Authentication Solutions - By Challenge

Too Many Passwords to Manage

Challenge

End-users are required to keep track of numerous passwords (typically from 8-12) for the various applications they need to access to do their jobs.  At the same time, the IT staff must manage all the corresponding sets of password stores and user accounts, and coordinate the disparate password policies of these applications.

Password management for both end-users and IT administrators can be time-consuming, thus diminishing productivity.  For end-users, 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.  For administrators, time is lost due to how long it takes to respond to password-related calls and to coordinate user accounts and password policies.

Solution

PistolStar’s Password Power and PortalGuard enable end-users to employ their Active Directory password for accessing numerous enterprise applications, such as Lotus Domino and Notes, IBM WebSphere and System i, SAP and Oracle.  As a result, they have one password they need to remember to access all these applications, which greatly decreases the incidence of forgotten passwords and dramatically reduces calls to the Help Desk for password resets.

Both products also enable end-users to perform self-service password reset/recovery, freeing administrators of the time spent to complete the task.  Because end-users only have one password, they only need to change one password and in just one location.

With Active Directory as the central authentication point, the IT staff is able to centralize password management.  Administrators reduce the number of password stores and user accounts they need to oversee, and streamline and unify password policies.  Accordingly, they free up time they need to devote to more urgent IT security matters.