When Dynamics CRM 2011 was released, most deployments were strictly on-premise deployments with access restricted to users on the company network or VPN. However, with the changing landscape of how people work, the consumerization of IT, and the upcoming changes in Dynamics CRM 2011 R8 (cross-browser support and mobile applications), most of our customers are now more closely evaluating their options for giving users external access to the application, including access on mobile devices. They must weigh these enhancements in light of their security policies and what their users are requesting.
There is a list of the most common external access scenarios, and whether or not IFD is required in these scenarios. Please note that deploying Dynamics CRM 2011 IFD will enable any of the options on this list; however, if for some reason you are not prepared for ADFS+ IFD, or if ADFS does not fit within your security strategy, the following table should help you clarify if your external access scenario will require IFD.
