Exclusive Sneak Peek: The Update You’ve Anticipated!

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming release of the highly anticipated Shibboleth IdP Dashboard. While the details are still under wraps, we can share a sneak peek of what you can expect from this powerful new tool.

The primary advantage of the new dashboard is its enhanced interface, which consumes fewer server resources and delivers faster performance when displaying reports and executing queries. This upgrade also establishes a strong foundation for introducing new features, such as weekly usage reports sent via email and other frequently requested features. 

The upgrade also includes an external API that can be made accessible externally, allowing institutions to conduct reporting using their preferred tools, such as Microsoft PowerBI. This will enable them to gain unique insights into how their users interact with resources and even combine that data with external data sources for a more comprehensive analysis. 

The Overt development team has been working hard to bring these improvements to our Shibboleth IdP Dashboard. With the new enhancements, managing access to resources has never been easier.

Here are the ultimate key upgrades on the new Shibboleth IdP dashboard. 

1. Improved LDAP Connections Diagnostics 

One of the most powerful new features is the LDAP connections diagnostics page. This page allows dashboard administrators to view all configured LDAP servers, along with their status. It provides a centralised view to help customers and Overt support staff diagnose any LDAP connection issues. 

Some key use cases for the LDAP connections diagnostics include: 

• Troubleshooting user login problems 
• Verifying that Overt AD Link tunnels are properly set up and functioning  
• Ensuring you have at least one backup LDAP connection configured for redundancy 
• Seeing which servers have Overt AD Link set up 
• Checking when LDAPS certificates will expire 

To access the LDAP Connections Diagnostics, go to Settings → LDAP Connections in the dashboard with admin permissions. This will provide a clear overview of your LDAP server status and configuration. 

2. External API for Reporting 

The new upgrade includes an external API that can be opened up, allowing institutions to do reporting via their usual tools like Microsoft PowerBI. This provides a flexible way to access and analyse identity management data, integrating it seamlessly with existing reporting workflows. 

3. Multi-Factor Authentication for Dashboard Admin Users 

In addition to the Support Portal MFA, admin users of the Overt IdP dashboard can now set up multi-factor authentication for their individual accounts within the dashboard itself. This provides an extra layer of security to protect sensitive access management functions. 

To enable MFA for admin users, go to your profile in the dashboard and click "Setup MFA". Follow the instructions to set up a One Time Password (OTP) in your preferred apps like Google Authenticator or a password manager. 

Overt recommends enabling MFA on all dashboard admin accounts, except for the Support Portal account owner. For the main account owner, it's best to enable MFA in the Support Portal itself. This allows them to still benefit from seamless dashboard access while being protected by MFA. 

4. Added System Load Status 

Another valuable addition is the ability to view your IdP's system load status. This provides an at-a-glance look at how your identity service is handling authentication traffic. It can help identify slowdowns or potential issues before they become problems. 

The system load status is useful for both Overt Support staff and customers. It gives insight into whether you need to scale up resources or implement load balancing enhancements to maintain optimal performance. 

5. Shibboleth Configuration Backup 

While the "Raw Config Editor" feature provides revision history on changed files, and Overt performs regular platform backups, we've added a simple way to back up your entire Shibboleth configuration. With a single click, you can create a full backup of your Shibboleth settings. 

This will come in handy whenever you need to make extensive changes or want to create a snapshot before testing new configurations. Currently, restoring these backup files requires assistance from Overt Support. However, if there is enough demand for front-end restore functionality, we may be able to add that in a future update. 

To access the Shibboleth Configuration Backup feature, go to Settings → Backups in the dashboard with admin permissions. 

6. Force Synchronise Server Time 

Accurate time synchronisation is critical for identity providers to function properly with service providers. While Overt automatically syncs our Cloud IdPs to reliable time sources, on-premises customers can sometimes encounter time sync challenges. These are often caused by firewalls blocking NTP traffic or out-of-sync time servers. 

The new "Force Sync" button allows admin users to attempt a time sync against an external NTP server. If that fails, it will try syncing against the customer's internal domain controller. The current service time is also displayed, so you can manually verify the time as well. 

You can find the Force Sync feature under Settings → Language & Timezone in the dashboard with admin permissions. 

7. General Bug Fixes and Improvements 

Along with the significant new features, the upcoming Shibboleth IdP Dashboard will also incorporate various bug fixes and enhancements:

• Dashboard health check/overview page being slow. This is addressed in new idp  
• There is a UI bug on granular access create page, where we cannot remove empty manual rules. This is addressed in new idp  

Elevating Identity Management with Overt Software 

Overt Software is committed to continuously improving our products based on customer feedback and industry best practices. We encourage all users to take advantage of these powerful new tools to elevate their identity management game.

Stay tuned for the official release announcement and prepare to transform your access management processes. Managing identities has never been more streamlined and efficient.

In the meantime, take advantage of your free consultation by clicking the button below. Our Customer Success Team is here to help you with any questions or implementation requirements you may have.