Request for Participation in the GakuNin-Compatible IDaaS Needs Survey
To address the challenges associated with deploying and operating identity infrastructures required for participation in GakuNin, the GakuNin federation conducted the Pilot Program for a GakuNin-Compatible Identity Provider (IdP) Hosting Service from the second half of FY2022 through the end of FY2025.
The pilot program demonstrated that Identity as a Service (IDaaS) can provide the identity infrastructure required for GakuNin participation with a relatively low operational burden. It also confirmed that implementing an identity infrastructure for GakuNin not only enables federation participation, but also contributes to improving campus-wide identity and access management (IAM), including integrated authentication systems, account management, and multi-factor authentication (MFA), thereby enhancing the overall campus information infrastructure.
Based on these results, we are currently exploring a framework for the joint procurement and shared use of GakuNin-compatible IDaaS services.
To support the development of this initiative, we are conducting a needs survey targeting institutions that are interested in or considering participation. In addition to gauging interest in the proposed framework, the survey seeks feedback on anticipated deployment models, implementation challenges, required features, and operational requirements. The results will be used in designing the joint procurement framework and future service offerings.
We would greatly appreciate your cooperation in completing this survey.
Survey URL: https://reg.nii.ac.jp/m?f=2487
Survey Deadline: July 20, 2026, 11:59 p.m. (JST)
Background
GakuNin provides authentication services for a growing range of research and educational platforms, including the NII Research Data Cloud, GakuNin LMS (Learning Management System), and many other academic services. More recently, initiatives involving digital credentials and digital student IDs have also been progressing. As a result, GakuNin has become an increasingly important authentication infrastructure supporting education and research activities in Japan.
To participate in GakuNin, each institution must deploy and operate its own Identity Provider (IdP). However, establishing and maintaining an IdP requires specialized technical expertise as well as financial resources. Previous surveys have identified several barriers to participation, including shortages of qualified personnel, operational costs, and limited experience with vendor selection and procurement.
To address these challenges, the National Institute of Informatics (NII) conducted the Pilot Program for a GakuNin-Compatible Identity Provider Hosting Service, which utilized cloud-based Identity as a Service (IDaaS), from the second half of FY2022 through the end of FY2025.
The pilot confirmed that IDaaS enables institutions to establish the identity infrastructure required for GakuNin participation with significantly reduced operational effort. It also demonstrated that adopting such an infrastructure supports broader institutional improvements, including integrated identity management, account lifecycle management, and multi-factor authentication. Following the completion of the pilot program, approximately 95% of participating institutions have continued using the IDaaS service adopted during the pilot, demonstrating that IDaaS represents a practical and sustainable option for supporting GakuNin participation.
At the same time, institutions procuring IDaaS independently must invest considerable effort in evaluating services, defining security requirements, negotiating contracts, and managing procurement processes. Individual procurement can also increase overall costs, including software licensing fees. These burdens can be particularly significant for smaller institutions or those with limited technical and administrative resources.
To address these issues, NII is examining a joint procurement framework for GakuNin-compatible IDaaS, which would provide participating institutions with a common procurement and operational framework in addition to the underlying technical hosting environment.
The anticipated benefits of this joint procurement initiative include:
- Streamlined procurement and contract management
- Stronger security and authentication infrastructure
- Reduced operational burden and mitigation of shortages in technical personnel
- Information sharing and exchange of operational expertise among participating institutions
- Lower overall costs, including software licensing and procurement expenses
Through this initiative, GakuNin aims to make participation more accessible for educational and research institutions that have previously faced difficulties deploying and operating their own Identity Providers. At the same time, it seeks to promote sustainable identity infrastructure across participating institutions and contribute to the continued development of Japan’s academic identity federation.