SAML, which means Security Assurance Markup Language, is an open federation standard that enables users to authenticate by an Identity Provider (IDP) who can then provide an authentication token to another application, known as a Service Provider (SP). . SAML SP makes it possible to work without its own authentication and passes identities to integrate users inside and outside the organization. This makes it possible to exchange one’s security certificate with an SP over a network, which is often an application or service.
SAML enables public cloud services and other SAML-enabled systems to communicate securely across multiple domains. You can use SAML to enable a single sign-on (SSO) experience for your users across any two applications that support the SAML protocol and services. This enables an SSO to perform multiple security functions for one or more applications The SAML protocol and services are supported by the following applications:
Claim
SAML enables one party to claim the properties and attributes of an entity on behalf of the other party The three types of claims that make up a claim are an authentication statement, a feature statement and an approval decision statement.
Protocol
SAML covers different types of request / response protocols. Because of these values, service providers are able to search for or request a claim, to investigate the validity of a subject, to manage and manage the identification mappings, to ask for a simultaneous logout of a group of sessions that are all connected to each other (“single logout”). “).
Binding
An SAML binding is a mapping of a SAML protocol message in conventional messaging formats and / or communication protocols. SAML bindings can also be used interchangeably with SAML mapping.
Profile
The purpose of a SAML profile is to improve interoperability by reducing some flexibility that is unavoidable by common-use standards. In general, a SAML profile will describe the limitations and / or extensions that support the use of SAML for a particular application. For example, the web browser SSO Profile describes how SAML authentication is claimed between an identity provider and a service provider to enable single sign-on for browser users.
SAML facility
Platform neutrality
The security framework has been abstracted by SAML so that it is no longer dependent on platform design or specific vendor implementation. One of the most important tenants of service-oriented architecture is to double the application logic from data protection as much as possible.
Directory loose coupling
SAML does not require user data maintenance because the directories are interconnected. Using SAML does not require updating user information and syncing across directories.
Increase the overall online experience Single sign-on for end users
This is made possible by SAML, which allows users to first verify themselves with an identity provider and then proceed to access the service provider without the need for further authentication. Also, the Identity Federation, which connects several identities, is supported by SAML, which makes it possible to provide users with a more useful and personalized experience across all supported services.
Reduce the costs associated with administration for service providers
A single act of authentication, such as checking in with a username and password, can be “reused” across different services using SAML. This can help reduce the cost of keeping account information. This responsibility is now the responsibility of the identity provider.
Risk transfer
The business model of an identity provider is often more consistent with SAML than that of a service provider. As a result, proper administration of SAML IDs can be used to transfer responsibility to the identity provider.
How is that? Security claims markup language Used?
The development of the SAML standard was inspired by the following four “drivers”:
- Restrictions imposed by cookies stored in the browserSince most of the current single-sign-on systems use browser cookies to retain status, it avoids the need for re-authentication.
- SSO interoperabilityThe manner in which products apply SSO and CDSSO is fully protected by intellectual property law.
- Web services, Since the parameters for the security of web services are currently being worked out Much attention has been directed to the discovery of methods through which end-to-end privacy, authentication and integrity services can be provided. The Security Assistance Markup Language, or SAML, is a standard that offers mechanisms through which communication parties can communicate authentication and approval claims.
- Federation, About the need to simplify identity management across organizational boundaries, it gives users the ability to combine a large number of local identities into a single (or at least a short set) federated identity (s).
How can Heimdal help you?
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Managing access certificates is an essential element of any cyber security plan.
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