Press Release
COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY PUTS IDENTITY MANAGEMENT
TO WORK
Fischer International's Technology Enables Improved Service
Levels to Students, 90% Reduction in Password Reset Calls, Stronger
Security & Privacy
Naples, FL (May 9, 2006) -- Fischer International,
thought leaders in Identity Management, today announced six-month
results for Coppin State University's deployment of Fischer
Identity Suite. Coppin deployed Fischer password management
and self-service technology to over 9,000 users in the first
phase of their campus-wide Identity Management project. Between
November 2005 and April 2006, Coppin demonstrated dramatic productivity
gains, better and faster service to students, and greater privacy
protection. Fischer's technology also contributed to the success
of the University's initiatives to double online registrations
and increase enrollment.
Since deploying Fischer Password Manager, functional efficiency
and user productivity has improved throughout the university.
For example, enabling users to reset passwords on-demand from
any location has significantly improved service levels and reduced
password reset calls by 90%. The observed reduction in calls
saved Coppin's IT department an average of 22 hours each week
over the six-month period: averaging nearly two hours every
day during normal-load periods, and almost eight hours each
day during the critical four week period that surrounded the
beginning of the Spring semester. These productivity gains were
re-invested by increasing support for applications that support
critical, student-facing business processes.
Privacy protection was also enhanced due to Coppin State's
creative authentication process and decision to enable self-service
identity updates. Coppin configured Fischer Password Manager
to authenticate users via challenge/response against personal
information safeguarded by Fischer. This approach provided Coppin
with greater assurance that each user was indeed who he claimed
to be, avoided the need to disclose personal data to a help
desk representative, and avoided the practice of sending new
passwords to users via email. Coppin's decision to empower users
to update their own identity information likewise eliminated
multiple security challenges. Self-service identity removed
all "eyes" from the update process, and enabled the
revised data to "go live" moments after updates were
completed.
Additionally, Fischer Password Manager has helped Coppin State
extend their geographic reach by providing timely, convenient
and secure password reset capability for off-campus, remote
users.
"Password management is one of the most important technologies
we offer. It is essential for enabling business processes and
student services such as distance learning, online registration,
and remote password resets," said Dr. Ahmad El-Haggan,
CIO, Coppin State University. “Fischer’s remote
deployment capability, real-time customization capability, and
out-of the-box functionality were key to keeping our cost down
while enabling us to very quickly get up and running.”
Fischer's integration technology and remote deployment capabilities
enabled Coppin to complete the campus-wide Password Management
deployment four times faster than a first-generation solution.
Within a week the team deployed the password management solution
and loaded the repository from two different directory domains.
The strength and flexibility of Fischer’s next-generation
architecture enabled Coppin State to add customizations and
functionality changes without increasing implementation time.
Once the changes were made, Coppin State IT personnel reinitialized
the pilot environment to be used in their production environment.
“Coppin State is a model for other organizations that
can’t wait for other vendors to cobble together disparate
components of an Identity Management Suite,” said Reneé
Bacherman, President and CEO of Fischer International. “By
utilizing our next generation architecture, Coppin is realizing
their return on investment today.”
Coppin State University expects to complete their university-wide
roll-out of the full Fischer Identity Suite in summer 2006,
which includes provisioning, compliance, password management,
user self-service, and mobile identity management.
About Coppin State University
Located in Northwest Baltimore, Coppin State University is a
HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) that was
founded in Baltimore City in 1900. A liberal arts university,
Coppin provides academic programs in the arts and sciences,
teacher education, nursing, graduate studies, and continuing
education. A fully accredited urban, residential campus, Coppin
serves Baltimore residents, as well as students from around
the world, with flexible course schedules that include convenient
day, evening, and weekend classes. Coppin is named after the
legendary, pioneering educator Fanny Jackson Coppin. Coppin
continues to fulfill its unique mission of primarily focusing
on the problems, needs, and aspirations of the people of Baltimore’s
central city and its immediate metropolitan area. For additional
information, please visit www.coppin.edu.
About Fischer International
Fischer International was founded in 1982 by Addison Fischer,
a security visionary whose many accomplishments are recognized
globally. Headquartered in Naples, Florida, Fischer International
has a distinguished history of innovation and thought leadership
in the security industry. Fischer continues this tradition by
being the first to deliver the next-generation of Identity Management.
The solution, Fischer Identity Suite, is built upon DataForum™,
Fischer’s standards-based provisioning, approval, and
compliance engine. By design, the engine is an integration technology
as Fischer recognized that integration is the lifeblood of enterprise
Identity Management. Additionally, compliance is organically
incorporated throughout because compliance must be part of the
DNA in any Identity Management solution. Like all Fischer solutions,
the Fischer Identity Suite will stand the test of time. For
additional information, please visit www.FischerInternational.com
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Media Contact:
Dennis McDermott
Chief Marketing Officer
Fischer International
(239) 643-1500
dmd@fischerinternational.com |
