What is eduGAIN?

eduGAIN interconnects identity federations around the world (interfederation), thus simplifying access to content, services and resources for the global research and education community. eduGAIN enables the trustworthy exchange of information related to identity, authentication and authorisation (AAI) by coordinating elements of the federations’ technical infrastructure and providing a policy framework that controls this information exchange. eduGAIN is a service developed within the GÉANT project.

For a more detailed explanation about eduGAIN, please look at the following pages: eduGAIN explained (EN) or Over eduGAIN (NL).
 

What advantages does eduGAIN offer for your organisation?

  • Opting-in for eduGAIN allows the users of an organization to access services operated worldwide. They can not only access services operated in SURFconext but also services operated by Service Providers all around the world. In particular, university staff members, researchers and students will be able to participate in research projects that use eduGAIN for authenticated access.
  • Opting-in a SURFconext service to eduGAIN allows creating access control rules for federation-users from all over the world (so not only for users in Dutch higher education).

 

eduGAIN explained in just 4 minutes

 

Getting started with eduGAIN: documentation for Identity Providers and Service Providers

An Identity Provider (IdP) is an organisation that provides information about the identity of a user that makes authentication of a user possible. Examples of Identity Providers are Universities and research institutions. These organizations deliver the identities for their students and employees.

 A Service Provider (SP) is an organisation that delivers content and services that are available via the internet. For example: web shops, video services and publishers but also educational institutions which offer online courses for students from other institutions. Examples are SURFspot, Google Apps for Education and EDUgroepen.