OpenAthens

OpenAthens

OpenAthens is an access management system that provides single sign-on to resources including publications, databases, and other online services, especially for the education and research sectors. It allows users to access subscribed resources using existing credentials from thei
Education & Reference Academic Resources
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OpenAthens alternatives ➤

OpenAthens: Single Sign-On for Education and Research

Access management system providing single sign-on to publications, databases, and online services for the education and research sectors using existing organization credentials.

What is OpenAthens?

OpenAthens is an access and identity management system designed for the education and research sectors. It provides single sign-on access to many online resources including publications, databases, and other digital services.

OpenAthens allows users from participating organizations to access subscribed resources using their existing institutional credentials. For example, a university student or staff member can sign in once with their university username and password to access journal articles, ebooks, and databases licensed by their library.

This saves users from having to sign in repeatedly to access different systems. It also enables easier management for administrators, as they can easily add or revoke access as people join or leave the institution. Usage statistics are also aggregated at an institutional level via OpenAthens.

The system is developed and maintained by UK company Jisc as a not-for-profit service. Over 1000 organizations worldwide make use of OpenAthens currently to provide streamlined resource access for their members. It integrates with common technologies like SAML and LDAP as well as linking directly to identity providers from Google, Facebook and more.

OpenAthens Features

Features

  1. Single sign-on access to subscribed resources
  2. Integration with existing organizational credentials and authentication systems
  3. Support for SAML, OpenID Connect, OAuth, Shibboleth
  4. Access management and entitlements
  5. Usage reporting and statistics
  6. Branding and customization options
  7. APIs for integration with other systems

Pricing

  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Simplified access for users

Reduced administration for organizations

Cost savings from centralized authentication

Improved security through single sign-on

Better user experience

Cons

Dependency on vendor

Integration can be complex

May not support all required authentication protocols

Limited customization options in some cases

Official Links

Official Website
https://www.openathens.org

The Best OpenAthens Alternatives

Top Education & Reference and Academic Resources and other similar apps like OpenAthens

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SimpleSAMLphp

SimpleSAMLphp is an open-source PHP application that allows organizations to set up a SAML-based single sign-on identity provider. It supports SAML 1.1 and SAML 2.0 protocols to enable federated authentication between applications or organizational domains.Some key capabilities and use cases of SimpleSAMLphp include:Enabling single sign-on across various web applications like...
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Shibboleth

Shibboleth is an open source single sign-on system designed for educational institutions and organizations. It provides a federated identity framework that enables secure access to resources across organizational boundaries.Here are some key features of Shibboleth:Allows users to sign in once with their institutional credentials to gain access to multiple resources...
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