
## 5 Reasons to Deploy Context-Based Authentication for Your Organization

We are living in an age of rapid technological evolution and progression which none of our ancestors witnessed before. It took centuries for mankind to build a computer but mobile devices and microchips were built within a decade. The world wide web has brought the world together as a global village but these high technological capabilities in the wrong hands can do a lot of malice, especially to budding organizations and businesses.

Organizations are at greater risk from cyber attacks today. According to the research report by [Risked Based Security](https://pages.riskbasedsecurity.com/2019-midyear-data-breach-quickview-report), “Compared to the midyear of 2018, the number of reported breaches was up 54% and the number of exposed records was up 52%. Over 7 billion records were stolen in the third quarter of 2019.” The year 2019 is considered to be the “worst year on record” for breach activity.

**“Are you doing enough to secure your business?”**

In today’s digital landscape, securing sensitive data has become more crucial than ever. With the rise of cyber threats and data breaches, traditional password-based authentication systems are no longer sufficient to protect valuable information and data. As a result, many organizations are implementing context-based authentication as a more effective means of verifying the user or [customer identity](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/customer-identity-access-management-ciam).

### What is Context-Based Authentication? {#what-is-context-based-authentication}

Context-based authentication is a type of authentication that uses additional contextual factors beyond just a username and password to determine if a user is authorized to access a system or application. These additional factors can include location, time of day, the device used, and other context-based information. By incorporating these factors, context-based authentication can provide organizations and their employees with more protection from security breaches, password leaks, privacy breaches, personal data breaches, etc.

For example, if a user is trying to access an application from a new location, the system may prompt them to provide additional authentication factors such as a one-time password or a security question. This helps ensure that the user is who they claim to be, even if their login credentials have been compromised.

Context-based authentication can also take into account other factors such as the user’s behavior and past activity. By analyzing patterns and trends in user behavior, context-based authentication can detect and prevent fraudulent activity in real time, providing an added layer of security.

![Context Based Authentication](/blog/assets/2023/context-based-authentication-process.webp)

### What are the Different Types of Context-Based Authentication? {#types-of-context-based-authentication}

There are many types of context-based authentication that organizations can deploy depending on their specific needs and security requirements. The most popular types of context-based or adaptive authentication are Location-based, Time-based, Device-based, Behavioral-based, and [Risk-based authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/solutions/risk-based-authentication-rba). These various types of context-based authentication will safeguard workforce identity for organizations and also customer identity in certain cases.

#### Location-Based Authentication

Location-based authentication method uses the user’s physical location to determine if they are authorized to access a system or application. For example, if the employee of an organization usually logs in from a specific geographic location, but suddenly attempts to log in from a different location, the system may prompt them to provide additional authentication factors under [multi-factor authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa). This is very useful in the case of work from home employees who would usually log in from their home location.

#### Time-Based Authentication

The time factor used by this type of [Adaptive Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa) method determines if a user is authorized to access a system or application. For example, if the employee of an organization typically logs in during business hours set by that particular organization (eg. 9 am to 6 pm), but if login is attempted by some hacker at late night (eg. 1 am), the system may prompt them to provide additional authentication factors. Because that additional 2FA factor will be sent directly to the employee, and the attempt by the hacker will be rendered unsuccessful.

#### Device-Based Authentication

This type of adaptive authentication records information about the user’s device and uses that data to determine whether the user is authorized to access a system or application. For example, if an employee typically logs in from a specific device like their office laptop, but suddenly the login is attempted from a different device outside the organization, the system may prompt them to provide additional authentication factors to verify the workforce identity of the employee.

#### Behavioral-Based Authentication

The information about the user’s behavior is used to authenticate contextual access for users to systems or applications they need. For example, if an employee displays a certain behavioral pattern according to which they typically access an organizational application from a specific location, at a specific time, and using a specific device, then any deviation from this pattern could trigger additional authentication measures. This method is the most secure adaptive authentication method which is popularly used with multi-factor authentication. Behavioral data is also used in Biometric authentication, which can be used to authenticate both workforce identity and customer identity.

#### Risk-Based Authentication

A risk-based approach is used in this type of context-based authentication, which is also known as risk-based authentication. Using this risk-based approach, it is determined which level of user authentication is required based on the perceived risk of the login attempt. For eg., if a user (which can be an employee or customer of a business) is attempting to log in from a high-risk location, the system may require additional authentication factors to be provided otherwise If your customer is trying to log in from a safe location, from their usual device, then additional authentication factors are not needed because the risk is very low. This form of authentication can also remove login hassles and security threats for your customers. This way the customer identity is safe in different risk scenarios.

