AAI stands for Authentication and Authorization Infrastructure. It is a framework or system that manages the processes of authentication (verifying the identity of users) and authorization (granting users permission to access resources or perform actions) within a network or system. Within the Europe's open science and EOSC ecosystems, it is a critical component designed to manage and streamline the access of researchers, institutions, and services to the EOSC's vast array of digital resources and services.

• Federated Identity Management:
  • Single Sign-On (SSO): AAI enables researchers to use their existing institutional credentials to access multiple services and resources across Europe and the EOSC ecosystem without needing to log in separately to each service.
  • Interoperability Across Institutions: The AAI framework in EOSC is built to work across various research institutions and service providers, allowing seamless access to resources regardless of the user's home institution.
• Access Control and Permissions:
  • Role-Based Access: AAI assigns roles and permissions based on the user's profile, ensuring that they have appropriate access to the resources they need while maintaining security and compliance with institutional policies.
  • Policy Enforcement: It enforces policies related to data access, sharing, and privacy, ensuring that resources are accessed only by authorized users under the agreed-upon conditions.
• User-Centric Approach:
  • Simplified Access: AAI is designed to be user-friendly, providing a simplified and consistent user experience across the various services within EOSC, reducing the complexity typically associated with accessing multiple platforms.
  • Support for Collaboration: AAI facilitates collaboration by allowing users from different institutions and countries to access and share resources easily, promoting open science and cross-border research.
• Security and Privacy:
  • Data Protection: AAI includes robust mechanisms to protect user credentials and personal information, ensuring compliance with European regulations such as GDPR.
  • Trust Framework: It operates within a trust framework that ensures all participating organizations adhere to common standards of security and data protection.