a solution for eliminating passwords to improve access denise oliver, education and outreach...
TRANSCRIPT
A solution for eliminating passwords to improve access
Denise Oliver, Education and Outreach DirectorAlabama Supercomputer Authority COSN 2011
Goals of PresentationIllustrate how Alabama Supercomputer
innovative team project approach worksShow how ASA took a commercial idea,
adapted and applied it to a state-wide initiative Spark ideas about how this might work for you Take information back to your state and share
this idea with teachers and administrators to improve projects where Geo IP may be applicable
Alabama Supercomputer Authority(ASA)
What do we do?Maintain and develop state-wide
network-Alabama Research Education Network (AREN)
High Performance Computing center in Huntsville, AL
Helpdesk services (800-338-8320)E-rate assistanceDevelopment of education
projects/initiativesOther services needed by our clients
(web hosting, disaster recovery, firewalls, email, maintain quality of service)
www.asc.edu
What does ASA do best?Provides high quality technical assistance
locally to state agencies, education institutions, libraries
One-on-One assistance with project development and design
Has an understanding of state issues, technology initiatives, political climate
Supports technology implementation through partnerships with schools, libriaries, libraries and others at a state and national level
Builds consensus and support for technology implementation and infrastructure
ASA ProjectsAlabama Virtual Library (AVL) www.avl.lib.al.usAlabama Learning Exchange (ALEX)
www.alex.state.al.us ACCESS Distance Learning www.accessdl.state.al.us Career Tech (Alabama Career Information Network)
www.alcareerinfo.orgEducate Alabama (Leadership and Evaluation) under
constructionPostsecondary Education-DAX (Data Access
Exchange)Postsecondary Education- Adult Education
5 agency partnership State Department of Education, Department of Postsecondary
Education, Alabama Commission on Higher Education, Alabama Public Library Service, Alabama Supercomputer Authority
Each agency director appoints three members to the Executive Council-all volunteers
Provides current up-to-date resources for the entire state-every citizen has access
24/7 Helpdesk provided by ASA for technical support/information Funded from the Alabama Education Trust Fund-budget line item Supported by legislation through advocacy campaigns Suffers funding cuts like everyone else
How does ASA use GEO IP Authentication?
Project Team
Network Engineer- Richard TriceWebsite Designer-Rob LathamEducation Specialist/AVL Helpdesk support-
Gina FradyEducation and Outreach Director-Denise Oliver-
AVL Council Representative
What started the process?Less funding-higher expectation to do more
with lessLook for economical ways to deploy technologyIncrease use of existing resources to keep
them viableLook at alternative and innovative ways to
provide what we are already providing without increased funding or with funding cuts
Trend to consolidate resources for scale of economy
What is GEO IP Authentication?Authentication based on where user’s IP is
registered and user’s physical locationGeoLocation software determines approximate
user location IP address ranges for libraries and schoolsException IPs on a case by case basis
SatelliteState lineAir cardsMobile devices
Common Uses of GeoIP
Content localization for webmasters who want to serve local content on a global domain
Copyright owners and delivery networks restrict streams based on the geographical information
Target advertising to certain areas i.e.. Banner advertising or pay for view advertising by businesses for selected markets, etc.
Fraud prevention identifies suspicious payment transactions live by correlations between IP address and additional information (billing records, email header)
City advertising by advertising on web sites with extensive content related to particular cities.
Content based on local time using IP geolocation [15]
AVL’s Old Method Of Authentication
http://old.avl.lib.al.usOnly users at public libraries or public school
campuses could ‘easily’ use the AVL resources.‘Home Access’ users had to be issued ‘AVL
Cards’ with usernames and passwords.Every student had to be issued an AVL card in
order to use the AVL resources for home work, reports, etc. outside of the school day
Huge barrier to access of resources-limited access
AVL 2010 Site Redesign Incorporating GEO IP Authentication to remove barriers to access
resources.
How does it work for the user?
How does it work on the back end?
How has this affected AVL card usage?
How has this affected overall usage?
August 2010 Usage
Future Impact on AVL Usage
ChallengesIndividual vendors provide mobile apps for their
products (one at a time)Website design adapted for mobile devicesSome AVL cards still will need to be usedUsing individual vendor Geo IP can shut down project if
there is server failureEducating users about how the new authentication
worksContinued adaptation of the website to include new
features without interfering with authentication (general public page v. access to databases i.e. free trials)
Contact InformationDenise B. Oliver, Education and Outreach
DirectorAlabama Supercomputer Authority
400 S. Union St. #337Montgomery, Al 36104