Specsavers rolls out open source employee access system

Specsavers has completed a project to roll out the open source OpenLdap global directory services software across six countries.

The software, implemented by Sirius, an open source consultant, is being used to control employee access to data and applications based on their job role.

OpenLdap is being used by Specsavers to support its store-expansion programme. Michel Kahn, group IT director at Specsavers, said, "Pursuing an open source strategy has allowed us to meet the challenge of opening two new stores an week."

OpenLdap is the open source alternative to Microsoft's Active Directory, which authenticates end-users on to a company's network.

Sirius said it implemented the software so that network access could be managed in a similar way to how a Windows network is managed, as the IT staff were familiar with Windows.