If you aren't already integrating on-demand solutions into your end-to-end business processes, it's likely only a matter of time before you do. However, the cloud can bring with it a new set of challenges, particularly in the realm of security. For instance, while users have come to expect consistent user management and single sign-on capabilities for authenticating, securing, and integrating applications into their end-to-end processes, on-demand solutions have remained as separate entities that require separate user maintenance — until now. In this column, you'll learn about the new ID service from SAP that is enabling secure single sign-on in the cloud.
Cloud computing is becoming a must-have for companies looking to stay relevant; if you aren’t already integrating on-demand solutions into your end-to-end business processes, it’s likely only a matter of time before you do. On-demand solutions offer a range of cost-effective benefits, including the ability to access functionality as needed, without requiring an additional IT infrastructure and staff resources. They also enable companies to respond quickly and flexibly to changing business needs (see sidebar).
However, the cloud also brings with it new challenges, not the least of which is managing user access and information in landscapes that include on-demand applications. While users have come to expect consistent user management and single sign-on capabilities for authenticating, securing, and integrating applications into their end-to-end processes, on-demand solutions have remained as separate entities that require separate user maintenance — until now.
SAP is answering this challenge with a new ID service that enables single sign-on across the SAP landscape, as well as centralized user information management — taking a fragmented process and turning it into a streamlined user experience. The ID service from SAP, an on-demand deployment, bridges the gap between customers’ on-premise applications, SAP on-demand applications, and third-party on-demand applications by verifying user identities, granting authentication, and enabling secure single sign-on across the landscape.
Introducing the ID Service from SAP
SAP’s ID service, which will be available in Q2 of 2012, covers the processes for managing identities and their life cycles within the SAP cloud. With this ID service, users will be able to set up one SAP identity and leverage single sign-on when browsing SAP websites, using SAP on-demand systems, or accessing third-party on-demand applications. Figure 1 shows how SAP’s ID service integrates into SAP’s on-demand landscape.
SAP’s ID service saves time and resources by enabling users to update their profiles only once and requiring just one password to log on to SAP’s various on-demand systems. In fact, SAP itself is already benefiting from the ID service. The SAP cloud administration teams, for example, have realized reduced TCO for SAP’s on-demand offerings because one central system is handling the registration, authentication, and provisioning of user data. SAP’s IT hosting team also uses the ID service for authentication purposes in conjunction with SAP NetWeaver Identity (ID) Management to administer and provision user data for employees, partners, and customers to the various systems.