participation in the uk access management federation with open athens
TRANSCRIPT
Participating in the UK Access Management federation with OpenAthens
Andrew Tavener – FAM Fair: The Options Explored 4th March 2009
Eduserv
Not-for-profit IT services on behalf of universities and
colleges in the UK
Charitable mission to realise the benefits of IT for learning
and research
Shared services include:– Chest Agreements– OpenAthens– Web Hosting– Web Content Management– Web Development
Agenda
• The current situation
• What is OpenAthens?
• Benefits
• Subscribing
• Future developments
The current situation
• 351 institutions subscribed to OpenAthens– 60% FE Colleges– 40% HEIs– 28% subscribed for 3 years
• NHS
• Millions of learners and researchers worldwide
• 200 SPshttp://www.athensams.net/federations/openathens/organisations.aspx
The current situation
• 90% satisfied with the service
• 90% were quite likely/very likely to recommend
Satisfaction research Dec 2008
“I welcome what they do, I’m pleased they are there”
“They were very helpful with our transition to the UK access federation as our authentication route”
Intent from Aug 1st 2009
• 3% indicated that they did not intent to subscribe
• Some will subscribe for the 1st time
• Expect 340 to 350 universities and colleges
Institutional intent survey Jan 2009
Resources
Resources Ave
How many resources do you subscribe to? 265
Athens 62%
Shibboleth 40%
Other 8%
Intent survey Jan 2009
It’s all about resources!
• Athens & Shibboleth resources will co-exist
• New technologies = New opportunities
– OpenID
– CardSpace
• Standards are continually evolving
• Solutions must be flexible, adaptable & cost effective
What is OpenAthens?
OpenAthens is a standards based framework of software and services for Access and Identity Management.
And ….
uniquely for you, there is a fixed annual subscription to OpenAthens that provides unlimited access to ALL of the software and services that make up the OpenAthens framework.
What is OpenAthens?
LA
MD
SP
• Fixed annual subscription
• Shared service model
• Everyone pays a contribution
What are the components of OpenAthens?
• OpenAthens MD (Managed Directory)
• OpenAthens LA (Local Authentication)
• OpenAthens SP (Service Provider)
What are the components of OpenAthens?
• Plus ……..
• MyAthens (resource discovery & management tool)
• Administrator tools– Reporting
– Statistics
• Service and support
What do you get?
• OpenAthens MD
– Eduserv holds the institution’s user identifiers & attributes
– Managed through secure web-based interface
– Self registration, bulk uploads and account activation
– Resilient replicated databases
– Access to Athens & Shibboleth protected resources
Classic Athens
What do you get?
• OpenAthens LA
– Standards based software
– Utilises an institution’s directory services
– Eduserv receives and assertion of authentication
– SSO for internal and external resources
– Access to Athens & Shibboleth protected resources
Athens DA or Shibboleth
What do you get?
OpenAthens SP
Intent Survey Jan 2009/10
• Advantages of OpenAthens
– Familiarity
– Continuity
– No additional work for the Library
– Simple and easy to use and administer
– Usage statistics
– Participation in UK Access Management federation
– Access to Shibboleth resources
– Access to non-Shibbolised resources
Intent Survey Jan 2009/10
• Advantages of OpenAthens
– Do not have to develop in-house IdP
– Minimal impact on internal IT
– Access to online resources off campus
– Good value
– Peace of mind, support
– Enables a smooth transition to local authentication
What will it cost from 1st Aug 2009?
• 3-year subscriptions fixed at 2008/9 rates
• 3% increase for 2009/10 renewals
• Download sign-up form and return by end of June 09
JISC BandAnnual subscription
from 1st Aug 09
A £8,320
B £7,440
C £6,570
D £5,690
E £4,820
F £3,940
G £3,060
H £2,190
I £1,310
J £700
http://www.athensams.net/libraries/subscription_rates
Future developments
• Engagement with universities & colleges– OpenAthens workshops Feb & March (198 delegates)
– Annual satisfaction survey
– Intent survey
– Service Desk satisfaction survey
– Product Advisory Groups
– Beta test programmes
– Ad-hoc feedback via help and service desks
Future developments
• Choice – Value – Reduced Risk
• Easy adoption of new standards and technologies
• Improved user experience
• Improved Administration tools - > capability < work!
Future developments
• OpenAthens LA 2.0
• Ability to add non-Athens resources to resource lists
• Improved statistics (Shibboleth)
• Graphical reporting
Comingsummer
2009OpenAthens workshops www.eduserv\events
Choose OpenAthens if ……..
• Fixed annual budget
• Need to provide access to Athens & Shib resources
• Wish to make resources available
• IT department has more important things to do
• The student experience is key
Choose OpenAthens if ……..
• Do not have a robust 24x7x365 support process
• Want the flexibility to move to LA at some point
• Learners are not in your institutional directory
• Recognise that standards and technology change
• Do not want the upheaval of implementing and supporting new technologies
The bottom line ……
“I hope they continue to be successful, as they provide a nice, simple service. The alternative, Shibboleth is a horrible complicated service, which would require our IT department to do a lot of work which we don’t
have time to do”
Satisfaction Research Dec 2008
