Authentication Solutions - By Role

End-User

Challenge

During an average workday, employees use a number of different applications and need to access several different servers for files and information – all of which involve using a unique password to gain access.  As a result, they are required to keep track of numerous passwords (typically from 8-12) and to login several times.  They can also encounter repeated password prompts for the same systems.

In addition, many employees in an organization work remotely, either from home offices or while traveling, and need easy access to those same applications and servers to do their jobs.  Achieving access can become an issue for both internal and roaming employees.  

Password management for end-users can be time-consuming, thus diminishing efficiency and productivity.  Time is wasted dealing with numerous logins and password prompts (and remembering which password to use in each instance).  There is also time spent contacting the Help Desk regarding forgotten passwords and then waiting for password resets to occur.  If the end-user has forgotten their Notes ID password, the steps required to recover it are complicated and even more time-consuming, as the end-user must initiate the Notes ID recovery process and then find three Lotus Domino administrators to generate recovery strings.  This information is then used by the end-user to reset the password on their Notes ID.  The result is a large amount of downtime for the end-user.

Solution

PistolStar’s Password Power and PortalGuard provide single sign-on using Microsoft Active Directory, allowing end-users to use one password one time to access numerous enterprise applications, directories and servers, such as Lotus Domino and Notes, IBM WebSphere and System i, SAP and Oracle.  As a result, they have only one password they need to remember, which greatly decreases the incidence of forgotten passwords. 

Both products also allow end-users to perform self-service password reset/recovery, freeing them from calling the Help Desk to complete the task.  Because end-users only have one password, they only need to change one password and in just one location.  By redirecting authentication to Active Directory, Password Power also effectively eliminates the headache of manual Notes ID password recovery by allowing a reset of the Active Directory password to restore access to Lotus Notes. 

Password Power and PortalGuard also enable access via a Web browser, giving roaming end-users easy access to the applications they need and further simplifying access for all.  End-users benefit from having fast and convenient logons, which free up time, allow them to be more efficient and, ultimately, boost productivity.