Connector Framework

The EmpowerID platform supports user provisioning and security management for a wide range of systems by inventorying the information they contain into its metadirectory, applying rule and role-based polices, and then synchronizing the required changes out to the connected systems. Users and other objects in connected systems are visible in the EmpowerID user interfaces and can managed using workflows. In the EmpowerID model the specific communication and technical details of managing objects in connected systems is hidden from the workflows and workflow designers. Workflows for user and group management function without requiring modifications as new systems are added.

Connector design in EmpowerID is flexible to accommodate the requirements of a variety of systems including custom applications. Connectors can communicate with connected systems via a flat file, web services, direct database communication, PowerShell, SSH, or an application's API. Custom connector development is performed using EmpowerID Workflow Studio. Workflow Studio contains wizards and development tools to quickly design connectors for even the most complex systems. Connector development benefits from the Workflow Studio design environment’s team-based source control and versioning, wizard based templates, and the ability to leverage 3rd party APIs and web services.

EmpowerID understands that when it comes to connectors, one size does not fit all. Different systems require or cost-justify different levels of integration and management, ranging from simple flat file feeds to complex connectors supporting complete replacement of the native application's permissions administration tools. To enable a variety of requirements, EmpowerID supports the following types of custom connectors:

• Flat File Connector: Affordable and fast, the flat file connector is a unidirectional flat file feed that connects to HR systems or other authoritative sources and is used to trigger provisioning and de-provisioning events that flow demographic information
• Traditional IDM Direct Connectors: The traditional IDM direct connector is a bi-directional connector that performs the same functions as the flat file connector, with the added ability to make live connections to systems in order to provision and de-provision identities, flow demographic information, and sync password changes in real-time to and from the connected system
• Enterprise Application Connector: The enterprise application connector offers the highest level of integration and allows for full inventory, audit, administration of user accounts, resources, roles, and permissions in managed systems to augment or replace native administration tools

Features and Benefits:

• Saves money with flexible connector options to offer the required functionality at a cost that is affordable
• Saves time with Workflow Studio’s user-friendly development environment
• Reduces risk by minimizing the amount of code that must be written and maintained
• Increases flexibility with a distributed web service agent model that equally manages onsite and hosted systems
• Provides enterprise reliability with a synchronization engine that can scale across multiple servers for parallel processing and fault tolerance