InCommon makes sharing protected online resources easier.

InCommon eliminates the need for researchers, students, and educators to maintain multiple, passwords and usernames. Online service providers no longer need to maintain user accounts. Identity providers manage the levels of their users' privacy and information exchange. InCommon uses SAML-based SAML-based authentication and authorization systems (such as Shibboleth®) to enable scalable, trusted collaborations among its community of participants.

Of Interest

Public Draft InCommon is developing a program, tentatively called the InCommon Defined Identity Assurance Program, to define and certify standard practices for "identity assurance" (aka InCommon Bronze and Silver). DRAFT documents describe the program and profiles and are available for comment from the community at the link above.
update: Software & Protocol Support
InCommon and Microsoft's DreamSpark FAQ
Attribute Overview and Summary documentation
Joining the InCommon Federation (Eligibility Criteria and Process)
The InCommon Participation Agreement [pdf]
The InCommon Fee Schedule
Sponsorship Information: How to sponsor or be sponsored for federation participation

Case Studies

Read about current InCommon Participants and how they are implementing innovative approaches to federating identity and access management systems.

*new* VIVA Library Consortium federates PBS video content

Members of the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) use InCommon to share more than 500 hours of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) shows. Read the whole story [pdf].

UCTrust Federation built on InCommon

The University of California System, with ten campuses, five medical centers, and three national research laboratories, builds on InCommon for system-wide and external online resources and single sign-on convenience. Read the whole story [pdf].

Symplicity Career Services and Penn State

Penn State leverages its existing identity management system through InCommon to comprehensive career services and class management and homework resources. Read the whole story [pdf].

Penn State and WebAssign

WebAssign joined InCommon as a service provider and installed Shibboleth federating software. This allowed WebAssign to stop managing user accounts and focus, instead, on the company’s applications. Read the whole story [pdf].