Mobile Password Management App Supports IBM i

November 12, 2013 Alex Woodie

The bring your own device (BYOD) movement is freeing users from the bounds of cubicle land. However, forgotten passwords remain a problem and keep users tied to the help desk. Last week, ManageEngine announced a new Apple iOS app for its self-service password reset software, called ADSelfService Plus. It also announced that, with ADSelfService Plus version 5, the software now supports IBM i, giving users the capability to reset their IBM i passwords from iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches.

Forgotten passwords remain a big problem. ManageEngine says that 40 percent of help desk tickets are for password resets, and take an average of 20 minutes each. For large organizations with thousands of users, the costs of forgotten passwords and password resets can quickly add up.

ManageEngine offers a native iOS for ADSelfService Plus, but it can also be accessed from a standard Web browser for a mobile device, as shown here.

ManageEngine’s answer to this is ADSelfService Plus. The application is designed to allow users to reset their domain passwords in Microsoft Windows Active Directory remotely from a Web browser without any assistance from the help desk. To reset the passwords, users must correctly answer a challenge question or successfully complete the SMS/email authentication method.

ADSelfService Plus also contains a password synchronization component designed to propagate that ActiveDirectory domain password across multiple application and platform environments. This includes cloud-based environments, such as Google Apps, Microsoft Office 365 and Azure, and Salesforce CRM systems. In the on-prem world, ADSelfService Plus supports Oracle‘s E-Business Suite and Oracle database and, with version 5.0, Hewlett-Packard‘s HP-UX, and IBM‘s very own IBM i.

The launch of ADSelfService Plus version 5 brings the new iOS apps, which allows users to reset their passwords for all these platforms from iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches. The mobile app also supports ADSelfService Plus’ password synchronization functionality, which allows users to synch their passwords for the various on-premise IT systems and cloud apps listed above. The company previously supported iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile with its Web-based mobile client.

ManageEngine also announced a new iOS app for ADManager Plus, a tool designed to help IT professionals work with Active Directory. With the new iOS app, IT professionals (such as systems administrators, help desk personnel, etc.) can now perform password resets, unlock accounts, disable or enable user accounts, and delete user accounts from the comfort of their iOS devices.

ADSelfService Plus is available in three editions. The standard edition starts at $595 per year for 500 users, while the professional edition starts at $995 per year for 500 users. The free edition is limited to 50 users.