IBM has announced software to automate identity management for .NET environments, expanding IBM Tivoli software's existing identity management support for Java and Windows environments.

A new software tool, available on www.alphaworks.com, gives IBM Tivoli Access Manager customers a way to manage access control for Microsoft ASP .NET applications. Customers can use IBM's software to enforce and audit access to applications and data using the same security policy enforcement system, regardless of development platform. These capabilities can help free developers from having to build security into each application and reduce the time needed to change security policies in each application.

To help reduce password angst, IBM Tivoli Access Manager also features a Windows desktop single sign-on capability that allows users to enter their Windows logon password once and be automatically authenticated to critical business applications that are protected by IBM Tivoli Access Manager.

Without Tivoli software, end-users have had to input countless passwords a day to access corporate applications, costing businesses millions in help desk calls for lost and misplaced passwords. IBM Tivoli Access Manager's single sign-on integration with the Microsoft Windows' desktop logon provides end-users with faster, more secure access to the business applications they use on a daily basis and can reduce help desk costs.

IBM Tivoli Access Manager is part of IBM's integrated identity management software portfolio. As part of IBM's commitment to heterogeneous environments, other IBM Tivoli identity management software already supports the Windows environment. Future products will exploit Web services standards to maximize interoperability.