The Virtual Identity Server for SharePoint, provides an extensible authentication framework that dramatically expands the authentication options for a SharePoint deployment. Out of the box, SharePoint provides either Forms Based Authentication (FBA), or authentication to a single Active Directory forest. VIS for SharePoint, expands the authentication options to include:
Click picture to see larger image
^ back to top
VIS for SharePoint includes an advanced cross-forest Windows authentication module. This module leverages a user’s existing Active Directory credentials, providing a seamless multi-forest Single Sign-On solution without requiring forest trusts. User’s who are logged into an Active Directory domain are automatically authenticated to SharePoint when accessing the site. Users who have not authenticated to an Active Directory domain are prompted for a user id and password. This enables organizations to quickly and easily deploy one instance of SharePoint to external and internal users without creating a forest trust or requiring internal users to re-authenticate and full Office integration.
SharePoint utilizes Active Directory groups to manage authorization and permissions within SharePoint. Utilizing Virtual Static Groups, businesses have a more flexible and powerful way to manage content permissions. Group membership can span multiple forests without the need for forest trusts. In addition, SharePoint specific groups no longer need to reside in AD forests. Instead, these groups can be centralized within the SharePoint deployment; reducing complexity and cost. Unlike SharePoint site groups, Virtual Static Static Groups can span multiple SharePoint sites allowing for more control and flexibility in the deployment.
The Virtual Identity Server for SharePoint, provides a single point of administration for multiple SharePoint sites. Using VIS, one SharePoint server can span hundreds of Active Directory forests quickly and easily. AD and SharePoint administrators now have an easy to use solution for managing users, groups and access from within SharePoint. VIS for SharePoint seamlessly integrates with and extends the capabilities of SharePoint and Active Directory.
Governance at the root is the connection between IT and the business. SharePoint more so than other business applications brings these issues front and center. IT wants to mitigate risks, while the business wants to generate business value and collaborate. Achieving these goals together can be a challenge without a framework and proper process or checks and balances. The Virtual Identity Server for SharePoint provides this framework, by enabling the business to work with not against the IT initiatives. With Dynamic Role Based Access Control, the security within SharePoint is now defined once and changes automatically over time, significantly reducing administration, increasing security and lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO). Static Groups at the virtual directory layer can span multiple SharePoint sites allowing for more control and flexibility in the deployment.
VIS for SharePoint also simplifies the security within SharePoint by providing administrators a dynamic role-based access control security model for SharePoint. Administrators are no longer required to manage security and group membership on an on-going basis. Instead, SharePoint administrators define dynamic groups based on business rules for who should be included in a dynamic group only once. The Virtual Identity Server for SharePoint dynamically computes the group membership on-the-fly and in real-time. As the data changes on the user, so does the group membership. The security within SharePoint is now defined once and changes automatically, significantly reducing administration, increasing security and lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO).
VIS extends the SharePoint deployment further by providing comprehensive auditing and reporting capabilities. VIS tracks and logs all LDAP activity to a Microsoft SQL Server database. VIS provides valuable auditing information that can be easily reported on using the Virtual Identity Server Reports, a web based reporting and compliance solution that is optionally available with VIS. Virtual Identity Server Reports allows reports to be run interactively using a .NET web application or can be scheduled for email distribution in popular formats such as PDF, Word and Excel.
The VIS/SharePoint integration is extremely flexible and can accommodate a wide variety of deployment scenarios. Customer requirements vary but often share a common architecture goal such as the ability to:
Download VIS & SharePoint Datasheet (pdf)