFID!