11 min
The number of apps, software, and systems needed to do our work seems to grow longer by the day. Recent studies put the average number of passwords per person in the workplace at 87. Managing all those separate logins, passwords, and accounts is a full-time job in itself.
More than just a frustration for users, that many touchpoints create a security risk. Every duplicate password is a vulnerability, every manual provisioning task is an opportunity for error.
This is where Federated Identity Management (FIM) comes in. FIM allows your account holders to access all the resources they need using a single digital identity. This guide will walk you through how it works, the key advantages, and some real-world use cases. Let’s kick off by defining Federated Identity Management.
What is Federated Identity Management?
Federated Identity Management is a system that allows an account holder to use a single digital identity to authenticate and gain access to resources across multiple, independent security domains.
One system, the Identity Provider (IdP), is trusted to vouch for an account holder's identity to other systems (the Service Providers or SPs). This allows for a seamless, secure experience where the account holder logs in once and can access all federated services.
The result is a dramatic reduction in the need for multiple credentials, enhancing both security and convenience.
How Federated Identity Management works in practice
FIM is often referred to as an authentication "handshake" or "token exchange," and it happens in the blink of an eye.
- Access attempt: An account holder tries to access a service or application (the Service Provider) but isn't logged in yet.
- Handshake: The SP recognizes that the account holder's identity is managed by a trusted third party. It redirects the account holder's browser to the Identity Provider for authentication.
- Login: The account holder logs into the IdP using their established credentials (for example, their corporate username and password, often with multi-factor authentication).
- Token exchange: If the login is successful, the IdP generates a cryptographically signed digital token. This token, or "assertion," contains essential information about the account holder, such as their identity, attributes, and authentication status.
- Authorization: The token is securely passed back to the SP. It validates the token's authenticity and, based on its contents, grants the account holder access to the requested resource.
Key advantages of Federated Identity Management
We’re seeing a huge uptake of FIM within complex enterprise environments. It’s not a surprise, when you consider the multiplicative benefits it offers.
Convenient
FIM provides a true single sign-on (SSO) experience across applications and organizations. This eliminates the need to create, remember, and manage multiple usernames and passwords, which in turn boosts productivity and reduces frustration.
Secure
By having a single, authoritative Identity Provider, you significantly reduce your overall attack surface. There are fewer accounts to compromise and fewer passwords to steal. The security of the IdP, including multi-factor authentication, benefits all connected services.
Streamlined
FIM streamlines access provisioning for external collaborators like suppliers, partners, visitors, and contractors. Crucially, it enables immediate revocation when a project finishes or an employee leaves. Disabling their Identity Provider account removes their federated access.
Centralized
FIM allows IT and security teams to manage account holder identities from a single authoritative source. This provides a consolidated view of all access rights and simplifies the auditing of who accessed what, when, and why.
Compliant
FIM helps organizations meet regulatory requirements for identity assurance and access governance. The centralized authentication logs and clear chain of identity verification make it much easier to demonstrate compliance during an audit.
Common challenges of Federated Identity
Any system that handles the kind of complexity FIM deals in will come with challenges. We won’t pretend it’s a trivial undertaking, but knowing about the hurdles in advance will help you overcome them.
|
Category |
Context |
Challenge |
Mitigation |
|
Trust |
FIM relies on a foundation of trust between organizations. |
Ensuring all participating Identity and Service Providers maintain a consistently high level of security. |
Legally sound agreements that define security, data sharing, and liability policies. |
|
Consistency |
The policies defined at the IdP must accurately translate to access rules at multiple Service Providers. |
If not carefully managed, there is a risk of granting more access than intended. |
Agree to unified and universal authorization models. |
|
Integration |
The ongoing management of trust certificates, security keys, and protocol configurations can be demanding. |
Integrating older, non-standardized applications or on-premise legacy systems into a modern FIM framework can be technically challenging and costly. |
Agreeing a baseline standard of security protocols between all parties. |
|
Risk |
While FIM enhances security by centralizing authentication, it also concentrates risk. |
The compromise of a primary IdP credential could potentially grant broad, unauthorized access across the entire federation |
Strong multi-factor authentication (MFA) at the IdP level. |
Enterprise use cases for Federated Identity
FIM delivers strong value across organizations of all sizes and industries.
Cross-organization collaboration
FIM is ideal for managing relationships with external suppliers, contractors, or partners. It allows these external account holders to use their own company's identity provider for authentication, eliminating the need for your organization to create and manage thousands of guest accounts.
Mergers and acquisitions
During a merger or acquisition, FIM can rapidly grant controlled, temporary access to the systems of the acquiring company. This allows employees from both organizations to collaborate during the integration phase without the complexity of a full identity migration.
Hybrid environments
If you use a mix of internal legacy applications, modern cloud-based SaaS solutions, and IaaS platforms, FIM provides a unified login experience across all of them. An account holder uses their familiar corporate login to access all resources, regardless of where they are hosted.
Centralized authentication
In large enterprises with many branch offices or business units, FIM can establish a common authentication authority. This simplifies internal mobility and access management, allowing an account holder to use their primary identity to access resources across any location.
How acre security enables Federated Identity for physical and digital access
acre security understands the need for seamless and secure identity management across complex environments. Our solutions focus on unified security: an account holder's federated identity grants access to physical doors, gates, and turnstiles, as well as digital resources. This allows you to leverage your established identity infrastructure for physical security, reducing the need for duplicate identity management systems.
By centralizing identity validation and control, acre streamlines onboarding and offboarding. So whether you're managing a single building or a multi-site campus, our solutions are scalable and consistent.
Find out more about how federated identity can enhance your unified physical and digital security.
One password, unlimited opportunity
Federated Identity Management is a powerful strategy for simplifying access, enhancing security, and boosting efficiency in complex, distributed enterprise environments. It enables seamless authentication across disparate systems using a single identity, significantly reducing password fatigue and administrative burden.
As the number of apps, software, and programmes we need at work continues to grow, FIM is becoming increasingly critical. A fundamental security component for organizations looking to manage their diverse ecosystem of account holders, especially when spread across physical and digital domains.
Contact acre security today to discuss federated identity management.
