Web-based single sign-on (SSO) is emerging as the key driver within the security 3A (authentication, authorisation, and administration) market.

An IDC survey predicts the value of the Western European security 3A software market will increase from $721 million in 2002 to $1.2 billion by the end of 2006, growing around 13 per cent annually over the next four years.

Authentication, authorization, and administration technologies are keys for enterprises to expand trusted relationships with customers, partners, suppliers, and channels across the Web.

Web SSO, a technology that reduces the complexity of managing multiple accounts and passwords, will show compound growth of 33 per cent over the next four years fuelled by spending on identity management products, according to IDC.

Security management is the second-fastest-growing sub-market with year-on-year growth of 21 per cent. IDC says the increased complexity of security infrastructures is driving this growth.

Security 3A software (authentication, authorization, administration) is used for administering security on computer systems or in an enterprise and includes the processes of defining, creating, changing, deleting, and auditing users.

The top five security 3A vendors, according to IDC, are IBM-Tivoli, Computer Associates, Evidian, HP and Entrust. ®