MoRENet, the Mozambican Research and Education Network, recently conducted a successful training program on federated identity management. This initiative aimed to equip researchers, educators, and IT professionals with the essential skills and knowledge necessary to manage and secure access to online research and education resources and services.
The training, held from 20th of May to 24th of May 2024 on Zoom, virtually brought together a diverse group of participants from various institutions across Mozambique. The webinar was moderated by Sergio Mapsanganhe, the Deputy Director General of INAGE, IP. The main speakers included Leonel Nhavene from INAGE, IP/MoRENet, Moises Mucelo, the Academy Manager of INAGE, IP/MoRENet, and guest speakers Revelation Nyirongo from UbuntuNet Alliance, Mario Reale from GEANT, Jean Carlo Faustino from RNP, Paulo Junior from RNP, and Paulo Costa from RNP. Their collective expertise offered a rich and diverse perspective on the topic, enriching the training experience for all attendees.
The program featured expert instructors from Brazilian NREN (RNP), GEANT, Europe’s research and education network, and the UbuntuNet Alliance, a regional research and education network for Eastern and Southern Africa. The instructor from RNP, Jean Faustino, Paulo Costa and Paulo Junior, explored the fundamental concepts and components of an identity federation, including the software components of Shibboleth. They shared insights from their experience with Brazil’s academic identity federation, known as CAFe, highlighting the services it provides to the Brazilian academic community. Additionally, they detailed the management procedures of the federation and discussed the necessary requirements for implementing an academic identity federation. GEANT, Mario Leale, shared his expertise on eduGAIN, a global federation of research and education identity federations. He emphasized its benefits for international collaboration and resource sharing, highlighting how such a system facilitates seamless and secure access to resources across institutions worldwide. Meanwhile, UbuntuNet Alliance’s Revelation Nyirongo provided insights into current trends and best practices in federated access management, emphasizing the benefits that the academic and scientific community within Mozambique can gain by participating in a federation that is part of eduGAIN.
The training covered a comprehensive range of topics designed to enhance the participants’ understanding and capabilities. Topics included an introduction to federated identity management, where participants learned about the foundational concepts and significance of federated systems in the modern digital landscape. The session on identity federation protocols delved into SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect, providing a technical deep dive into these essential protocols that enable secure and efficient identity management. Additionally, the training addressed attribute release and privacy, ensuring that participants understood the critical balance between sharing necessary information and protecting user privacy. Best practices in identity management were also covered, offering participants practical guidelines and strategies to implement in their own institutions.
The training on federated access identity management marked a significant step forward for Mozambique’s research and education community. By bringing together local and international experts, MoRENet facilitated a rich exchange of knowledge and ideas, empowering participants to enhance security, collaboration, and innovation within their institutions. This initiative is poised to have a lasting impact on how Mozambican institutions manage access to digital resources, fostering an environment of greater efficiency and collaboration.
If you’re interested in learning more about MoRENet training programs or would like to participate in future events, please visit: https://morenet.ac.mz. This training is just one example of MoRENet’s commitment to advancing the capabilities and knowledge of the research and education community in Mozambique. Through continued efforts and collaborations, MoRENet aims to support the growth and development of a robust digital infrastructure that meets the needs of its members, enabling them to share resources with other members of the UbuntuNet Alliance region and the rest of the world.