Microsoft said this week it would collaborate with Zend Technologies to allow PHP developers to build support for user-centric identity cards into their Web-based applications.
PHP is a popular general-purpose scripting language suited for Web development and can be embedded into HTML. Developers will now have the option of using Microsoft's information card technology to secure access to applications instead of requiring user names and passwords.
Microsoft's client implementation of the information card technology is called CardSpace, which ships with Vista and can be added to Windows XP. There are also other information card implementations, including Novell's DigitalMe software that includes a client for the Mac.
The information card implementations provide users with a "digital wallet" that holds any number of separate identity cards that can be used to authenticate to various Web sites or network resources, such as applications or databases, or to complete transactions online.
Zend Technologies will enable support for information cards through a component built for Zend Framework, an open source PHP application framework for developing Web applications and Web services. Using the component as part of the framework or on its own, PHP developers can specify a Web site's security policy and allow the acceptance of information cards from trusted third parties.
PHP is the fourth development technology to offer information card support. The others are ASP.NET, Ruby on Rails
and an information card library project implemented in C, developed by identity federation vendor Ping Identity.
Microsoft last month, launched a massive scalability test around CardSpace by supporting its use on its Hotmail and other Live online services. Microsoft also said it would update CardSpace by year-end with options to ease deployment. Version 3.5 of the .Net Framework, which includes the CardSpace technology, will not require Web sites using CardSpace to have an SSL certificate. With .Net Framework 3.0, every CardSpace site had to deploy as a secure HTTP (HTTPS) site. That meant that casual Web sites, such as those run by bloggers, had to buy and correctly install a certificate, and run from a fixed IP address just to provide simple logons via CardSpace.
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Computerworld Live Podcast #97: The Future of Enterprise Networking 25/07/2008 09:45:36
This week CW Live chats with Mark Thompson, global sales and marketing manager for HP ProCurve, on the future of the enterprise networking. Mark discusses the trends we can expect to see in the near future and how the right infrastructure can ensure your enterprise network is secure. - +
Computerworld Live Podcast #96: Security at the Edge 11/06/2008 09:22:22
CW Live speaks with Amol Mitra, HP ProCurve Director of Marketing for Asia Pacific and Japan. Today's topic: how enterprises are starting to shift away from simply controlling security via server logins, firewalls and moving to more adaptive security frameworks. - +
Data Management Edition #10: Multi-Petascale Systems 02/05/2008 09:12:33
This week we look at sustainability and the development of multicore technologies to build multi-petascale systems. - +
IT Security Edition #11: How to poison the Storm botnet 01/05/2008 08:51:55
This week CW Live presents a case study on how to poison the notorious Storm botnet . Plus we take a look at Cisco's plans for Ironport. - +
IT Security Edition #10: Cyber-battles fought and won 24/04/2008 11:09:47
Vendors bow to end user pressure to improve product security, and we take a look at the latest concepts shaping the cyber-battlefield of the future.
FrontRange Solutions launches HEAT Plus Mobile to reduce help desk costs and improve service management productivity 2008-12-02 15:15:00+11
AARNet Helps to Advance Indigenous Health 2008-12-02 12:44:00+11
Orbis selects Telstra International as its data centre partner for the UK, Europe and Middle East Region 2008-12-02 11:23:00+11
ComOps Deploys Corporate Performance Reporting Solution For Healthcare Test Manufacturer 2008-12-02 10:09:00+11
Mornington Peninsula Shire implements Objective to manage knowledge and deliver service excellence 2008-12-02 09:56:00+11
Delivering the Power of Choice with Microsoft Dynamics CRM
Join Ed Thompson, Research VP, featured analyst firm, Gartner, Inc., and Brad Wilson, General Manager CRM Microsoft Dynamics, for a new webcast, Delivering the Power of Choice with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, available now. Our panel will break down the best practices for getting the most out of CRM and you'll learn key recommendations you can implement in your organization. Additionally, you'll also hear Microsoft's vision for CRM.
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