### 5 Reasons: Why Deploy Context-Based Authentication? {#5-reasons-to-deploy-context-based-authentication}

It is evident that Context-based authentication is a highly advanced security mechanism because it evaluates various contextual factors to determine whether or not to grant access to a system or application. Here are five reasons why organizations should deploy context-based authentication to secure both workforce identity and customer identity:

**1. Enhanced Security:**
   Contextual access provides an additional layer of security beyond traditional authentication methods such as passwords, pins, or tokens. It evaluates contextual factors such as user location, the time factor, device type, and network connectivity to determine whether or not access should be granted. This helps to prevent unauthorized access and reduce the risk of data breaches. Even if the user credentials are compromised, a hacker cannot access the user’s account because the deviation in context will trigger multi-factor authentication like OTP sent to the user’s mobile.
   &nbsp; 
   
**2. Improved User Experience:**
   The user experience of both the employees and customers of an organization or business can be significantly improved by reducing the need for users to remember multiple passwords or credentials. Users can simply log in from their devices and access the system or application based on their contextual factors. Contextual access can help to reduce frustration and increase productivity. Also, a more secure environment helps to build a strong trust factor and reputation among the customers, employees, and stakeholders. This is extremely crucial for the success of any organization.
   &nbsp; 

**3. Compliance:**
   Many regulatory compliance frameworks require companies to implement advanced security measures to protect sensitive data. Many of these compliances are enforced by the local governing bodies and for any business which may be locally based or multi-national, following these compliances are very crucial in order to function in that particular region or country. For multi-national companies, thing gets more complication as they have to follow multiple compliances set by governments of different countries. Context-based authentication can help organizations to meet these compliance requirements by providing an additional layer of security beyond traditional authentication methods.
   &nbsp; 

**4. Cost-Effective:**
    Every organization should focus on cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality. Being cost-effective doesn’t mean spending less, it means every penny you invest is for the righteous cause which brings positive results for the betterment of your business. Cost-effective solutions can help in scalability and bring growth to your organization. When it comes to secure authentication, Context-based authentication can be a cost-effective security measure because it reduces the need for expensive hardware or software-based authentication methods. It can also reduce the unnecessary costs associated with password resets and help desk support.
    &nbsp; 

**5. Scalability:**
   When any organization decides to spend on security then it is very important to focus on the scalability factor. The security solution must be able to meet the growing demand of the organization. If 100 people organization when grows to 1000+, then the security solution also must simultaneously scale in order to cater to the increasing headcount. Similarly, this might be the case with a growing customer base. Context-based authentication can be easily scaled to meet the needs of a growing organization.

### Use Cases of Context-Based Authentication {#use-cases-of-context-based-authentication}

Context-based authentication is a kind of adaptive authentication mechanism that considers various contextual access factors, such as location, time, device type, and user behavior, to determine the level of access a user should have. Here are some common use cases of this kind of authentication method:

**Case 1: Remote Access For Work From Home Employees**
Context-based authentication is particularly useful for remote access scenarios where a work from home or remote employee is accessing company resources from outside the corporate network. Let’s assume that the company has a team of remote employees who need to access the company’s internal network to work on projects and access sensitive data. Remote employees will require to access sensitive organizational information for their work. But there is this risk of sensitive information leak/theft if their system or network is hacked by cybercriminals.

To solve this problem, the company has implemented contextual access. Once the remote employee enters their login credentials, the system matches their credentials in the database, and if a match is found, then the user will be faced with a context-based authentication challenge. In this challenge, the user’s location and time of login will be analyzed and if any deviation is found then the challenge will require the remote employee to provide additional authentication factors to confirm their identity. Only upon successful completion of the challenge they will be granted access to the internal network.

![Enable MFA for VPN logins](/blog/assets/2023/enable-mfa-for-vpn-logins.webp)

**Case 2: Contextual Access in eCommerce Websites**

Context-based authentication can be a crucial security measure for eCommerce websites, particularly during the checkout process. Let’s assume that an eCommerce website is facing customer dropout in numerous instances. The troubleshooting team identified that most customers are opting out because the payment is not secure and there is a considerable risk that customers’ payment information may be leaked to cyber criminals. Fraudulent transactions have also been reported in many instances. Hence, the company needs to make the payment experience more secure to win back the trust of its customers.

To solve this problem, the eCommerce website has implemented Multi-Factor Authentication with contextual access beyond a customer’s username and password to verify their identity and protect their sensitive payment information. The website is using location-based factors such as the customer’s IP address, or device-based factors such as the device’s unique identifier. When the customer attempts to log in to make a payment while purchasing an item, contextual parameters like IP address and device used are checked. If a deviation is found then the website prompts additional factors like biometric verification. This way the eCommerce website ensures that the customer making the payment is the authorized user and prevents unauthorized access or fraudulent transactions.

Overall, implementing context-based authentication in the eCommerce checkout process can provide an added layer of security and help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive payment information. This will increase customer trust and confidence in the website and lead to increased successful transactions.

miniOrange as an IAM Provider, have a specialized security team responsible for implementing and maintaining the security protocols for context-based authentication for our clients. They will ensure that the authentication system is user-friendly, reliable, and efficient. Additionally, they will provide appropriate training and support to the client’s employees, stakeholders, and customers to ensure that they understand the authentication process and can use it effectively.

### In Summary {#summary}

Contextual access is no doubt the best passwordless security solution for modern businesses to secure their offline and online resources for their customers, employees, and stakeholders. In the future, this technology is going to become more personalized and secured with AI & ML.

The best time to invest in Context-Based Authentication is – **TODAY!**

With miniOrange IAM solutions, you get a whole suite of security services like Single-Sign On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Risked-Based or Context-Based Authentication (also known as Adaptive Authentication), and many more. You can access any one or combinations of them or all as per the security requirements of your organization. You get both On-Premise and Cloud solutions. We got you covered on all fronts, all you need is to choose a customized service for your business or we have specialists to help you with that also. You can request a demo and try out our service before investing in the full-scale solution.


Amidst cyber security threats that organizations face, context-based authentication can minimize unauthorized access and safeguard your sensitive information.

5 Reasons to Deploy Context-Based Authentication


## Automated Provisioning

Imagine manually onboarding hundreds of new employees at once. If you’re a corporate organization that doesn’t have an IAM, that’s often the case. How do you provision hundreds of new users to their respected systems & applications efficiently? **Read through the blog & find the solution yourself**.

### What is Automated Provisioning? {#what-is-automated-provisioning}

**Automated provisioning** or **Automated User Provisioning** is the method of granting & managing access to apps, websites, data & systems within your organization, through an automated process.

But just as automated provisioning can deploy & activate services for users, it can also remove user access from systems, applications & data. This is called automated de-provisioning. It’s much more efficient than traditional processes of employees’ onboarding & offboarding as changes occur across an organization.

### How does automated provisioning work? {#how-does-automated-provisioning-work}

In the IAM context, [auto-provisioning](https://bit.ly/3HrIka1) automates the [provisioning](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-provisioning/) of apps/websites or other resources to users across the organization. But how does it work? Automated provisioning grants employees access to applications & resources based on their role & permission levels without the involvement of manually working on user access requests until approved, processed, & activated.

![Automated Provisioning Flow](/blog/assets/2023/automated-provisioning-flow.webp)

For eg:

1. A new employee joins your company, your company’s [identity management platform](https://bit.ly/3uqEDxE) say miniOrange will assign that worker a role through their system.
2. The employee is granted access to apps/websites based on their role.
3. Their access will be automatically adjusted or revoked if in case they change roles or leave the organization.

### Benefits of automated provisioning {#benefits-of-automated-provisioning}

**Security -**

It guarantees that you provide the right permissions for the right people.

**Streamlined onboarding -**

Automated provisioning allows you to take the onboarding burden off of your Human Resources or IT department through automated provisioning.

**Cost Efficient -**

With automated provisioning, you can free up time & resources for other tasks.

**Error reduction -**

Because automated provisioning eliminates manual processes, it also greatly reduces the margin of error.

### Why does your company need Automated provisioning? {#why-you-need-automated-provisioning}

**Problem :** In many organizations, HR departments use Microsoft Active Directory (AD) to manage access permissions of employees & devices. AD provides appropriate access privileges to company resources, but it comes with some drawbacks. With AD, IT departments need to spend time managing, configuring & installing each individual cloud app, and provision users manually when they join the organization or change roles. These tedious tasks divert teams’ time & focus from more impactful projects and are prone to human errors that ultimately limit the efficiency of any business.

![User and Group Provisioning](/blog/assets/2023/automated-provisioning-setup.webp)

**Solution :** [miniOrange](https://bit.ly/3uqEDxE) has the ability to synchronize users with HR applications such as [Workday](https://bit.ly/3uiE5df), Microsoft, [BambooHR](https://bit.ly/3s9iJMN) & many more. Now, when an employee is created, updated, or removed in the HR app, miniOrange detects the change and propagates it through all integrated apps & systems – including Active Directory, cloud apps, or on-premise. Because the employee is automatically removed from apps, the seat is freed up, [saving money](https://bit.ly/3GnT6g4) on apps that charge based on active users. This method has the added benefit that on-prem applications which may be integrated with AD are immediately updated as well when users are terminated in the HR system.

### miniOrange has pre-integrated apps for Auto Provisioning and Deprovisioning {#miniorange-pre-integrated-apps}

1. [Azure/Active Directory](https://bit.ly/3rkRFLh)
2. [G-Suite App](https://bit.ly/3GrHubY)
3. [Microsoft 365](https://bit.ly/32SBdID)
4. [Salesforce](https://bit.ly/3gpdNO4)

Find your required Application for Auto-Provisioning [here](https://idp.miniorange.com/apps-integration/?id=provisioning).

![miniOrange Identity Providers Integration](/blog/assets/2023/automated-provisioning-apps.webp)

### Provisioning with SCIM & Understanding its Importance {#provisioning-with-scim}

SCIM, or the System for Cross-domain Identity Management (opens new window)specification, is an open standard designed to manage user identity information. SCIM provides a defined schema for representing users and groups, and a RESTful API to run CRUD operations on those user and group resources. The goal of SCIM is to securely automate the exchange of user identity data between your company’s cloud applications and any service providers, such as enterprise SaaS applications. You can simplify permissions for:

1. User Account Provisioning
2. Group Provisioning
3. User-Group Assignment

For more details refer : [SCIM Provisioning Gateway](https://bit.ly/3JULXWk)

### Additional Resources {#additional-resources}

-   Salesforce Provisioning
-   Azure AD Provisioning
-   JIT Provisioning


Automated Provisioning streamlines user management across apps/websites, increases security, reduces risk, saves time and money.

Automated Provisioning | 4 main benefits of Automated User Provisioning


## Why Azure AD SSO is Important for Modern Enterprises? {#why-is-azure-ad-important}

The workforce of modern enterprises often faces the challenge of managing multiple applications and systems, each requiring separate login credentials. This exposes their employees to more frustration, less productivity, and higher security risks. To address these challenges, [Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso) using existing Azure AD emerges as a critical solution for modern-day organizations.

### What is Azure AD Single Sign On (SSO)? {#what-is-azure-ad-sso}

Azure AD is a popular directory used by most enterprises to store their data, applications, user information, etc. **Azure AD Single Sign-On (SSO)** is a cloud-based authentication service provided by Microsoft, which allows users to securely access multiple applications and resources within the Active Directory using a single set of login credentials. 

