Top-down password synchronization is done by choosing one platform where all password changes and resets are performed and allowing passwords to synchronize to the other platforms.

Advantages#

• The Top-Down synchronization would allow password complexity parameters to be implemented at one point.
• Password enforcement would be done at the time the password is set at one point and the other platforms would not necessarly need to perform password complexity enforcement.
• Less complex than bi-directional password synchronization.

Disadvantgaes#

• As users can no longer change their password from any of the platforms, there is a change to the user experience.
• Password enforcement points need to be coordinated.
• It maybe difficult to disable users from changing passwords in down-stream systems.