* Microsoft creates walkthrough documents of MIIS 2003 implementations
A year ago, when Redmond first rolled out Microsoft Identity Information Server, I greeted it as a re-hashing, re-packaging and re-purposing of a group of existing technologies all related to Active Directory without actually being part of it (see https://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/dir/2003/0707ds1.html). Many otherwise knowledgeable Windows networking folks misread the abbreviation (Microsoft IIS – ho hum, another version of the Web server) and paid scant attention to the package.
In the intervening time, I’ve come to see the place where MIIS holds for the enterprise network, especially when it comes to provisioning services, account synchronization, single sign-on, and many of the other technologies that modern identity management provides for. Some of you may have, also, but many are simply too busy trying to keep the network running to even contemplate rolling out new services.
Microsoft has noticed this, and it wants to help. It wants to help you realize the worth of MIIS so that it can also help sell more MIIS (and, I’ll give it this, more third party MIIS-enabled applications) so that the stockholders stay happy.
What Redmond has done is to create a number of “walk through” scenarios for MIIS. As the introduction says: “These walkthrough documents describe sample implementations of MIIS 2003. They are intended to introduce users to fundamental concepts about identity management and how MIIS 2003 functions as part of an identity management solution by walking the users through the deployment of sample solutions.” Unstated, of course, is that Microsoft hopes you’ll realize that buying MIIS is the Right Thing To Do.
Among the implementations described are:
* Implementing a classic metadirectory.
* Global Address List synchronization.
* Simple account provisioning.
* Group creation and provisioning.
* Password management.
You can download each walkthrough at https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=3263e78f-d6cf-4b6b-8b14-9a1b36959cf5&displaylang=en
But in order to use any walkthrough effectively you will need to have MIIS installed. Fortunately, you can also download a 180-day evaluation version (at https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/miis2003/evaluation/trial/default.mspx) so that you can try out the various scenarios to see if they would help your organization.
Before getting either download, though, you might head to https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/miis2003/default.mspx, the MIIS home page, in order to read as much as you need to so that you become familiar with its potential as well as its requirements. MIIS can be a powerful tool, provided you use it appropriately. Now you have a chance to find out if it’s for you without having to spend a dime. Do it.