With Azure AD SSO, your employees authenticate themselves once and gain seamless access to various applications they require, without the need to provide credentials again for each individual application. This saves time and increases productivity. With fewer passwords to manage, this mode of authentication increases safety and significantly lowers password theft threats.

Azure AD SSO leverages industry-standard protocols such as Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) or OpenID Connect to establish trust between the identity provider (Azure AD) and the applications. When a user attempts to access an application, Azure handles the authentication process behind the scenes in the backend, validating the user's identity and providing the necessary access tokens to the application.

### 3 Reasons Why Enterprises Should Implement Azure AD SSO {#3-reasons-to-implement-azure-ad-sso}

**1.Simply the User Experience:** The seamless login process provided by Azure AD SSO eliminates the need for users to remember and enter multiple login credentials, saving time and increasing productivity.

**2.Enable Centralized Identity Management:** When Azure AD SSO is implemented, Azure AD serves as a centralized identity management hub, streamlining the user provisioning, de-provisioning, and access control, improving operational efficiency.

**3.Say Bye to Password Management:** Password-related problems are eliminated when users can log in to multiple apps with a single set of credentials via Single Sign-On. Hence, there is no need to manage multiple passwords for different apps.

### How to Enable SSO For Apps Not Supporting SAML Protocol? {#sso-for-apps-that-dont-support-saml}  
With [Azure AD SSO integration](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/configure-azure-ad-sso#step2), SSO can be enabled for applications that support SAML & Open ID protocols, but many organizations use applications that do not support any SSO Protocol or use something else for delegated authentication. For such unique use cases, miniOrange’s Proprietary Azure AD SSO solution is the perfect solution. 

### Easy SSO Deployment with miniOrange {#easy-sso-deployment-with-miniorange}

[miniOrange solution](https://www.miniorange.com/products/identity-broker-service) works like a third-party provider, where it keeps the Azure AD as IDP and enables SSO for all applications. In case the app does not support SAML, but supports other standard protocols, then to enable SSO, miniOrange can act as a middleman to facilitate communication between Azure AD and your application by converting SAML responses to app-specific protocol responses that the app can easily understand. If the application doesn't support any known protocols, then **miniOrange provides custom solutions** (like Connectors, etc.) to enable SSO. miniOrange also provides APIs that developers can easily integrate with the respective applications for authentication or authorization.

### User & Group Sync between Azure AD and any Databases/IDPs {#user-and-group-sync}

With [miniOrange User & Group Sync](https://www.miniorange.com/azure-ad-provisioning) admins can effectively synchronize user and group data stored in Azure AD with any external directories, IDPs, and applications. This eliminates the need for manual user and group creation and enables the syncing of custom attributes across different places. The sync can be scheduled or executed manually, significantly reducing administrative time and minimizing errors. Its seamless integration is invaluable for efficient user management. miniOrange can create, read, and update user accounts for new or existing users, remove accounts for deactivated users, and synchronize attributes across **multiple databases, IDPs, directories, and the applications** that the user needs access to.

### 5 Reasons Why Organizations Should Implement Azure AD SSO Via miniOrange  {#5-reasons-to-choose-miniorange-azure-ad-sso}   

1. **Multi-Platform Support:** The miniOrange solution for Azure AD SSO offers broad support for a wide range of platforms, applications, and protocols, allowing organizations to enable SSO across various systems, both cloud-based and on-premises. Also, there is a range of **pre-built integrations and connectors** for popular enterprise applications, simplifying the SSO implementation process.
2. **Ease of Use and Configuration:** For configuration processes to SSO, you can leverage miniOrange’s user-friendly interfaces to make the process streamlined. Get comprehensive administration consoles with intuitive workflows, making it easier for administrators to set up and manage SSO for the entire organization.
3. **Identity Management Features:** miniOrange offers advanced [identity management capabilities](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/workforce-identity) beyond SSO. These include features such as user provisioning and de-provisioning, [Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA),](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) password management, directory integration, and detailed access controls. These additional features can enhance security and streamline user management processes.
4. **Flexibility and Customization:** While Azure AD offers SSO capabilities, miniOrange generally provides more flexibility and customization options by offering **extensive API support, developer tools, and customization capabilities,** allowing organizations to tailor their SSO implementation to specific business requirements and integrate with custom applications.
5. **Third-Party Integration Ecosystem:** miniOrange has well-established ecosystems with a wide range of third-party integrations. These integrations enable organizations to connect their SSO implementation with other tools and services, such as **HR systems, CRMs, collaboration platforms, and security solutions,** enhancing the overall identity and access management capabilities of the organization.


If you want to try out the miniOrange solution and see how it works for your organization, then you can opt for the **30-day full-feature free trial with POC.** To know more, click on this link: https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/configure-azure-ad-sso 



### FAQ {#faq}

**1. What is Azure AD SAML SSO?**  
SAML is an XML-based standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between identity providers (such as Azure AD) and service providers (applications). Azure AD SAML SSO (Security Assertion Markup Language Single Sign-On) is a specific implementation of Azure AD SSO that utilizes the SAML protocol for secure authentication. Azure AD SAML SSO is the best option for businesses that use on-premise applications mostly and want to implement a streamlined authentication method to increase productivity among their employees & strengthen overall data security.

