TrustBridge to Simplify Resource Sharing

A software authentication gateway called TrustBridge will allow companies to verify the identities of users coming from other companies’ systems, making it easier to open internal resources to trusted partners. Microsoft’s Passport authentication service will also be revamped to exchange authentication information with TrustBridge-based systems. The earliest deliverables won’t arrive until 2003, but Microsoft is moving now to influence standards for Internet-based authentication and to encourage customers to migrate to Active Directory (AD) and Windows .NET Server.

The Problem: Sharing Internal Resources

The TrustBridge software is intended to make it easier for organizations to share internal resources with individuals and applications at partner organizations. For example, a software company might want to allow its public relations firm to read technical specifications and marketing plans for an upcoming product. Ideally, users at the PR firm could access information at the software company with a single sign-on, without having to log on first at the PR firm and then again at the software company.