The present invention relates generally to a method for managing conflicting constraints, and in particular to a method and associated system for managing late constraints in an identity management system.
Determining system limitations typically includes an inaccurate process with little flexibility. Resolving system limitations may include a complicated process that may be time consuming and require a large amount of resources. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to overcome at least some of the deficiencies and limitations described herein above.
A first aspect of the invention provides a method comprising: dynamically generating, by a computer processor of an identity management system, a role/account attribute table storage from static and dynamic rule defined values; receiving, by the computer processor from a user, a role request for a first role associated with the user; calculating, by the computer processor, a set of attributes comprising a result of the role request; storing, by the computer processor within the role/account attribute table storage, the set of attributes; transmitting, by the computer processor to a target system, the set of attributes, wherein the target system evaluates the set of attributes for constraints; and receiving, by the computer processor, a result of the target system evaluating the set of attributes for constraints.
A second aspect of the invention provides a computing system comprising a computer processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, the memory unit comprising instructions that when executed by the computer processor implements a method comprising: dynamically generating, by the computer processor, a role/account attribute table storage from static and dynamic rule defined values; receiving, by the computer processor from a user, a role request for a first role associated with the user; calculating, by the computer processor, a set of attributes comprising a result of the role request; storing, by the computer processor within the role/account attribute table storage, the set of attributes; transmitting, by the computer processor to a target system, the set of attributes, wherein the target system evaluates the set of attributes for constraints; and receiving, by the computer processor, a result of the target system evaluating the set of attributes for constraints.
A third aspect of the invention provides a computer program product, comprising a computer readable hardware storage device storing a computer readable program code, the computer readable program code comprising an algorithm that when executed by a computer processor of a computer system implements a method, the method comprising: dynamically generating, by the computer processor, a role/account attribute table storage from static and dynamic rule defined values; receiving, by the computer processor from a user, a role request for a first role associated with the user; calculating, by the computer processor, a set of attributes comprising a result of the role request; storing, by the computer processor within the role/account attribute table storage, the set of attributes; transmitting, by the computer processor to a target system, the set of attributes, wherein the target system evaluates the set of attributes for constraints; and receiving, by the computer processor, a result of the target system evaluating the set of attributes for constraints.
The present invention advantageously provides a simple method and associated system capable of determining system limitations.
Identity management system 2 of
Identity management system 2 performs the following process for handling an external constraint situation:
1. Dynamically generating a table from static and dynamic (rule) defined values such that a resulting set of attribute values are linked to an originating role (i.e., an attribute value to role mapping table).
2. After generating the table, an internal/external function is called resulting in a set of conflicting values based on constraints in target system or external separation of duty (SOD) system.
3. Retrieving resulting sets and mapping the resulting sets to similar constraint sets on role level.
4. Calling an action to remedy the set of constraints. For example, via removal of roles from request, approval of exception(s), etc.
5. Evaluating SOD issues based on programmatic assigned values.
Simple role based access control (RBAC) provisioning comprises a basis for RBAC provisioning comprising a request for a role set comprising one or more roles. The role set is used as input to a provisioning process and mapped to account attributes of a provisioned system(s) together with eventual existing (un-modified) account attributes associated with the requested role and a mechanism to resolve joint policy results of an eventual overlapping of account attributes. The following Example 1 illustrates a request of a Role1 resulting in an account change where a Value1 is added to an existing Value2 of the account. The Value2 is governed by an additional provisioning account entitlement parameter.
The following Example 2 illustrates a request of a Role1 resulting in an account change where a Value1 is replacing an existing Value2 of the account resulting from a join policy thereby implying that an account entitlement parameter for Value1 comprises a higher priority than the Value2.
Generally, a process for mapping from a set of roles to a set of attribute values is performed with respect to a set of methods that include set operations (e.g., mapping/joining) and programmatic functions (e.g., regular expressions and scripting in languages such as, inter alia, JavaScript).
If a target system comprises rules that define constraints between attribute values (e.g., separation of duty) where certain values are normally not allowed together and may require special authorization, the rules may not be known to an identity management provisioning process. Therefore, a constraint evaluation process may be reflected in the identity management provisioning process so that eventual conflicts may be expressed in terms of identity management provisioning role conflicts and be resolved within an identity management provisioning solution before a final result is enforced into a provisioning target system as described, infra, with respect to
The identity management solution may store a relationship between Roles and resulting attribute values in a table structure as illustrated in table 2:
A constraint is defined as a function of attribute values. For example, an equation: SUM(Exists(Attr1:Value1),Exists(Attr1:Value2))<=1 describes a constraint to check whether Attr1:Value1 and Attr1:Value2 exists on a same result set (if they do the SUM will be 2). If the constraint function returns a false reading it is considered violated. Therefore, a call out function is applied to an external system to receive an eventual constraint back as illustrated in table 3:
A constraining system returns a list of attribute values back to the identity management system. The list of attribute values is then mapped back to a roles and attribute values structure and the constraint is carried over into a new constraint on a role level as illustrated in table 4:
Therefore, the identity management system may remedy the situation by removing one of the roles (a change should trigger repetition of the external validation process) or by approving the constraint before transmitting final values to the target system.
Receiving a request for a new role assignment is received (from a role request interface) by a role attribute resolver component 304 of an identity management system. The request triggers a workflow in the identity management system resulting in a resolution of resulting accounts and associated attributes and values. Resulting account attribute details and parent role details are transmitted to a role attribute mapper component 312. Role attribute mapper component 312 maintains a role attribute map data store 316 based on input from role attribute mapper component 312. Control is returned to an identity management system workflow. Control is passed to identity management system policy enforcer component 306. Identity management system policy enforcer component 306 requests a constraint compliance check from an external constraint provider component 318. A result is returned to identity management system policy enforcer component 306. If any non-compliance results remain from external constraint provider component 318, system policy enforcer component 306 reads a role attribute. In response, role attribute map data store 316 is ordered to obtain parent role(s) for non-compliant attributes. Identity management system policy enforcer component 306 remedies the non-compliances. Final account and associated attributes are forwarded (i.e., by account provisioner component 308) for provisioning to a target business system 310.
Still yet, any of the components of the present invention could be created, integrated, hosted, maintained, deployed, managed, serviced, etc. by a service supplier who offers to perform a process for provisioning and transforming constraints. Thus the present invention discloses a process for deploying, creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and/or integrating computing infrastructure, including integrating computer-readable code into the computer system 90, wherein the code in combination with the computer system 90 is capable of performing a method for performing a process for provisioning and transforming constraints. In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method that performs the process steps of the invention on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service supplier, such as a Solution Integrator, could offer to perform a process for provisioning and transforming constraints. In this case, the service supplier can create, maintain, support, etc. a computer infrastructure that performs the process steps of the invention for one or more customers. In return, the service supplier can receive payment from the customer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/or the service supplier can receive payment from the sale of advertising content to one or more third parties.
While
While embodiments of the present invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, many modifications and changes will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to encompass all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.
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