**2. Is Azure AD SSO different from Azure AD Seamless SSO?**

Azure AD SSO focuses on providing Single Sign-On capabilities with centralized user management and enhanced security, which is best suited for on-premise environments. Protocols like SAML and OpenID Connect are utilized to establish trust between the identity provider (Azure AD) and the applications. Whereas, Azure AD Seamless SSO takes it a step further by offering a more streamlined and transparent authentication experience, especially for organizations with a hybrid environment. Users are automatically signed in to applications when they are on their corporate network and connected to their domain-joined devices.
 














Learn how Enterpises can implement SSO with Azure AD Integration by leveraging the miniOrange solution.

Azure Active Directory SSO for Enterpises | Azure AD Integration


First impressions are crucial—they build credibility and set expectations for users. Logging in is often their first interaction with your organization, making a seamless and secure experience is essential.  

&nbsp;  

Cart abandonment affects **70% of Ecommerce shoppers**, driven by high charges, readiness issues, and security concerns. In this blog, we will see what is [Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM)](https://bit.ly/3XNEF1a) & how it can help tackle cart abandonment and improving customer retention strategies by creating desired identity experiences, and explores how modern identity management can boost business opportunities securely.


### What is CIAM? {#what-is-ciam}
CIAM solution is equipped with strong security measures, ensuring a smooth and protected customer journey. In Ecommerce, **CIAM securely handles [customer identity](https://bit.ly/4eP4291) and profile data**, making it easier for customers to access services without compromising security. This approach not only benefits customers but also streamlines operations for organizations.  

&nbsp;  

In essence, CIAM acts as a versatile pathway for customers and businesses alike. By implementing **security protocols like [authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/different-types-of-authentication-methods-for-security/), data governance, and customer profiling**, CIAM enhances user experiences across various channels, promoting trust and usability.  

&nbsp;  

![What is CIAM?](/blog/assets/2024/what-is-ciam.webp)  

&nbsp;  

### Ways to Prevent Abandoned Carts {#why-yo-prevent-abandoned-carts}

#### Convenience & Speed: 2 things consumers want from your login.  

Brands like **Amazon, Flipkart, Uber, and Apple** revolutionized digital authentication, pushing others to compete in digital identity. Logins became engagement opportunities. The global pandemic accelerated digital service use, transforming the authentication market. Now, businesses leverage IAM and CIAM solutions to achieve their goals.  

&nbsp;  

1. **Convenient & seamless login experience**

CIAM for Ecommerce seamlessly integrates with both [modern and legacy applications](https://bit.ly/4bokxGc), making it a versatile solution for various enterprises. This integration allows organizations to have greater control over their information across all platforms and applications, from websites to mobile apps and beyond. As a result, customers enjoy a consistent and streamlined user experience, regardless of their device or location.  Listed below are a few features which helps in creating a seamless experience:  

&nbsp;  

- **SSO**:
[Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://bit.ly/4coSeJb) enables consumers to use a single ID and password for multiple related services. This feature is popular because it eliminates the need for multiple passwords and frequent password resets, simplifying the login process.
- **Social Login**:
[Social media logins](https://bit.ly/4eHrzJb) provide an added layer of security and facilitate strong identity management. These quick and powerful authentication methods enhance the customer experience without causing disruption.
- **Progressive Profiling**:
CIAM goes beyond basic registration details, allowing businesses to gather insights into **customer shopping behaviors and preferences**. This valuable data can be leveraged to enhance targeted marketing and other business strategies.  

&nbsp;  

![Convenient & seamless login experience](/blog/assets/2024/convenient-seamless-login-experience.webp)  

&nbsp;  

2. **Secure customer credential storage**

Concerns about data breaches and payment gateway scams can deter customers from completing their purchases. To protect against these threats, implementing robust authentication protocols is essential. **CIAM solutions** enhance security by tokenizing customer identities, thereby separating them from sensitive data during storage. CIAM for Ecommerce uses MFA authentication methods to achieve this level of security. Below feature helps in creating a secure platform:  

&nbsp;  

- **MFA**:  
[Two-factor authentication (2FA)](https://bit.ly/3W6KC8a) is essential, requiring customers to provide additional verification factors beyond just passwords, such as a **PIN, One time Password or Biometric**. This multi-layered approach greatly enhances security. Additionally, customers' devices can be integrated into the authentication process. For example, logging into a Google account from a new device often prompts an email notification to verify the user's identity.

MFA is highly valued by consumers worldwide, making them more likely to sign up for a website that offers it. However, only about **30% of businesses** currently provide this solution. Implementing CIAM allows organizations to ensure comprehensive visibility and secure management of their collected data, aiding compliance with regulations like GDPR.  

&nbsp;  

- **Adaptive Authentication**:  
[Adaptive authentication](https://bit.ly/3WitpaT) is useful for admins as it simplifies managing security while enhancing user experience. For instance, admins can set policies where usual user behavior leads to quick access, reducing helpdesk calls for password resets. When unusual activities are detected, like logins from new locations, adaptive authentication adds extra steps, ensuring that only legitimate users gain access. This balance improves security without burdening users, making it easier for admins to maintain a secure and efficient authentication system.  

&nbsp;  

![Secure customer credential storage](/blog/assets/2024/secure-customer-credential-storage.webp)  

&nbsp;  

### Conclusion — CIAM can get back your unengaged customers {#conclusion}

**CIAM's authentication process** enhances customers' sense of security while shopping online, which reduces the likelihood of abandoned carts.  

miniOrange caters to all cloud/web/mobile applications when it comes to identity management & security. Few popular in demand integrations includes [Shopify](https://bit.ly/46mtTkL), [BigCommerce](https://bit.ly/3zZ7rSU), [Magento](https://bit.ly/3Yjbq6F), [WooCommerce](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-woocommerce-integrator) **and many more**.  

