Academic and professional content for the developing world

Simplifying access to Research4Life resources

Research4Life, in partnership with UbuntuNet Alliance and GÉANT – with support from the European Union and the AfricaConnect project – has successfully launched a Federated Single Sign-On (SSO) pilot for academic institutions. This initiative ensures secure academic resource access by allowing users to log in with their institutional credentials, eliminating the need for shared passwords

With Federated SSO, users no longer need to remember or manage shared usernames and passwords. They can log in using the same credentials they already use for their institution’s systems, such as email or learning platforms. In this way, users can now benefit from seamless login whether working on-campus or remotely. And since Federated SSO follows global authentication standards, it enhances cybersecurity for users and institutions.

A strategic collaboration

To implement the pilot successfully, Research4Life partnered with UbuntuNet Alliance and GÉANT, leveraging their regional expertise and technical capabilities. UbuntuNet Alliance, which serves Eastern and Southern Africa, contributed its strong network of local National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) and a deep understanding of regional challenges. Meanwhile, GÉANT contributed its global expertise in federated identity solutions, ensuring the pilot met international standards while addressing the needs of participating institutions.

Each partner played a complementary role: NRENs supplied the technical infrastructure for federated authentication, including identity federations, while Research4Life delivered access to peer-reviewed scholarly resources. Together, they enabled seamless and secure access to academic content, strengthening digital research ecosystems across the region.

Institutions onboarded in the pilot

Through this pilot, several institutions have successfully onboarded to Federated SSO, allowing them remote access to research databases via Research4Life’s content portal alongside other authentication options, such as IP-based access, already available. The pilot includes the following institutions under the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) in Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia:

• Kenya (KENET): International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kenyatta University, Strathmore University, and the University of Nairobi
• Malawi (MAREN): Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mzuzu University, and the University of Malawi
• Zambia (ZAMREN): University of Zambia and Lupane State University
• Uganda (RENU): Makerere University, Kyambogo University, and Uganda Martyrs University (onboarding in progress)

In addition to configuring SSO for these institutions, eduID.africa, the catch-all federation, has been successfully integrated with the Research4Life service. This provides a valuable testing environment for emerging identity providers or institutions that want to trial their SSO implementation before full integration, streamlining the onboarding process.

Addressing Access Barriers and Enhancing Security with Federated SSO

The pilot demonstrated how Federated SSO addresses three key access challenges that these institutions have faced for years:

Dependency on Shared Credentials: Previously, institutions relied on shared usernames and passwords to access Research4Life’s resources. This approach was not only cumbersome to manage but also posed security risks due to unauthorized access and distribution challenges.

Access Disruptions: When key personnel left an institution, access to Research4Life could be affected, requiring manual updates to restore or restrict access.

Limited Remote Access: IP-based authentication was effective only on institutional campuses, requiring VPNs or proxies for remote users and creating usability barriers.

By implementing Federated SSO, institutions have overcome these longstanding access challenges while also unlocking significant benefits that enhance security, flexibility, and user experience. Other benefits include:

• Simplified User Experience: Users now enjoy seamless login using credentials they already know, eliminating the need for extra passwords.
• Flexible access: Users can securely access Research4Life from anywhere without VPNs or additional authentication steps
• Enhanced Security: Federated SSO follows global authentication standards, reducing risks associated with shared credentials.
• Consistent and Reliable Access – Institutions can maintain uninterrupted access since authentication is managed internally, not by individuals.
• Enhanced Data Insights: Research4Life can now potentially track more granular usage statistics, enabling improved resource allocation and informed decision-making.

Real world impact and future growth of Federated SSO

This transition to Federated SSO is already making a difference for participating institutions. The University of Nairobi highlights the benefits of this upgrade:

“Staff and students can now seamlessly access a vast collection of peer-reviewed academic and professional resources using their individual institutional credentials. This upgrade strengthens security, simplifies access management, and removes the challenges associated with distributing and safeguarding shared institutional credentials.”

This pilot project highlights the potential of secure authentication in addressing common access challenges across institutions. Research4Life plans to expand federated authentication to additional regions and institutions, furthering its mission of bridging the global knowledge gap.