You can strengthen the security of your font distribution, control and compliance initiatives by integrating FontAgent® with your enterprise directory services and user authentication technologies.
To streamline and simplify your authentication initiatives, FontAgent supports a variety of identity, access management and directory standards – whether you are using FontAgent Server on-premises or in the Cloud.
The Role of FontAgent Server in the Enterprise
FontAgent Server is a powerful solution for the control of fonts in enterprise user communities. As the central component in font deployment and compliance strategies, FontAgent Server:
- Stores your fonts and associated metadata in a central repository
- Distributes fonts to users based on user- and group-level permissions
- Tracks font licenses, distribution and usage
- Monitors font license compliance and produces related alerts and reports
User Permissions Control Font Access
When your users connect to FontAgent Server, it verifies their identities using the authentication method you specify. The server then syncs users’ fonts according to permissions assigned to them by admins in your organization.
FontAgent lets you customize font distribution to the specific requirements of your font licenses and your organization. You can assign permissions to fonts by user, departments, roles, project teams, or any other workgroup.
For example, while business users could have access to a core group of fonts used in office applications, creative users can have the right to use specific fonts used on their assigned projects. Font assignments can be made temporarily, until they are revoked by an admin, or even set to auto-expire on a future date.
Choice of Authentication Methods
FontAgent Server supports several ways to authenticate users via internal and third-party Identity and Access Management (IAM) technologies that include:
- Microsoft Azure Active Directory
- Active Directory
- Okta identity platform
- LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) authentication
- FontAgent’s built-in email/password authentication service
If you’re using Azure Active Directory, you can also configure FontAgent to require multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Note that most small organizations without enterprise directory and authentication initiatives tend to use FontAgent’s built-in authentication service with minimal effort and great success.
Single Sign-on Considerations
The growth of cloud computing has popularized the use of single sign-on (SSO) technologies as organizations attempt to simplify login security for browser-based, online apps. But there’s no requirement to use SSO technology with FontAgent since it does not require a browser login. Instead, FontAgent users authenticate with FontAgent Server when they install their client software, and the app automatically and securely connects with the server moving forward.
Insider Can Help You Choose the Right Strategy
Still have questions about how user authentication works in the FontAgent world? Debating the best path for utilizing your enterprise identity management and directory services? Talk to us.