Authentication system

There are three main security processes working together to provide access to assess in a controlled manner:
*Authentication
*Authorization
*Accounting

The first line of defense of a computer system has against intruders is the user authentication system. Much like with a normal door lock, authorized users are given a key to the system thus keeping unauthorized users out.

The user authentication system attempts to prevent unauthorized users from gaining access by requiring users to validate their authorization to use the system.

Authentication is the process of validating user identity. The fact that the user claims to be represented by a specific abstract object (identified by its user ID) does not necessarily mean that this is true.

This validation is often accomplished with use of a password that must be presented to the system.

The system grants access to a user only when the password for the specified username matches the password on record.

Other authentication schemes require the user to present a physical key or take advantage of the uniqueness of as user’s physical characteristics such as fingerprints.

Questionnaire authentication attempts to validate a user with questions that an intruder is unlikely to know.

The system asks questions such as the name of the user’s first pet, the color of the user’s parent’s home or the name of the user’s favorite teacher.

Once the individual has been authenticated, the system will associate an initial process to the user and the user will be able to launch other processes.
Authentication system

Know Your Customers

Know Your Customers

You should know your customers, you then will know what types of customers are available and willing to buy online and you can identify your best prospects.

Then you must learn how these best prospects are accessing your site, how they shop and what they want online.

Only then can you develop marketing and branding strategies and begin to build your sit appropriately.

In order to begin E-commerce successfully, these twelve steps should be followed:

• Know who comprises the bulk of Web users.


• Learn how children will figure into the Web’s future.


• Track how teens spend disposable income online.


• Watch the heavy hitter – baby boomers and senior users.


• Know what income brackets dominate the Web.


• Know what races and nationalities are Web users and in what proportions.


• Note how gender contributes to online use and sale patterns.


• Know how much customers in different income brackets are willing to spend online.


• Know what nationalities and countries are doing business globally online.


• Research the computer and Web access technology most of your customers will use to access your site.


• Know what types of shoppers will access your site and how to attract them.


• Know what these shoppers are looking for online, and give it to them.

Know Your Customers

Enterprise Information Portals

Enterprise Information Portals
Enterprise information portals are growing trend in the design and deployment of intranets in business. An enterprise information portal (EIP) is a web based interface and integration of intranets and other technologies that give all intranet users and selected extranet users access to a variety of internal and external business applications and services.

For example, internal applications might include access to e-mail, project websites, and discussion groups; human resources Web self-services, customer, inventory, and other corporate database; decision support systems, and knowledge management systems.

External applications might include industry financial and other Internet news services; links to industry discussion groups; and links to customer and supplier Internet and extranet websites. Enterprise information portals are typically tailored or personalized to the needs of individual business users or group pf users.

The business benefits of enterprise information portals include providing more specific and selective information to business users, providing easy access to key corporate intranet website resources, delivering industry and business news, and providing better access to company data for selected customers, suppliers, or business partners.

Enterprise information portals can also help avoid excessive surfing by employees across company and Intranet websites by making it easier for them to receive or find the information and services they need, thus improving the productivity of a company’s workforce.

However, in order to present something as simple as a Web page with links to useful internal an external information sources, applications and services, an enterprise information portal must integrate many information technologies. So full fledged corporate portals are proving to be a challenge to build.
Enterprise Information Portals