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What are the benefits and challenges of using SAML for single sign-on (SSO)?

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Single sign-on (SSO) is a convenient and secure way to access multiple applications or websites with one login. Instead of remembering and entering different credentials for each service, you can use your existing identity provider (IdP) to authenticate yourself once and access all the services that trust your IdP. SSO can improve user experience, productivity, and security, but it also comes with some challenges and trade-offs. In this article, we will explore one of the most popular standards for implementing SSO: SAML.

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Nidhika Sharma

Senior Technical Consultant at EY | Okta certified Developer, Consultant, Administrator and Professional | Identity and…

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1 What is SAML?

SAML stands for Security Assertion Markup Language. It is an XML-based protocol that enables the exchange of authentication and authorization information between an IdP and a service provider (SP). The IdP is the entity that verifies your identity, such as your organization or a third-party service like Google or Facebook. The SP is the entity that provides the service or application that you want to access, such as a web app or a cloud platform. SAML defines how the IdP and the SP communicate and trust each other, using messages called assertions.

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2 How does SAML work?

The basic flow of SAML involves a request for access to a service or application that supports SAML. The Service Provider (SP) then redirects the user to the Identity Provider (IdP) with a SAML request containing information about the service and authentication method. The IdP verifies the user's identity and generates a SAML response with an assertion including the user's identity and other attributes. This response is sent back to the SP either through a redirect or by posting it to an endpoint. The SP validates the SAML response and assertion using a digital signature and certificate from the IdP, before granting access to the service or application based on the information in the assertion.

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3 What are the benefits of SAML?

SAML offers several benefits for both users and service providers, such as improved user experience, increased productivity, and enhanced security. With SAML, users do not have to remember or enter multiple passwords or create new accounts for each service. They can use their existing identity and credentials to access various services seamlessly, saving time and effort. Service providers can reduce the costs and complexity of managing user accounts and passwords, and delegate the responsibility of authentication and authorization to the IdP. Additionally, users can avoid the risks of phishing, credential theft, or password reuse as they only need to trust their IdP.

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Nidhika Sharma

Senior Technical Consultant at EY | Okta certified Developer, Consultant, Administrator and Professional | Identity and Access Management
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In computing and networking, one of the major challenges is getting systems and devices built by different vendors for different purposes to work together. This is called "interoperability": the ability for different machines to interact with each other, despite their differing technical specifications. SAML is an interoperable standard — it is a widely accepted way to communicate a user's identity to cloud service providers.

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4 What are the challenges of SAML?

SAML is a complex protocol that comes with several drawbacks and limitations. It requires a lot of configuration and coordination between the IdP and the SP, as well as XML parsing, encryption, signing, and validation. Debugging and troubleshooting can be difficult when dealing with multiple IdPs or SPs. Additionally, SAML is not compatible with all types of services or applications, such as mobile apps or desktop apps. Furthermore, it is a rigid protocol that does not allow much customization or variation. It has a predefined set of bindings, profiles, and attributes that may not suit all use cases or scenarios. Lastly, SAML may impose some constraints or limitations on the IdP or the SP, such as the size of the assertions, the format of the identifiers, or the expiration of the sessions.

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5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the benefits and challenges of using SAML for single sign-on (SSO)?

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1 What is SAML?

2 How does SAML work?

3 What are the benefits of SAML?

4 What are the challenges of SAML?

5 Here’s what else to consider

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