Glossary

Configuration Tool

The Configuration Tool is a command-line application that lets administrators adjust the settings used by the Single Sign-On website and the associated CA data source products.

Identity Provider (IdP)

The Identity Provider, or IdP, stores identity or security information and provides it when requested for authentication purposes. Also called the "asserting party," one of the three component roles required for SAML authentication.

LDAP

LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is a protocol that specifies methods for searching and editing directories and storing directory information in IP networks. In addition, LDAP is often used to secure network access because it includes an authentication component. LDAP directories are typically organized into logical groups of units. Microsoft Active Directory is a prominent example of a directory application that uses LDAP.

SAML

The Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) is a security protocol that is based on XML. The basic concept involves the exchange of security assertions about a subject—a person or a computer—that is requesting access to a secure domain. Assertions include whether the subject can access certain resources, and whether an external data source, such as a policy store, is used.

Single Sign-On

Single Sign-On is the authentication scheme for CA Performance Center and all supported data sources. Once they are authenticated to CA Performance Center, users can navigate among the console and registered data sources without signing in a second time.

SSL

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is an encryption protocol that many web browsers support for data security over the Internet. Servers exchange SSL certificates that contain a public key to encrypt the data that is exchanged and a private key to decipher it. SSL lets a web browser specify the level of encryption to use based on browser, client computer, and server capabilities. The maximum level is 256-bit encryption, the most difficult to decipher.

TLS

TLS (Transport Layer Security), and its predecessor, SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), are widely supported encryption protocols that secure data transmissions over the Internet. SSL/TLS can be used in conjunction with HTTP to form HTTPS (HTTP-Secure).