JISC Identity Management Toolkit

identityJohn Paschoud and Luke Taylor presenting on behalf of LSE and University of Bristol repsectively.

IdM is a key issue for many institutions (ourselves included) and having an infoKit will be really rather handy.  It’s not there yet but is currently well down the road of productions schedule.  A show of hands indicates 80-90% of those present believe IdM to be currently a hot topic for their institution.

Some of the problems with putting together IdM business case:

  • Hard to explain
  • Middleware is difficult to make a case for.  Up-front apps are much easier.

LSE noted as not having a clear policy on when/how someone becomes or ceases to be a member of their university.  Policy vacuum almost certainly not their problem alone.

JISC infoKit to be released March 2010 and to contain:

  • Definitions of terminology and concepts
  • Service Usage Models and how those work for other e-Framework elements.
  • Governance and policy guidance
  • Guidance and templates for audit
  • Requirements spec guide
  • Gap analysis guide
  • Business case guide
  • Roadmap for Universities / Colleges
  • Guide to system solutions

Bristol have been road-testing the infoKit.  Their situation seems roughly the same as our own – some decent practice/policy with significant gaps.  Luke indicates that smartcard implementation is made harder for lack of having resolved IdM issues.  Bristol’s road to IdM:

  • Establish governance
  • Define policies
  • Identify process owners and streamline processes associated with IdM
  • Choose and implement technology

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