&nbsp;  

It's never too late to enhance your customers' experience. [miniOrange CIAM](https://bit.ly/3XNEF1a) can transform customer interactions, address security risks, and provide **24/7 service** — it all starts at login. Discover how [miniOrange CIAM & IAM](https://bit.ly/3y00dgU) can guide your organization towards modern identity management and **improved CX**.

**If you’d like to find out more about how CIAM can help your business, request a demo [here](https://bit.ly/3La3Zac).**



Customers abandon their carts all the time, often signaling a loss of interest in your brand. This blog explores how Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) can tackle the issue of abandoned carts, helping you retain customers and enhance their overall experience. “You focus on building your brand, let miniOrange take care of the streamlined user login experience."

How CIAM Can Prevent Abandoned Carts for Ecommerce Businesses


With the increasing stats and power of cybercrimes, continuous development of the latest authentication schemes is necessary to tackle the rising cyber threats. **Custom Database** – also sometimes referred to as – Database as Authentication Source is one such authentication method that’s gaining popularity,  thanks to the benefits it offers. Let’s take a glance at what it is, how it works, its pros and cons, and why it is gaining popularity.

### What is a Custom Database Connection? {#what-is-a-custom-database-connection}

**A Custom Database Connection is essentially linking your Database or User store with any Identity Platform for user authentication**. With this connection, you create an interface between a Database and the Identity Provider, which lets the Database act as an Identity Provider for user authentication. Here you would possibly be thinking of migrating your users from Database (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc) to the IDP, but that’s not always the safest option. However, with miniOrange, you don’t have to move user Identities from your existing Database to the IDP. The database connection is handled by API endpoints which helps in providing authentication services without migrating your sensitive user identities.

In most cases Custom Database is employed by Organizations for the following purposes:

**To Authenticate**: Integrate Database as IDP (Identity Provider) to authenticate users.

**To Migrate**: To migrate your users from existing databases/ user stores for authentication processes.

**Database Authentication by miniOrange is handled by 2 specific features:**

- Auto-Sync users with existing Database
- Without migrating your users

### Auto-Sync users with existing Database {#auto-sync-users-with-existing-database}

In the following use-case, whenever a user tries to log in for the first time a new record is made within the miniOrange platform, without storing the user password. Here on, miniOrange auto-syncs a new user identity to your local custom database to take care of user tracking for further authentication. You don’t have to make any additional effort to move new user identities from the miniOrange IDP to the Database whenever a user logs in.

For all future authentication of users, miniOrange will always use the existing database/identity store and the respective identity it contains while authenticating the user.


### Without migrating your users {#without-migrating-your-users}

In this use case, whenever a new user logs in for the first time, miniOrange automatically creates the user Identity in an identity source which is handled by miniOrange. But before authenticating the user, miniOrange ensures the user must be successfully authenticated against the legacy identity store (Your own Database), and only then the user profile is going to be created in the miniOrange Identity Platform. The new users are going to be created using an equivalent id and password that was provided by the user during authentication.

### How does Custom Database Connection work? {#how-does-custom-database-connection-work}

![Custom Database Connection workflow](/blog/assets/2023/custom-database-connection-workflow.webp)

Custom Database connections act as a comprehensive login system so as to get user identity information from your own Database (legacy identity store) to authenticate users. It starts with a process of integrating a database with IDP which creates an interface between your IDP and Database. IDP, after connecting, lets the Database act as an Identity Source to authenticate users once a user logs in or SSO into an application or website. Despite acting as an Identity Source, the Identity platform authenticates the user using their email ID/Username and password stored during a custom database configured within the IDP. When a user tries to SSO/login into the service using their credentials, a scripted query is implemented by the configured IDP on the corresponding Database to see the entered login credentials. If a match of the login credentials is found within the database, the user is authenticated and a session is made within the IDP. Here on, users can Single Sign-On into any of the applications which are configured with their IDP.

Custom Databases are often any of your SQL Server, MySQL server on the other management system during a local environment. Similarly, in [API as Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/api-authentication) Source the users are authenticated using their email ID/Username and password stored during a custom database. The sole difference here is that rather than configuring the custom database within the IDP, API endpoints are configured within the IDP. This helps the user to authenticate the user without exposing the database to IDP.

**miniOrange provides a special provision to authenticate your Users in two variant ways** :

- Using your own organizational user store / Database
- Using miniOrange as user store / Database

### Using your own user store {#using-your-own-user-store}

If you’ve got an existing user store or wish to store user credentials on your own server without moving user identities, miniOrange enables you to attach to a custom database or repository and use it as the identity provider. With this, your database remains private within the organization’s premises providing [user authentication services](https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/user-authentication). miniOrange uses the database just for authentication purposes, and any other crucial information stays within the database, maintaining the user’s privacy and avoids moving the user’s data to any third-party application.

If there’s a requirement to send another attribute during authentication of the user, data is directly picked from the database without getting saved in miniOrange and obtained to the respective application.

