A method, system, and computer program product for corporate portal security
are
provided, wherein security information corresponding to an external object imported
into the corporate portal is automatically mapped from the object's native security
system into the corporate portal system. For each external object imported, the
corporate portal maps external users and external groups identified by the native
security into corresponding portal users and portal groups according to a predefined
mapping process, and stores the results in a manner that associates the external
object with those portal users and portal groups. A plurality of database tables
and maps determines the outcome of the predefined mapping process. Advantageously,
when new external users or groups are added, they are detected by a synchronization
agent which then automatically updates the database tables and maps. When custom
group security configurations are desired, or when new domains are added, the portal
administrator may manipulate a subset of the database tables and maps to achieve
the desired configuration. Advantageously, manually intensive operations such as
object-by-object security stampings, and/or re-manipulation of individual security
settings associated with re-instantiated crawls, are avoided.