Definition of Agent

An Agent is a software component that allows an Access Management System to create, update or delete Accounts. The Agent also allows an Authentication Management system to set or validate passwords or other Authenticators on a Managed System.

Agents may be installed on either the Access Management or Authentication Server, or on the Managed System.

Agents installed on the Identity Management Server are sometimes called Remote Agents, because they use a remote administration software protocol understood by the Managed System. Conversely, agents installed on the Managed System are sometimes called Local Agents.