Essentially, you can connect to any kind of database or web service with miniOrange’s Custom Database Connection.  miniOrange allows you to make Custom Database connections for many commonly-used databases, including:

- [MongoDB](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/login-using-external-database-connection)
- [MySQL](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/configure-mysql-database-sso)
- [Oracle DB](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/configure-oracle-database-sso)
- [Maria DB](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/configure-mariadb-sso)
- [PostgreSQL](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/configure-postgresql-database-sso)
- SQL Server
- Windows Azure SQL Database
- Web services accessed via Basic Auth

### Using miniOrange as user store (miniOrange as IDP) {#using-miniOrange-as-user-store-miniOrange-as-idp}

In this use case, miniOrange provides a secure database infrastructure for organizations to store users’ data. Here on when an existing user tries to log in to a specific service, it coordinates with the database for authentication. But when a new user tries to access data the user profile is made in miniOrange which auto-syncs with the organizational premise database. Using miniOrange as IDP, organizations can easily authenticate their users since all data is stored in miniOrange.

Considering security, Passwords are never stored by miniOrange IDP. Alongside IDP services, varying levels of security requirements can also be enforced for User Authentication which includes: [Multi-Factor Authentication](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa/), Strong Password, [Adaptive Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa), etc.

### Pros and Cons of integrating Database as Identity Source {#pros-and-cons-of-integrating-database-as-identity-source}


This is how you can easily setup a Custom Database Connection with miniOrange IDP to securely and efficiently handle your user identities.

| PROS                                                        | CONS                                       |
|-------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| Security – As user information is stored in organizational premises only, no data is shared with third-party applications. This minimizes the danger of security loopholes. | Dependency on Application security – As IDP handles the general process, reliability on IDP increases. |
| No migration needed – As authentication directly occurs through your database/user store itself, there’s no need to migrate your users into IDP for authentication. |                                        |
| Easy On-boarding/Off-Boarding – As the user’s information is stored and interlinked with the user-store, you can add/remove users accordingly. |                                          |
| Minimized disturbance or inconvenience  – As users don’t have to create new accounts or find a replacement environment within the IDP for authentication, they will continue working with any disturbance. |                                         |
| Privacy – miniOrange keeps no stone unturned to the very fact that your user confidential data remains private to your own database. |                                          |


### Further Reading {#further-reading}

- [Setup Database Connection](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/login-using-external-database-connection)
- [Use Moodle to authenticate users](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/configure-moodle-sso)
- [Login using WordPress as an authentication source](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/configure-wordpress-sso)
- [Using Magento to authenticate users](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/configure-magento-sso)
- [What is Identity Broker Service?](https://www.miniorange.com/products/identity-broker-service)

Create Custom Database Connection to authenticate users using configured IDP without migrating your user identities.

Custom Database Connection


## Everything You Need to Know About Biometric Authentication

Digital Technologies are transforming the business landscape enabling new ways of doing business and enhancing marketing processes through automation to reach the right customers. But we cannot overlook the fact that cyber crime is also on the rise exponentially and this evolving technological age has provided a fertile ground for fraudsters to exploit and compromise the privacy of individuals and organizations alike. As we embrace new technological solutions to improve efficiency and convenience, we must also be proactive in safeguarding against cyber threats. Implementing security measures such as Single Sign On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Biometric Authentication, and more have become paramount to mitigate the risks posed by cyber criminals.

In recent years, biometric authentication has become increasingly popular in various industries, including banking, fintech, healthcare, etc. This security method can effectively secure both on-premise and cloud infrastructures of businesses of different scales, from SMBs to large enterprises.

### What is Biometric Authentication? {#what-is-biometric-authentication}

Biometric authentication is a method of identity verification that uses unique physical characteristics of individuals known as biometric data, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, voice recognition, etc., to verify the identity of an individual. For banks, fintech, and healthcare businesses, this technology offers a more secure and convenient way to authenticate customers and protect against fraud. Banks and fintech companies can ensure that their sensitive information and funds are safe and also their customer’s accounts are protected against cyber attacks.

A healthcare organization can ensure that the privacy of their patients is safe and also ensure that a fraudster doesn’t break into confidential patient information. Most banking apps and fintech apps require customers to log in through biometric authentication like fingerprint authentication, facial recognition, etc. It is also popularly used with Multi-factor Authentication, where biometric verification can be one of the 2FA factors for authentication.

### What is Biometric Data? {#what-is-biometric-data}

Biometric data refers to any information related to a person’s physical, behavioral, and biological characteristics that can be used for identification purposes. This can include measurements or features such as fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans, voiceprints, and even behavioral biometrics like gait or body posture.

Biometric data is often used in security systems, access control, or identity verification. It is considered more secure than traditional methods such as passwords or PINs, as it is unique to each individual and cannot be easily replicated or stolen.

However, the use of biometric data raises concerns about privacy and security, as it can be vulnerable to hacking, data breaches, and unauthorized access. Therefore, it is important to have proper safeguards and regulations in place to protect biometric data.

![Biometric Data](/blog/assets/2023/biometric-data.webp)

### What is a Biometric Authentication Device? {#what-is-biometric-authentication-device}

A biometric authentication device is an instrument that records or aids in the recording of biometric data and also facilitates biometric authentication based on the recorded data. This device does both the job of recording and also using that data for biometric verification of the user identity. Biometric authentication devices are becoming increasingly popular in many industries as they offer a more secure and convenient way to authenticate a user’s identity compared to traditional methods like passwords or PINs. Most of these biometric authentication devices are lightweight and easy to use. Without these devices biometric authentication will not be possible, hence, these devices are the essential components that make the magic of biometric authentication possible.

