Unicon Launches Navigate Identity: A Tailored Identity and Access Management Solution for Higher Education

Gilbert, AZ, October 8th, 2024—Unicon, Inc., a leading provider of open-source technology solutions for higher education, proudly announces the launch of Navigate Identity, a comprehensive identity and access management (IAM) solution. Designed specifically to address the unique challenges of higher education, Navigate provides institutions with a flexible, secure, and scalable platform for managing digital identities, enhancing security, and ensuring seamless access to resources.

Solving the Challenges of Identity and Access Management in Higher Education

Higher education institutions and their unique tech stacks face a host of IAM challenges, from managing complex user roles across multiple systems to ensuring compliance with security and data protection standards. In conjunction with the rapid rate of change in digital learning technology, enterprise solutions often fail to address the specific needs of academic environments.

With Navigate Identity, Unicon offers a customizable solution that meets institutions where they are in their modernization strategy, addressing IAM needs with precision to accelerate goals and maximize ROI.

The platform is designed to:

• Streamline identity and access management across multiple systems.
• Automate provisioning and de-provisioning, ensuring efficient user access throughout the user lifecycle.
• Provide robust security with role-based access control, AI-powered threat detection, and comprehensive audit reporting.
• Integrate seamlessly with legacy systems, allowing institutions to modernize without losing critical infrastructure.
• Eliminate hidden fees, offering full cost transparency with a fixed pricing model.

"Our mission with Navigate Identity is to empower educational institutions with the tools they need to securely manage their digital identities without the complexity and constraints of commercial solutions," said Dave Mendez, Senior Director, Critical Infrastructure at Unicon. "We understand the unique challenges our clients face, and we've built Navigate to offer the flexibility and control they need to overcome them."

Navigate Identity vs. Commercial IAM Solutions

While traditional enterprise IAM platforms offer adequate features for the commercial sector, they often fall short in addressing the specific needs of higher education. Here's how Navigate sets itself apart:

• Ownership and Flexibility: Unlike Okta and Entra ID, which can impose rigid workflows, Navigate offers full ownership and flexibility. Institutions can fully control their system and data, allowing customization to fit their exact needs.
• Seamless Legacy Integration: Navigate is designed to work with legacy systems common in higher education. Commercial solutions often require significant adjustments or lack compatibility, whereas Navigate allows institutions to maintain their existing infrastructure.
• No Hidden Fees: Unlike many commercial offerings, Navigate Identity is built on open-source technologies like Shibboleth and midPoint, eliminating licensing fees and costly add-ons often required by proprietary solutions.
• Enhanced Group Management: With advanced group management features powered by Grouper, Navigate excels in areas where commercial solutions like Microsoft Entra ID struggle, particularly in managing complex group and policy provisioning.
• Security and Compliance: Navigate provides advanced security features, including encryption and continuous vulnerability scanning, ensuring institutions meet compliance requirements without sacrificing performance.

Get Started with Navigate Identity

Institutions looking to enhance their identity and access management can get started with Navigate Identity by visiting the Navigate Identity microsite, or reaching out to Unicon's expert team for more details. The microsite platform offers further information on the flexible pricing and a proof-of-concept option, allowing institutions to explore Navigate’s features in a real-world environment before committing to full implementation. Navigate Identity is also available through AWS Marketplace, providing an easy procurement process with potential cost-saving options through AWS funding.

For more information about Navigate Identity and how it can transform identity and access management for your institution, visit unicon.net or contact Unicon at sales@unicon.net.