Implementing Fastpath’s Config AD: Overview

In this series of posts I’m going to take a look at the Config AD product from Fastpath which adds single sign-on to the Dynamics GP desktop client; you can find my series index here.

The single sign-on is done by integrating Microsoft Dynamics GP with Active Directory. This can allow for all user provisioning to be done by the IT Helpdesk without requiring them to log into Dynamics GP itself which IT teams are not usually familiar with. Config AD installs onto the Domain Controller and provides a right click interface in the Users and Groups applet.

As it is unlikely that all maintenance will be done on the Domain Controller, Config AD also has a Config AD Desktop which can be installed on any client and allow users to be created and maintained.

Both the Users and Groups applet and Config AD allow a Microsoft Dynamics user can be created in seconds without the need to use the sa account within Dynamics GP or even to give the security and access roles in SQL Server to a user.

The key features for Config AD for Dynamics GP are:

• Eliminates use of ‘sa’ and Administrator for better security management
• Streamlines user provisioning
• Active Directory user disables/deletes are automatically synchronized with Microsoft Dynamics
• Microsoft Dynamics user provisioning requests become standard Help Desk task
• Manage Dynamics CRM and ERP user provisioning from one window
• Only available single sign on product for Dynamics GP
• Allows users to synchronize Windows IDs and passwords with Dynamics GP
• Windows password policy enforced for Dynamics GP logins
• Logoff users after periods of inactivity
• Manage Dynamics GP security via Active Directory groups
• Compatible with Citrix, Terminal Services, Remote Desktop Services and Virtual Machines

I realise this post reads largely as an advert for Config AD, but that is rather unavoidable when it comes to a post giving an overview. From the next post, I’ll be starting the installation process.