PowerBuilder, VB6, VBA and client/server applications · Beanstalk Authentication Broker

Modern SSO for older client/server applications.

Many long-lived Windows applications were built in PowerBuilder, VB6, VBA, C++, older .NET or similar technologies. They still run the business, but they were not built for modern identity. Beanstalk gives them a small, practical bridge to SSO and MFA.

COM-callable Older Windows tools Client/server friendly Central identity

Old does not always mean obsolete.

A stable internal application can be far cheaper to keep than to replace, especially when it encodes years of business rules and operational habits.

The problem is not that the application fails at its business job. The problem is that identity expectations have changed around it.

Beanstalk is intended for that exact gap: the application still works, but sign-in needs to catch up.

Why COM matters here

  • COM Automation is widely accessible from older Windows development environments and scripting hosts.
  • That makes it a practical integration surface for applications that cannot easily consume modern SDKs or web frameworks.
  • Beanstalk uses COM to keep the calling pattern familiar while handling modern browser-based identity externally.

Typical application types

  • PowerBuilder applications with long-established database and DataWindow workflows.
  • VB6, VBA and Access-based tools that still support finance, administration or operations teams.
  • Older .NET, C++ and MFC applications where a targeted authentication change is preferable to an architecture rewrite.

A realistic modernisation step

  • Beanstalk does not pretend to transform the whole application stack overnight.
  • It modernises the sign-in path first, which is often the immediate security, audit or policy requirement.
  • That can extend the useful life of the application while longer-term replacement decisions remain separate.
Practical next step

Find out whether your application is a good candidate.

Tell us the application technology, current login method, identity provider and deployment model. We can usually tell quickly whether Beanstalk is a practical fit, what would need to change, and where the integration risk sits.

Common questions

No. The application stays a Windows desktop or client/server application. Beanstalk only brokers the authentication flow.

Yes. Environment-specific identity provider configuration is one of the intended use cases.

No. The user signs in with the identity provider through the browser; Beanstalk returns a verified identity result to the application.

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Need something specific?

Tell us which application and which identity provider, or which JDE pain point you're trying to close. We'll tell you quickly whether one of our tools is a fit and what integration looks like for your environment.