Future-Proof Your Infrastructure with InCommon’s Standards-Based Services

CTOs know how critical it is to build systems that scale and interoperate. InCommon provides standards-based tools — like the Trusted Access Platform and Federation metadata services — with community-governed Baseline Expectations and a robust trust registry. Leveraging InCommon means smoother integrations, predictable governance, and sustainable infrastructure built for the needs of research and education.

Standards-Based Infrastructure for Seamless Integration

CTOs are tasked with building systems that scale and interoperate. InCommon provides the standards, shared infrastructure, and peer community needed to integrate Identity Access Management (IAM) across platforms, streamline operations, and prepare for the future of research and education technology.

How InCommon Helps CTOs Build for the Future

Federation standards that ensure interoperability.
Scalable IAM frameworks for institutional growth.
Implementation support from the InCommon community.
Community-driven technical innovation.
Real-world case studies from higher ed.

Future-Proof Your Infrastructure with InCommon

InCommon supports CTOs in designing scalable, standards-based systems. With shared infrastructure, federation metadata, and the Trusted Access Platform, you can ensure seamless interoperability while preparing for tomorrow’s demands.

Standards-Based Interoperability

Ensure smooth integration across platforms and applications.

Scalable Infrastructure

IAM frameworks designed to grow with institutional and research needs.

Technical Innovation & Support

Access to community-led development and expert implementation resources.

A colorful photo illustration of glowing, connecting dots.

Interoperability Standards

Connect systems seamlessly across platforms and institutions.

Infrastructure at Scale

Support growth with frameworks designed for higher-ed complexity.

Shared Services

Reduce overhead by leveraging InCommon’s Certificate Service and community-built tools.

Technical Expertise

Access documentation, case studies, and peer support for integration success.

Innovation Hub

Collaborate with peers to co-create next-generation IAM solutions.

Operational Efficiency

Simplify management and streamline services with shared IAM infrastructure.

Featured Resources

A group of professionals applies sticky notes to a transparent board.

InCommon Futures2 Moves Forward with Discussion at TechEX23 and Launch of Needs Assessment

Note: InCommon Writer John McCormack contributed to this post. The 2023 Internet2 Technology Exchange (TechEX23) takes place next week (September 18–22) in Minneapolis. During this annual event, Marc Wallman, vice president information technology division, North Dakota State University, and Kevin Morooney, vice president of trust and identity and NET+, Internet2, will highlight the process, implementation timeline, and status of InCommon Futures2. Their session, InCommon Futures 2.0, will kick off the Identity and Access Management track (known as CAMP) at TechEX23. Kevin Morooney (left) and Marc Wallman InCommon Futures2 is a strategic planning project to help guide a vibrant future for InCommon and explore the identity and access management (IAM) challenges facing the research and higher ed community. During the last 20+ years, Internet2’s InCommon has become a trusted partner for the strategic creation, evolution, and maintenance of IAM Infrastructure, services, and software for research and higher education. To build on this role, the InCommon Steering Committee and Internet2’s Trust & Identity leadership have embarked on a futuring exercise to develop a shared statement of direction and strategic areas of activity that will drive where our IAM capabilities collectively need to be in 2028. (Provide input now by taking the InCommon Futures2 Needs Assessment Survey.) Your Community Needs You: Q&A with Marc Wallman As a co-presenter and current chair of the InCommon Steering Committee, Marc offered his perspective on the importance of continuing the InCommon Futures2 discussion and what attendees will gain from it and TechEX23 overall. Q: What do you hope attendees will learn from your session on InCommon Futures 2.0? A: This talk will focus on the InCommon Futures2 planning process. I’m actually hoping people will attend and provide feedback on challenges that they are dealing with and what things need to be solved by InCommon services and tool sets in the next five to ten years. Q: Why is this an important topic to cover? A: Identity management is the most important IT service that a higher education institution operates. It gives coherence to all the other services we operate. I’m passionate about IAM because I really believe it is the most important thing we do. If it’s well done it “floats the boat” of everything else. Q: What’s the #1 reason IAM professionals should come to TechEX/CAMP Week 2023? A: Higher ed has unique and complex IAM challenges. No company or trainer is going to explain this stuff to you at the level you need to excel. You need to learn it for yourself and establish professional relationships that will sustain and support your work in the future. This is the place to do it. And of course, your community needs you. InCommon Futures2 Needs Assessment Launched Can’t be there in person to participate? Not to worry! We’re inviting not only TechEX23 attendees, but the entire community to share their perspectives on the future of InCommon through the InCommon Futures2 Needs Assessment Survey, which will be open until September 29. Your insights are a critical part of a larger research plan to engage stakeholders across audiences, roles and community groups. This survey will take 10–15 minutes to complete. We hope we can count on your participation. Thanks in advance for taking the time to share your perspective in this research. Please be in touch at help@incommon.org if you have any questions. Need More Information? InCommon Futures2 was the topic for our May IAM Online webinar, “InCommon’s Future: Get In On the Discussion.” Watch the recording | Download the slides. ICYMI InCommon Strategic Planning Project Currently Under Way IAM Online Speaker Spotlight: InCommon’s Future, Get In On the Discussion

