User Authentication for Secure System Access

Siebel CRM provides an open authentication architecture that integrates with a customer’s selected authentication infrastructure. For more information, see Security Adapter Authentication and Single Sign-On Authentication. Siebel CRM supports three types of user authentication. A logical view of each type of authentication is illustrated in the following figure, where each arrow represents a Siebel CRM authentication mechanism:

1. Database authentication. A database security adapter is provided to support database credential collection and verification of users. For more information, see Security Adapter for Database Authentication.

2. LDAP authentication. LDAP security adapters are provided to support credential collection and verification of users in an LDAP-compliant directory. For more in formation, see Security Adapters for LDAP Authentication.

3. Web Single Sign-On (Web SSO). A configurable mechanism for communicating with Web SSO infrastructures is provided, allowing for Siebel user authentication by a third party at the Web-site level. For more information, see Web Single Sign-On.

Customers can also develop custom security adapters using a security adapter SDK. For more information, see Security Adapter SDK.

The authentication mechanisms illustrated in the following figure apply whether users access Siebel CRM from within a LAN or WAN, or remotely.

Note: When using multiple authentication mechanisms simultaneously, one application interface per authentication mechanism must be installed and configured. This applies to all Siebel versions using application interface.