News

A10 Networks Helps Tokyo Zokei U Simplify Identity and Password Management

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 02/12/09

Tokyo Zokei University has deployed A10 Networks' ID Series network identity management appliance to simplify user ID and password management. The university maintains user information in multiple data stores, including Microsoft Active Directory, Apple Open Directory, RedHat Linux, and Sun Solaris. Before the implementation, staff used a complicated manual update process when user information needed to be changed.

After an evaluation of five solutions, the university chose A10's ID Series appliance for centralized provisioning. In a statement the school said several factors drove its decision: support for its four types of data stores; self-service capabilities, which allow users to change and reset their own passwords; and the equipment's ability draw user account information from multiple databases and display a consolidated view on a single screen.

"Tokyo Zokei University now has a system in place that ensures we can update user accounts across multiple systems even though they operate independently," said Koichi Taguchi, manager of system section for the university. "A10's ID Series appliances offer a comprehensive amount of functionality and high-performance platform for the best price on the market today. Our user account management issues have been solved effectively."

The solution includes a RADIUS Authentication Server, which allows administrators to authenticate multiple backend data stores for authentication consolidation; identity tracking via IP, to resolve an IP or a MAC address to a user; and reporting, to check password update information for each user.

The university has 2,000 students and 350 faculty and staff.