Software vendors improve ID products

CA and HP this week separately plan to announce better integration within their respective identity management suites so that customers can more easily secure application access and enforce compliance policies.

In addition, identity federation vendor PingID plans to release its first server for supporting Security Token Service gateways based on the WS-Trust protocol.

CA is expected to showcase at the RSA Conference how its SiteMinder, Single Sign-On and Security Command Center applications can now work together.

SiteMinder, obtained via CA's Netegrity acquisition, centralizes management of user authentication and access across internal and external Web sites. Single Sign-On provides secure user access to legacy applications, databases and client/server applications. Integrating the two products will allow customers to log on once and access all resources with a single user ID and password, CA says. Integration with Command Center will enable customers of the management console to receive events and alerts from SiteMinder.

For its part, HP is set to unveil its OpenView Select Audit, a fourth application in the company's identity management suite that can help customers design policies and track compliance with them. The software works with HP's other identity management products: Select Identity, Select Access and Select Federation.

Select Audit software is installed on the same application server as any of the other applications or on a stand-alone server. It uses what HP calls audit connectors to collect the necessary data from HP and third-party systems, and then aggregates and normalizes the data to compare it against the policies. Administrators use a Web-based interface to create policies and view reports.

Also at the show, HP is expected to reveal Version 4.0 of its Select Identity software, which now automates change and compliance management. For example, HP says when systems and applications are added, upgraded or retired, the software will automatically adjust authorized user access rights.

This release also allows for administrative duties to be segregated and for audit features to be implemented that prevent changes being made if they don't align with documented processes.

HP also has integrated its OpenView Select Access and Service Desk applications to reduce the costs and effort associated with password resets and profile updates, the company says.

Also at the show, HP is expected to debut Version 4.0 of its Select Identity software, which now automates change and compliance management. For example, HP says when systems and applications are added, upgraded or retired, the software will automatically adjust authorized user access rights.

Select Audit is scheduled for availability in May. Select Identity 4.0 is set for availability in March. Pricing for the integrated suite of identity management applications starts at $39 per seat for internal use.

Improved integration among identity management products amassed by vendors in recent years is an unmistakable trend, according to Forrester principal analyst Jonathan Penn.