Novell Open Enterprise Server
Novell Modular Authentication Service
Overview
Novell® Modular Authentication Service is a component of Novell eDirectory that offers you an easy way to centrally manage multiple authentication methods across your network. With Novell Modular Authentication Service you can implement stronger forms of authentication and authorization to secure your critical corporate resources.
While removing the complexity of directory-based authentication, Novell Modular Authentication Service allows you to create a variety of flexible security options and helps remove the administrative overhead involved with maintaining password information throughout your organization. With Novell Modular Authentication Service, users can authenticate to the network via something they know (for example, a password), something they have (for example, a smart card), or something they are (for example, a fingerprint). And by supporting smart cards, proximity cards, Kerberos, tokens, biometrics and digital certificates, Novell Modular Authentication Service provides a way to centrally and easily manage all of your authentication methods.
In addition to its administration features, Novell Modular Authentication Service offers graded authentication. With graded authentication, you can create a security policy that grants access to your file system or directory resources based on the strength and combination of the authentication. For example, you can create a method that requires a user to log in with a password, present a valid smart card ID and successfully complete fingerprint identification. By including graded authentication and support for various Novell and third-party authentication modules, Novell Modular Authentication Service provides you with several security options and ensures that your network will not be compromised by a carelessly handled password.
Novell Modular Authentication Service is available in Novell eDirectory versions 8.7.1 and higher. For more information about Novell eDirectory, go to http://www.novell.com/edirectory.
Additional Information
This page outlines the NMAS functionality that is part of Novell Open Enterprise Server. For comprehensive information about NMAS, please see http://www.novell.com/products/nmas/overview.html.