.svg)
Now more than ever, interconnectivity defines daily life for individuals and organizations alike. This is especially true when it comes to identity federation, a concept that builds on Single Sign-on (SSO) to revolutionize how digital identities can be leveraged to access multiple systems.
In this post we’ll break down the concept of identity federation, explaining how it works, a real-life example of identity federation in action, business use cases, and its importance for modern IAM.
What is identity federation?
Identity federation is a method of linking a single user identity across multiple separate identity management systems. It helps users rapidly shift between systems while still maintaining a high level of security. Think of it as a digital passport system, but instead of being granted access to multiple countries, you’re being granted access to different digital systems and domains.
How identity federation works
At its core, Identity Federation hinges on trust between different security domains to simplify access management across different systems and domains.
Here is how it works:
By using standards like SAML, OAuth, or OpenID Connect, identity federation allows for secure, efficient, and seamless access across separate platforms with the goal of enhancing user experience and security simultaneously .
Real-life example of identity federation in action
Imagine there’s a new travel website you want to sign up for. Rather than creating a new account with the travel website, you see an option to login with Google. When you click this option, you’re briefly redirected to Google, which asks if you’re okay sharing your basic information with the website.
Once you agree, Google verifies your identity and the website lets you in without ever have to create a new username or password.
In this scenario, Google and the travel website have an agreement to trust each other's user verification. Google confirms who you are, and the game accepts this without making you go through another sign-up process. This seamless experience of using your Google credentials to access a new service is a practical example of how identity federation works.
The importance of identity federation in modern Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Identity Federation offers multiple key benefits for modern IAM:
Final Thoughts
Identity federation in IAM streamlines access management across diverse platforms while bolstering security and improving both the user and administrative experience.
Covering the latest thought leadership, events, and news about identity security
.svg)
.svg){kind=icon}
