New version of Microsoft “Geneva” identity and access management platform

“Geneva” is a Microsoft next generation identity and access management platform built on Active Directory directory services. It is an open platform that provides simplified access and single sign-on for on-premises and cloud-based applications in the enterprise, across organizations, and on the Web.

“Geneva” leverages claims which describe identity attributes and can be used to drive application and other system behaviors with an open architecture that implements an Identity Metasystem vision. Claims issued by security token services (STS) are used in the Identity Metasystem to help applications make user-access decisions across applications and systems regardless of location or architecture. Claims are delivered inside security tokens produced by an STS and can disclose identity information selectively.

With beta 2, Microsoft is announcing interoperability between “Geneva” and identity and access solutions via the SAML 2.0 and WS-Federation standards. Interoperable partner solutions include CA Federation Manager and CA SiteMinder, Novell Access Manager, SAP NetWeaver and Sun’s OpenSSO Enterprise and Fedlet software.

You can download beta 2 code for all three components of “Geneva”:

• The “Geneva” Server for IT professionals to transform claims and other tokens, manage user access, and enables federation.
• The “Geneva” Framework for developers to build claims-aware .NET applications.
• Windows CardSpace “Geneva” for developers to provide end users with secure online identity management.