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Status Delivered
Categories Usability
Created by Guest
Created on Mar 22, 2018
Merged idea
This idea has been merged into another idea. To comment or vote on this idea, please visit CONDIRECT-I-139 File Agent doesn’t support Certificate-based authentication, it will be difficult for us to manage the passwords on File Agent authentications..

Allow the Connect:Direct File Agent to use certificates for authentication Merged

Using certificates would remove the need to manage passwords and keep them synced with local accounts.  There was an update to the API to allow secure+ certificates to be used for authentication.  I believe the same concept can be used for File Agents.

What is your industry? Government
How will this idea be used?

We already have over 600 Connect:Direct File Agents deployed throughout all of our environments.  Managing all the passwords and syncing them between sites becomes cumbersome since we are not allowed to centralize accounts.  Switching to certificates would reduce our management effort and increase security since there is no longer a need to store the password in the File Agent configuration.

  • Admin
    Chris Sanders
    Reply
    |
    Mar 29, 2021

    Thank you for your patience as we worked on this enhancement. I'm pleased to announce that this has been provided in File Agent v1.4.0.1 which is available on IBM's Fix Central website. Please download and apply this maintenance which will allow you to start leveraging certificate authentication with File Agent. I've also included a link below to the FA documentation which has been updated to cover the new capability.


    https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/system/files/inline-files/CDFA_1401.pdf


    Sincerely,

    Chris Sanders

    Connect:Direct Offering Manager

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Apr 17, 2019

     I think it would be a very nice option.   I did read that the API now has the ability to use certificates for authentication.  That could be ported over to the File Agent.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    May 22, 2018

    Hello Chris,

    this would be a valid option, but currently the FA has no capabilities of
    a keystore where a client certificate could be stored.
    If this could be implemented it would be a great enhancement.

    Mit freundlichen Grüßen / kind regards

    Detlev Niche
    Client Solution Professional B2B & MFT
    IBM Watson Customer Engagement
    IBM Certified Administrator - Sterling Connect:Direct

    IBM Deutschland GmbH, Wilhelm-Fay-Str.30-34, 65936 Frankfurt
    Phone: +49-7034-2741433
    eMail: Detlev.Niche@de.ibm.com

    IBM Deutschland GmbH / Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats : Martin Jetter
    Geschäftsführung : Matthias Hartmann (Vorsitzender), Norbert Janzen,
    Stefan Lutz, Nicole Reimer, Dr.Klaus Seifert, Wolfgang Wendt
    Sitz der Gesellschaft : Ehningen / Registergericht : Amtsgericht
    Stuttgart, HRB 14562 WEEE-Reg.-Nr. DE 99369940

  • Admin
    Chris Sanders
    Reply
    |
    May 18, 2018

    Thank you for opening this enhancement request with IBM.  I have reviewed it with my team and we agree that password maintenance for File Agent should be easier  We will accept this enhancement request as an uncommitted candidate with the goal of improving this experience.  I cannot guarantee that certificates will be used for this activity, but will look to add a roadmap item to minimize password maintenance effort for File Agent.


    Sincerely,

    Chris Sanders

    Connect:Direct Offering Manager

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    May 4, 2018

    How would your suggestion apply to the File Agent API user?