Kaseya Ltd., the Waltham, Mass.-based IT management and security software vendor, introduced a software-as-a-service edition of its AuthAnvil identity and access management (IAM) solution today at the annual Kaseya Connect user event in Carlsbad, Calif.
Named AuthAnvil On-Demand and built entirely on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform, the solution features a new cloud-based “Universal Directory” feature that Kaseya CTO Dana Epp describes as the cornerstone of the company’s future IAM strategy.
“It allows our customers to host a cloud directory that interfaces with hybrid IT scenarios where on-premise directories may not be available, and removes many of the complexities of enterprise-class federation[,] making it available to everyone,” writes Epp in emailed comments.
Together with AuthAnvil On-Demand’s enhanced multifactor authentication (MFA) and sign sign-on (SSO) functionality, the Universal Directory enables MSPs to centralize client-level authentication policies in a single hosted identity repository, and then apply them wherever users seek access to protected applications.
“In others words, make the decision once, and automate the delivery of those security decisions everywhere,” Epp writes.
In conjunction with today’s launch, Kaseya has also released a totally redesigned version of its AuthAnvil Authenticator app that’s capable of providing unified multifactor authentication for solutions from Dropbox, Google, Microsoft, and dozens of other vendors, many of which offer their own MFA tools.
“No more need to have a boat anchor of soft tokens for all your different services,” Epp writes.
Though Kaseya will continue selling and supporting the legacy, on-premises edition of AuthAnvil, it ultimately expects AuthAnvil On-Demand to supplant it.
“Over time we believe our customers will move to the On-Demand version where we can embrace next generation technologies we just can’t offer on-premise,” writes Epp, who notes elsewhere in his email that the Universal Directory is an example of such technologies. That feature will be available exclusively in AuthAnvil On-Demand.†Epp also observes that AuthAnvil On-Demand’s SSO feature can ease the migration process for users of the legacy edition of AuthAnvil by providing a single identity directory for the product’s cloud-based and on-premises editions.
According to Kaseya, MSPs can use AuthAnvil On-Demand three ways:
- To provide identity-as-a-service (IDaaS) solutions encompassing MFA, SSO, and password management to their customers.
- To deliver comprehensive security solutions that include anti-malware, anti-virus, and hosted backup services in addition to IDaaS.
- To strengthen the security of their in-house client management tools, by restricting access to those systems more selectively, protecting client passwords more effectively, and eliminating access privileges for former employees automatically.
“The IDaaS market is expected to double over the next two years representing an area of explosive growth,” said Kaseya chief product officer Mike Puglia in a press release. “AuthAnvil On- Demand empowers MSPs to capture this opportunity and rapidly build and deploy profitable service offerings in the end-user security space.”
Kaseya AuthAnvil On-Demand is available immediately worldwide via dedicated data centers in North America and Europe. The new solution reaches market just two days after Kaseya launched an updated version of its Kaseya VSA systems management and remote monitoring solution.
