Data Retrieval and Security Using Lightweight Directory Access Protocol

In the present world of communication and information interchange where more and more users are bound to use the same services and data with different access levels, the need for providing protection against potential breach of secured data has gained profound importance. Some of the common services are virtual private network (VPN), remote access server (RAS), Web server, mail server etc. In the following paper we present the technique of providing customized user level access and security through the use of LDAP for above mentioned services. The profiles of all users are maintained under LDAP directory information tree (DIT) from which information about any particular user, willing to login or retrieve data, can be used to provide successful authentication.