The concept of streamlined single-sign-on network identity and access management has moved forward recently, but a certain amount of long-term uncertainty remains about which identity-management technology will fit into a given architecture as the applications underlying interorganizational communications depend less on Web browsers and become more capable of stand alone interchange. However, the widespread adoption of federated identity--in which users receive trusted access to more than their home network's resources without having to sign on to each new site separately ? is reaching critical mass.