Enterprise Server gives you the option of controlling access to administrative features, MSS applications and application resources through the use of external security managers (ESMs). This allows you to use managers of your choice as repositories for security rules.
When a user attempts to access an Enterprise Server feature or deployed MSS application, or when such an application attempts to access a controlled resource, any request for authentication or authorization is relayed to the appropriate ESMs.
This scheme accommodates mainframe style security for migrated applications, the security mechanisms found in distributed systems, and custom solutions. It also allows for multiple security repositories to be configured, giving administrators the opportunity to separate the management of different types of resources.
Communication between clients and the server can be secured through the use of SSL.