Lee County Electric Cooperative

Seamless SSO Integration for LCEC's Custom Java Applications

MethodFactory enabled single sign-on (SSO) for Lee Country Electric Cooperative's (LCEC) custom Java business applications, integrating Azure Active Directory with Apache Shiro for secure access and seamless user experience.

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Single sign on

LCEC hired MethodFactory to enable SSO for their custom Java business applications, allowing users to access the company's Microsoft My Apps dashboard without extra logins. Each application previously had its own authentication process to Azure Active Directory, requiring multiple login steps. MethodFactory integrated Azure AD with Apache Shiro, achieving secure authentication and maintaining LCEC’s role-based permissions.

Client Situation

LCEC faced productivity issues due to multiple login requirements for their custom applications. They needed a secure, single sign-on solution that worked with their current systems without losing existing security and role permissions.

The Challenge

Unifying Authentication for a Seamless Experience

LCEC’s existing system used a session-based security model, while their new Azure AD solution relied on tokens. Merging these two approaches without causing login issues was difficult. The transition had to be seamless, ensuring users could access all applications with a single login without encountering security or usability issues. Additionally, this required maintaining compliance with existing security protocols and ensuring that role-based access remained intact across all applications.

Another complexity was the lack of comprehensive documentation for integrating Azure AD with Apache Shiro, making troubleshooting and implementation more challenging. MethodFactory had to navigate these limitations by leveraging deep expertise in identity management and custom development solutions. Addressing software version conflicts, particularly with Java and authentication libraries, further added to the challenge, requiring careful testing and deployment strategies.

The Outcome

Effortless Access, Enhanced Security

MethodFactory created a smooth single sign-on experience, enabling employees to log in through the company dashboard without extra steps. By consolidating authentication into a single sign-on process, users now have a seamless experience while maintaining role-based access control. The improved system eliminates redundant login prompts, streamlining daily workflows and increasing overall productivity for employees who access multiple applications.

Security was also a key enhancement. By integrating Azure AD’s authentication protocols with Apache Shiro, MethodFactory ensured that LCEC retained strong access controls while simplifying authentication. The solution dynamically mapped user roles from Azure AD to Shiro’s role-based permissions, ensuring users had the correct access levels without manual intervention.

Ultimately, LCEC now benefits from a highly secure, scalable authentication solution that enhances user experience without disrupting existing business processes. Employees can focus on their work instead of dealing with multiple logins, while IT administrators maintain centralized control over access management through Azure AD.

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