Learn more

A group of professionals engaging in a work discussion.

InCommon Strategic Planning Project Currently Under Way

“Identity management is what ideally knits all our disparate services into a cohesive experience for our faculty, staff, and students,” observed Marc Wallman, current chair of the InCommon Steering Committee and vice president, Information Technology Division, North Dakota State University. “Nothing else comes close.” Last month, Wallman and Kevin Morooney, Internet2’s vice president of trust and identity and NET+ Programs, kicked off InCommon Futures2, a strategic planning project being undertaken by the InCommon Steering Committee to help guide a vibrant future for InCommon and explore the identity and access management (IAM) challenges facing the research and higher ed community. Morooney agreed that the higher ed community needs to carefully consider identity management issues. “Identity and access management needs in higher education remain uniquely challenging,” he said. “While well-financed IAM solutions have come a long way over the last two decades, many challenges remain in higher education.” With these challenges in mind, what’s the expected output of the InCommon Futures 2.0 planning process? According to Internet2 Associate Vice President for Trust & Identity Ann West, who is helping to lead the effort, “It establishes a shared strategic direction for the community and Internet2’s Trust and Identity Division for the next five years and sets the stage for further requirements gathering and shared work.” Ann West, Kevin Morooney, Marc Wallman Is There More Information Available? To learn more about InCommon Futures2, check out this blog post, recapping Kevin and Marc’s presentation at the 2023 Internet2 Community Exchange in Atlanta last month. InCommon Futures2 was also the topic for our May IAM Online webinar, “InCommon’s Future: Get In On the Discussion.” Watch the recording | Download the slides. How Can You Participate In The Process? This summer, in consultation with the Steering Futures2 Working Group, we’ll be announcing some specific mechanisms we’re putting in place to gather the community’s input. They include a survey, focus groups, and one-on-one interviews. Please check the InCommon website for updates. Steering Futures2 Working Group: Christopher Misra, Laura Paglione, Rachana Ananthakrishnan, and Christine Miki Six Guiding Principles for InCommon Futures2 Our work together must stand up to the lens of the broader community. We must assume that we operate in transparency by default. It is essential to foster confidence and inclusion in our activities and messaging. We want individuals to see themselves (or someone like them) as contributing to the process in some way. Our decisions, strategies and recommendations can be traced to community or research-driven data or citations. The actors guiding this process are the community and Internet2. All decisions are driven by consensus by the Steering Futures2 Working Group. We will respect the opinions, business needs, and time of all members. We are advocates for each other. In the meantime, contact us to let us know your initial thoughts about the project and how you might like to be involved.

Learn more

Explore Learning Opportunities

Strengthen your security posture with InCommon’s community-driven training. From compliance workshops to governance briefings, CISOs gain knowledge and peer insights to protect research, data, and institutional reputation.

Explore & Register

Share Your Expertise

Influence the future of shared infrastructure. Contribute your technical leadership to InCommon’s community of practice, helping to shape standards and solutions that benefit the entire R&E ecosystem.

Start Contributing