Identity Provider (IdP)

You may be wondering what is an identity provider (IdP)? In short, an identity provider offers a basic function to the directory service, such as Microsoft’s Active Directory. It, therefore, enables information security administrators to arrange and maintain the identity of network resources, digital services, and end users. It also allows safe and secure interaction over a proprietary network.

What is an Identity Provider?

An IdP is a service that offers an internet-connected device or end-user with digital identities. They provide login credentials that allow the users or employees to connect to multiple networks, platforms, and applications while ensuring the security remains tight. The IdP is used in common things like accessing an app through Facebook or Google login.

The Typical Workflow of an IdP

It involves:

• A request. You, as a user, key in the credentials.
• Verification. The identity provider then verifies if the user should have access and what they are permitted to do.
• Unlocking. A user is then given access to the needed resource and logged in.
• The process takes just a few seconds, and therefore many users will fail to notice the complexity behind the screen.

The Security Benefits of Using an Identity Provider

Not every employee in an organisation can get access to all the company’s information. An IdP, therefore, will distinguish which employee gets what kind of the company’s resources, according to their logins. The system also helps tighten up security through an efficient login method. An identity provider can help add some security benefits such as:

• It offers a central audit pathway for every access event. This makes it easy to prove the user is accessing resources at a particular time and what kind of resources they are accessing.
• An IdP saves the users from the trouble of creating and managing several usernames and passwords with SSO (single sign-on). The reentering and managing of several passwords is called password fatigue. This fatigue is inconvenient and can be a security hazard. The more you need to remember a password by writing it down, the more likely an attacker will steal the password and gain access to all your information. Therefore, an IdP will assist in reducing user frustration and password fatigue.
• A service provider will not have to worry about securing personally identifiable information (PII) since it will be the responsibility of an identity provider.
• Spreading out user lists. Clients, development partners, and internal employees will all require access to your resources. However, designing custom logins for a large group of people can be very time-consuming. Thus, an identity will help remove all that work.
• Disparate databases. Limits access of company’s resources to employees. The Idp System will know the kind of information to display depending on the login details entered.
• An identity provider also enhances efficiency. When the staff in a company need access to servers from various time zones, locations, and devices. Such shifting variables can be difficult to manage access. An identity provider will help manage the important details and give you more time on the critical parts.
  In case of poor paper trails where someone made a mistake, an identity provider login can help track the person and what they did. Therefore, a company can easily fix the problem.

Types of IdP

Identity providers have two main types:

• Social-basedThey are placed in categories based on the languages they choose to use when communicating with the service providers. The SAML language suits corporate interests since it offers more control, allowing corporations to secure their SSO logins.
• Enterprise-basedIt is usually used in corporate enterprises for IAM, identity and access management. It is also used in personal computing to verify users for online events taking place in a registration wall, like access to content based on subscription or online shopping.

Popular Identity Providers

Companies that offer identity provider services include:

• Facebook
• Microsoft
• Box
• Fitbit
• Apple
• Google
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Identity Provider and Service Provider

When discussing identity providers, service providers are the entities that maintain and manage digital resources that users try to access. At a user’s request, the IdP provides authentication credentials to a service provider.