Identity Federation and Single Sign-On (SSO)
Identity federation refers to the ability to share an authenticated identity across multiple systems or organizations, often for seamless integration and access to resources. It enables users to access multiple services and applications without having to authenticate independently for each. It reduces user friction, simplifies the user experience, and eases the administrative burden of tracking multiple credentials. A common method of identity federation is through the use of Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML), an XML-based standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between parties. Single Sign-On (SSO) is a related concept that allows users to authenticate once and use their credentials to access multiple systems without needing to log in again. SSO generally leverages identity federation to create a seamless user experience across integrated services.
Guide: Understanding Identity Federation and Single Sign-On (SSO)
Why it is important:
Identity Federation and Single Sign-On (SSO) are crucial components of identity and access management. They allow seamless integration and collaboration across multiple systems and platforms. These concepts help enhance user experience, boost productivity, and strengthen security by minimizing the number of times a user has to authenticate.
What they are:
Identity Federation is a system of trust between separate enterprises, allowing them to share digital identities and entitlements. It supports business processes spanning multiple business boundaries, making it easier for users to access services in another security domain.
Single Sign-On (SSO) is a property of access control of multiple related, yet independent, software systems. With SSO, a user only needs to log in once and gain access to all systems without being prompted to log in again.
How they work:
Identity federation works by establishing a federated trust where the user's authentication at the identity provider is trusted by the service provider.
SSO works by storing the user's credentials and session information and using them to authenticate the user across different applications.
Exam tips for answering questions on Identity Federation and Single Sign-On (SSO):
1. Understand the key differences between Identity Federation and Single Sign-On.
2. Be well-versed in the benefits and potential security implications of using both systems.
3. Review use-cases for both Identity Federation and SSO.
4. Frequently, questions may be framed to test scenarios where you would recommend Identity Federation or SSO.
5. Also, ensure you're well prepared to answer direct questions about the underlying technologies or protocols like SAML, OAuth, and OpenID.
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