K-State Central Authentication Service (CAS)

What is K-State Central Authentication Service (CAS)?

CAS is a session/user authentication process that allows a user to provide his or her credentials one time in order to access multiple applications. It eliminates future authentication requests when the user opens or switches applications during a particular session.

CAS works strictly with applications accessed using a web browser. The request to access the web resource is diverted to a central authentication service and returned only after the user successfully enters their authentication credentials.

K-State CAS was formerly known as Single Sign-On (SSO).

Why should we use K-State CAS?

• Reduction in the time taken by users in sign-on operations to individual applications, including reducing the possibility of such sign-on operations failing.
• Improved security through the reduced need for a user to handle and remember multiple sets of authentication information.
• Reduction in the time taken, and improved response, by system administrators in adding and removing users to the system or modifying their access rights.
• Improved security through the enhanced ability of system administrators to maintain the integrity of user account configuration including the ability to inhibit or remove an individual user's access to all system resources in a coordinated and consistent manner.

How do I implement K-State CAS?

Web applications within the K-State domain will need a CAS client in order to be configured to use CAS.

CAS clients have been established for the following applications:

• Apache web servers
• Java applications
• Windows applications (coming soon)

Additional information about CAS-ifying your applications can be found at http://www.ja-sig.org/products/cas/client/casifying/index.html.

Need help configuring your web application for use with CAS?

Contact the Office of Mediated Education at K-State if you need assistance or have questions with configuring your web application to use CAS. You can also contact the IT Help Desk.