1. JISC: Extending Access Management
into Business & Community Engagement
Scoping Study
th
24 November 2009
Helen Baird, Managing Consultant, Oakleigh Consulting Ltd
Tel: 07930 929031 / 020 7380 1006 helenbaird@oakleigh.co.uk

2. Rationale for study
Benefits for BCE users of having access to
institutional resources – & to economy/society
Requirement for secure, controlled access for
targeted groups to certain institutional resources
Identity & access management can enable access for
non-traditional user groups

3. Aims
Assess case for extending identity & access
management approaches into BCE
Make recommendations to JISC to inform
next steps in this area

4. Approach
Extensive desk based review
Consultation with sector bodies, HE & FE
institutions, users, JISC staff & contractors
Survey of relevant organisations in 8
countries

5. Key findings – current practice
No standardisation in how BCE users obtain access
rights, or how arranged / administered
Most institutions find ways round rules to grant
access – reactive on a case by case basis
Lots of IAM developments across sector, but focus
on internal users’ access to, some internal, but
mainly externally provided resources

6. Key findings – demand
External – e.g. from SMEs, tenants, collaborative
research & learning delivery partners, employers,
distance & work-based learners, alumni
Internal – IT & library staff want to deal with access for
non-traditional groups in systematised way
Future demand – range of factors will influence e.g.
open access agenda, demographics, technological,
government ID management initiatives

7. Issues & barriers
Staff & external users unaware/unclear what
resources external groups can access – & how to
achieve this
Awareness of IAM & benefits is low – language of
IAM a barrier in itself
Cultural & organisational barriers in institutions; not
technological
Constraints of licensing for third party resources –
requirement is for ad hoc, remote access

8. Federated access
management
Possible basis for solution – though changes required
if use UK AM Federation
Not yet possible for external BCE users to engage as
can’t become members
Plus institutions not yet acting as service providers
Policy change required & need a ‘home’ or ‘virtual’
organisation

9. Other possible solutions
Institutional – making improvements at individual
institution level, e.g. external access policy, more
strategic approach to IM
Cross-institutional – regional or subject web
portals/networks to facilitate access to resources
‘Ideal solution’ – web interface / portal for targeted
groups to access all institutional & third party
resources in controlled way

10. Conclusions
Business & community groups would benefit from
access to institutional knowledge assets
Extending IAM into BCE not considered high priority
for institutions
Study suggests BCE users require clarity on what
resources are available to them – & a simple,
standardised way of accessing these

11. Recommendations for JISC
With partners decide on vision & strategy for
extending IAM into BCE
Explore potential & options of using Federation
for access for external users
Take more holistic approach & responsibility for
IAM – & share good practice
Help facilitate institutions’ development of IAM
solutions for external user groups