The adoption of cloud-based applications, like PaySpace, continues to rise significantly as more and more businesses opt for the huge benefits associated with cloud computing. Businesses have smartly adopted a hybrid computing environment where users are interacting with on-premises software as well as cloud-based software, often without their knowledge. This model allows internal IT departments to control the inevitable issues of compliance, security and regulation.

To realise the promise of the cloud, there is a clear call for the industry as a whole to help reduce complexity and provide better interoperability. The seamless integration of these hybrid solutions, therefore, provides users with an enjoyable experience.

An area where interoperability has proven to make the most sense is that of user management, and more importantly, authenticating users. Most organisations are managing their domain and user accounts through Active Directory (AD). In order to comply with global security best practice, IT departments have configured AD to manage user accounts in such a way that users are required to create complex passwords and change their passwords periodically.

When it comes to cloud-based applications, it becomes difficult for IT departments to enforce and manage these policies in multiple places, and furthermore, a burden is placed on users as they have to maintain and remember their passwords for a number of applications.

"We are seeing a confirmation of the trend among our large corporate clients to have these hybrid environments merged. PaySpace already offers a best practice security model for user and password management, and has now added a further aspect to our service, which is very exciting," says Warren van Wyk, head of product development at The Insight IT Group.

"PaySpace now has the ability to seamlessly pass a user's credentials to a client's AD in order to authenticate the user. AD passes back a response, which indicates that they have been positively or negatively authenticated and PaySpace will act accordingly.

"The major benefit of this service is that users only need to maintain their credentials in their AD environment, and IT and audit departments are satisfied that group policies are being adhered to. Users can log onto PaySpace outside of their corporate network, as well as on any smart device, and we will authenticate them with their organisation's AD," says Van Wyk.

Business is driving the revolution, deriving clear benefits from cloud adoption in the form of continuous innovation and business agility to yield competitive advantage.

Editorial contact
Bruce van Wyk
(+27) 086 177 7223
brucevw@insightit.co.za