ZDF Studios: The stage is set for Single Sign-On

Initial Situation

Fragmented Corporate Structure Meets IT Compliance

ZDF Studios is a private subsidiary of ZDF, one of Europe's largest broadcasters. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Mainz, the group operates in the production, distribution, and services sectors with over 30 direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates, including ZDF Digital.

ZDF Studios faced the challenge of managing access control for its rapidly growing and continuously expanding software landscape, all while operating with limited IT resources. The existing central user management system of the parent company, ZDF, was not practically usable for ZDF Studios due to formal hurdles. Furthermore, previously autonomous subsidiaries like ZDF Digital, as well as external service providers, could not be integrated and managed in shared applications in a way that met current IT security standards. This led to a key challenge: despite sharing certain applications, the necessary balance between uniform security standards and the autonomy of individual companies had to be maintained. ZDF Studios lacked an easily administrable Identity and Access Management system.

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Project Goals

SSO for All and Maximum Security

1. Introduction of Single Sign-On (SSO): Enable users of ZDF Studios, its subsidiaries like ZDF Digital, and external service providers to have simple and secure access to all systems.2. Increased security standards: Centralized control and monitoring of access while complying with GDPR.3. Centralization of user management: Uniform admin interface with flexible rights for internal and external users.4. Scalability of the solution: Compatibility with future requirements and systems.5. Enabling synergy potential: Create a technical basis for common software contracts and more efficient procurement processes.

2. Increased security standards: Centralized control and monitoring of access while complying with GDPR.

3. Centralization of user management: Uniform admin interface with flexible rights for internal and external users.

4. Scalability of the solution: Compatibility with future requirements and systems.

5. Enabling synergy potential: Create a technical basis for common software contracts and more efficient procurement processes.

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The Solution

Quickly integrated into the existing IT landscape, Bare.ID meets all management and security requirements.

SSO & User Management: The introduction of Single Sign-On allows all users, including all employees of the subsidiary ZDF Digital, to access all approved systems with a single login. However, ZDF Digital, as one of the subsidiaries, retains administrative control over its own users. The easy customizability of the login mask per instance also allows for individual design – tailored to the respective user group.

Dynamic Groups: With Bare.ID, ZDF Studios was able to create differentiated user groups for internal and external users, enabling precise control of access rights and efficient management.

Compliance & GDPR: The solution met all relevant security and data protection requirements, especially those of the GDPR.

Scalability and Flexibility: Bare.ID offers a future-proof architecture that allows ZDF Studios to continue using the solution without performance degradation as user numbers grow and new systems are integrated. ZDF Studios plans to extend Bare.ID to other subsidiaries and to comfortably and securely integrate additional selected software applications.

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Results

Measurable Successes in Time, Security, and Satisfaction

Time Savings through Process Optimization: Thanks to the introduction of Single Sign-On, 20 hours per person can be saved annually on the user side, as multiple logins are no longer necessary.

Scalability: Bare.ID demonstrated its scalability by enabling ZDF Studios to connect numerous systems and its first subsidiary, ZDF Digital, with minimal resource expenditure. Subsequently, ZDF Studios and ZDF Digital procured a first shared software, an intranet solution, and connected it to Bare.ID. The configuration allows both companies to exchange information in their respective internal as well as shared areas.

Increased Security and Compliance: With Bare.ID, ZDF Studios and ZDF Digital were able to implement a robust security architecture that meets all IT compliance requirements and, being 'Made in Germany,' fulfills all data protection regulations and wishes.

Significant acceleration in connecting new applications to IDP: The use of a dedicated IAM system significantly accelerates the connection of new applications. Standardized interfaces and protocols (e.g., SAML, OpenID Connect, SCIM) enable rapid integration without individual development effort. This considerably shortens the time from application selection to productive use. New employees are also automatically granted access to central applications via SCIM.