Project Overview
The iFIRExMAN project successfully extended identity federation and access management infrastructure across 24 Asi@Connect partner economies. Led by Universiti Putra Malaysia in collaboration with key regional organizations, this initiative provided cloud-based toolkits, on-site technical support, and comprehensive capacity-building activities to strengthen digital trust networks across Asia.
Lead Institution
Universiti Putra Malaysia - Coordinating institution providing technical leadership and project management
Beneficiary Countries
Primary focus countries that received intensive support for identity federation development:
Key Activities Conducted
TF-IAM Training Workshop
Comprehensive training workshop conducted at APAN55 in Kathmandu, Nepal, focusing on identity and access management best practices for NREN technical staff across the region.
Pilot Toolkit Deployment
Strategic deployment visits to Laos, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Indonesia to implement federation toolkits and provide hands-on technical support for local NREN teams.
Federation Toolkit Development
Creation and refinement of comprehensive federation toolkits including metadata registry systems, policy templates, and deployment guides tailored for regional needs.
Stakeholder Engagement
Intensive mentoring and consultation activities led by AAF and SIFULAN experts to support policy development and technical implementation across partner organizations.
Regional Community Building
Strengthening of the TF-IAM regional community through knowledge sharing, best practice dissemination, and collaborative problem-solving initiatives.
eduGAIN Integration Support
Technical assistance and guidance for partner countries seeking to join the global eduGAIN confederation, including policy alignment and technical readiness assessment.
Key Outcomes & Achievements
Technical Deliverables
- Federation Tools Released: Comprehensive federation toolkits made publicly available for pilot use, enabling rapid deployment of identity management systems
- Pilot Federations Initiated: Successfully launched pilot federation systems in Cambodia, Laos, and Bangladesh with ongoing technical support
- Capacity Building: 37 NREN technical staff members trained through comprehensive TF-IAM programs and workshops
- eduGAIN Pathway: Technical foundation established for selected partners to pursue eduGAIN membership and global research network integration
Strategic Impact
The project catalyzed regional collaboration among identity federation stakeholders and established critical digital trust infrastructure. Through community-driven deployment strategies and comprehensive policy mentoring, it reinforced long-term infrastructure resilience across participating economies. The initiative successfully bridged critical gaps in regional identity federation capabilities while laying groundwork for scalable IAM strategies throughout Asia.
Partner Organizations
The iFIRExMAN project brought together leading organizations from across the Asia-Pacific region to deliver comprehensive identity federation solutions:
Challenges & Future Directions
Challenges Addressed
- COVID-19 Impact: Travel restrictions disrupted implementation timelines, requiring adaptation to remote delivery methods
- Readiness Variation: Limited national readiness in several NRENs required tailored support approaches
- Language Barriers: Limited technical documentation in local languages posed training challenges
Future Directions
- Continued Mentoring: Ongoing support through APAN's TF-IAM platform for sustained development
- Toolkit Publication: Comprehensive documentation and translation guidelines for broader adoption
- Policy Strengthening: Enhanced institutional uptake and national policy development support
Contributing to Sustainable Development Goals
Long-term Vision & Legacy
Sustainable Impact
The iFIRExMAN project established a foundation for sustained identity federation development across Asia. Through the creation of reusable toolkits and comprehensive training programs, participating economies gained the confidence and capability to manage and scale identity services using locally tailored strategies.
Regional Integration Goals
A key long-term objective is helping partner countries achieve sustained eduGAIN membership and integration into wider research networks. The project has laid the groundwork for forming a regional task force focused on IAM localization and multilingual documentation efforts.
Knowledge Transfer Continuity
Beyond formal project activities, technical knowledge-sharing continues through informal follow-up calls and ongoing mentoring relationships. Documentation templates and step-by-step deployment guides have been shared with partners to support post-project implementation and expansion.
Building Digital Trust Networks
The iFIRExMAN project has created a scalable model for identity federation deployment that can be replicated across other regions, fostering global research collaboration and secure digital infrastructure.