How Do Users Connect to Identity Manager?

Identity Manager has a user interface (UI) for administrators, and a separate interface for end users. To use Identity Manager, administrators and end users use a web browser to log on to Identity Manager.

• Administrators use the administrator interface to manage users, set up and assign resources, define rights and access levels, establish audit policies, manage compliance, and perform other business administrator and system administrator functions.

• End users use the end-user interface to perform a range of self-service tasks, such as changing passwords, setting answers to authentication questions, requesting access to IT systems, and managing delegated assignments.

Figure 1–2 Users Can Connect to Identity Manager Using the Administrator Interface and the End-User Interface

Companies can also use SPML (Service Provisioning Markup Language) to either create their own user interface, or integrate an existing front-end system with Identity Manager.

Other Identity Manager interfaces include the following:

• The IVR (Interactive Voice Response) telephone interface, which enables end users to perform Identity Manager functions using a telephone

• The Identity Manager IDE (Integrated Development Environment), which is used by software developers to customize Identity Manager

• The Identity Manager console, which is a command-line interface available to administrators