Sun Microsystems has lifted the lid on technology that it claims will simplify the deployment of identity management systems in Microsoft network environments.

Based on technology acquired from Waveset Technologies, Sun's Identity Manager for Microsoft is designed to provide company-wide user identity management, as well as password and directory management capabilities for Microsoft products.

The offering's server-based agentless technology (formerly known as Waveset Lighthouse) will, according to Sun, enable organisations to centralise the administration and synchronisation of user identities across application environments.

It is designed to be able to manage Microsoft resources in the enterprise, including the software giant's Active Directory, Active Directory Application Mode, Identity Integration Server, Windows 2000, Windows 2003, SQL Server and Exchange.

"Identity management is an essential component of a secure environment and its success is dependent on having centralised visibility across an entire enterprise," said Mark McClain, vice president of identity management marketing at Sun.

"Sun realises that enterprise customers often maintain complex, heterogeneous environments, and we are delivering an identity management offering that can be integrated into any IT infrastructure quickly and cost-effectively.

"By bridging the identity gap between Microsoft and other application environments we will help organisations reduce costs, enhance security and improve accountability."

Sun said its Java Enterprise System, which includes the Java System Identity Server, will integrate Sun Identity Manager for Microsoft "in future versions".