Harvard University is implementing the UNIVERSITY Active Directory (AD) in an effort to provide new and scalable directory service for use by Harvard schools and departments. The initial deployment will be to Central Administration beginning Fall 2006.

The UNIVERSITY AD will function as a:

• User-account database
• Workstation management tool
• Back-end accounts database for University applications (e.g. Harvard's centralized Exchange service)
• Centralized automated account management tools allowing for decentralized control for local departmental/school needs
• Secure infrastructure with auditing capabilities

UNIVERSITY AD is designed to automatically maintain accounts and demographic data to members of the University community, similar to what is currently shown in the Harvard phonebook. Directory information, individual privacy and FERPA election information is constantly updated as UNIVERSITY AD receives changes from human resources and student systems.

Single Sign-on to Exchange

The Exchange email service, which will replace the current Central Administration mail system, will take advantage of the UNIVERSTIY AD (http://www.projectice.harvard.edu/). This will allow user workstations in the UNIVERSITY AD to access an Exchange mailbox without an additional login. (The UNIVERSITY login logs a user into their Exchange mailbox using with the same username and password.)

Want more information?

To learn more about the deployment and management of the UNIVERSITY AD project, contact the NSS PMO at nss-services@harvard.edu.