Decentralized authentication method for accessing pedagogical resources in a cloud computing based virtual organization

Today, more and more researchers are advocating the use of Clouds to form a virtual organization. However, the implementation of a cloud based virtual organization presents some security challenges. Generally, in the cloud, the authentication system is centralized. This represents an obstacle and contradicts the principle of virtual organizations, which requires that each member organization of the virtual organization retains control over its own authentication system. The aim of this paper is to address this issue and show the possibility of using clouds in virtual organizations while proposing a decentralized authentication system. For that purpose, we propose to include Shibboleth in clouds to decentralize users' authentication of the virtual organization. The relevance of our approach has been proved through a virtual organization where each member organization has its own Cloud infrastructure to host shared resources. Users will authenticate from their organization to access resources.

I. Introduction

Cloud computing refers to computer services and resources provided on demand through internet [1]–[3]. In other words, it offers, through internet, an easy access, anywhere and on demand, to a number of configurable and shared computer resources, networks, and servers, storages, applications and services. This paradigm is ground breaking in terms of management of universities resources, and will allow for considerable budgetary gains.