Q. What does OpenAthens’ hybrid solution include and how does it benefit my institution?

Answer...

OpenAthens’ hybrid solution provides SSO via a combination of federated access and a managed proxy. This gives library users secure and seamless access to thousands of resources including journals, e-books and databases on campus or remotely. Users log in once with SSO while the managed proxy ensures reliable off-campus access and a consistent user-friendly experience. 

While major platforms support federated access, many library resources are published by smaller organizations that do not have the resources or need to set up federated authentication. For these resources, the managed proxy remains an essential solution, and OpenAthens fully supports it. 

OpenAthens also ensures future-proof access. When proxy authentication declines, OpenAthens’ customers remain safe through federated authentication. OpenAthens Compass not only supports SAML-based federated and single sign-on authentication, but also includes its own federation, providing an additional layer of secure, seamless access. 

OpenAthens’ hybrid approach with SSO and managed proxy delivers seamless access, better user experience and expert support for libraries and their users worldwide. 

Key benefits: 

• Inclusive access: Connects your institution to thousands of publishers using a combination of IP, proxy and SAML technologies. 

• Better user experience: Consistent, seamless access for all users, on-campus or remote, improving engagement and resource usage, regardless of where your users start their journey. 

• Expert support: Dedicated authentication specialists simplify setup and on-going maintenance. 

• Collaborative approach: We simplify complex processes and customize our approach to fit your needs. 

• Customer-centric reliability: Trusted service with 92% customer satisfaction and support available 20 hours a day. 

• Future-proofed solution:  By supporting different technologies, OpenAthens provides a future-proofed solution for you to rely on.