Some examples of biometric authentication devices include:

1. Fingerprint scanners: These devices use a person’s unique fingerprint to authenticate their identity. The user places their finger on the scanner and the device compares the fingerprint to a stored database of authorized fingerprints.
2. Facial recognition systems: These devices use advanced algorithms to recognize a person’s face and compare it to a stored database of authorized faces.
3. Iris scanners: These devices use the unique pattern of a person’s iris to authenticate their identity.
4. Voice recognition systems: These devices analyze the unique characteristics of a person’s voice to authenticate their identity.

Apart from these examples, there are many different types of biometric authentication devices that can collect various types of physical and behavioral biometrics. This provides a more secure and convenient way to authenticate a person’s identity and is increasingly being used in various industries, including banking, healthcare, and government.

![Biometric Authentication Device](/blog/assets/2023/biometric-devices.webp)

### How does Biometric Authentication Work? {#how-does-biometric-authentication-works}

Biometric authentication is a process that uses biometric data and a biometric authentication device to verify the identity of an individual. The individual’s biometric data is collected through a biometric verification or authentication device. This can include facial recognition, fingerprint scans, iris scans, voice prints, or behavioral biometrics such as gait analysis. Then the collected biometric data is converted to a digital format that can be digitally stored in a database or directory and compared against future authentication attempts.

The digital biometric data needs to be stored in a secure database that can only be accessed by authorized personnel. Otherwise, biometric data is very sensitive and prone to getting hacked or stolen by cybercriminals and fraudsters. When the individual attempts to authenticate their identity, their biometric data is collected again and compared to the stored data in the secure database. If there is a match, the individual is granted access.

![How biometric works](/blog/assets/2023/biometric-flow-diagram.webp)

Biometric authentication can provide a high level of security as biometric data is unique to each individual and difficult to fake or replicate. However, it is important to ensure that the collection, storage, and processing of biometric data are secure and compliant with privacy regulations to protect individuals’ privacy and prevent potential data breaches. That’s Why miniOrange also provides secure directory services like [Universal Directory](https://www.miniorange.com/products/directory-services) in their suite of [Identity & Access Management (IAM)](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/) services.

### Types of Biometric Authentication {#types-of-biometric-authentication}

There are many types of biometric authentication methods, and these can be broadly classified into Physical and Behavioral Biometric Authentication.

#### Physical Biometric Authentication

This refers to using a person’s physical characteristics to verify their identity. Here are some types of physical biometric verification:

1. Fingerprint recognition: The unique ridges and valleys on a person’s fingertips are used to verify their identity.
2. Iris recognition: This technology uses the unique patterns of the iris, the colored part of the eye, to verify a person’s identity.
3. Retina recognition: The unique patterns of blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye are recorded and used for verification of a person’s identity.
4. Face recognition: This method uses the unique features of a person’s face, such as the distance between the eyes, nose, and mouth, to authenticate their identity.
5. Palm print recognition: The patterns of lines, ridges, and creases on a person’s palm are used to authenticate their identity.
6. Hand geometry recognition: This method uses the shape and size of a person’s hand, including the length and width of fingers, to authenticate their identity.
7. Vein recognition: This authentication method uses the patterns of veins in a person’s hand or finger to verify their identity.
8. DNA recognition: A person’s DNA is used to verify their identity, but this method of authentication is still in the early stages of development and is not widely used.

#### Behavioral Biometric Authentication

This method uses behavioral biometrics (which are the unique patterns of human behavior) to verify a person’s identity. Here are some types of behavioral biometric verification:

1. Keystroke dynamics: This involves analyzing the unique typing rhythm and patterns of an individual while typing on a keyboard.
2. Mouse dynamics: The unique movement patterns and speed of the mouse while using a computer are analyzed and used for authentication.
3. Signature analysis: This authentication method uses the analysis of the unique pattern of a person’s signature.
4. Voice recognition: The unique pattern of a person’s voice, including pitch, tone, and cadence is used for this authentication method.
5. Gait analysis: Gait is the unique way a person walks or moves, including stride length, speed, and other gait parameters. These gait patterns are used for the authentication of the individual in this method.
6. Eye tracking: This involves analyzing the unique pattern of eye movements, including the duration of fixations and the speed of saccades.
7. Touch dynamics: As the name suggests, the touch dynamic method uses the unique way a person interacts with touchscreens, including pressure, timing, and location of the touch.
8. Behavioral profiling: In this method, the unique patterns of an individual’s behavior, such as browsing habits or application usage, are recorded to create a behavioral profile. This profile is used to authenticate individual users. The behavioral profile is also used in [Adaptive Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa) methods.

![Types of Biometric Authentications](/blog/assets/2023/types-of-biometric-authentication.webp)

### What are the Benefits of Biometric Authentication? {#benefits-of-biometric-authentication}

Today hackers, fraudsters, and cyber criminals have access to advanced technology using which they can easily steal credentials, decrypt encryptions, and break into VPNs which makes individuals and businesses more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. This is where biometric authentication can be a game changer. It is a powerful Multi-Factor authentication method that can help individuals and businesses protect themselves against cyber threats, and safeguard their customers’ sensitive information. Here are some of the key benefits of this authentication method:

1. Passwordless Solution: Biometric authentication eliminates the need for passwords, and since biometric data is exclusive to each individual, it is virtually impossible for hackers to replicate or steal them. This eradicates the issues of weak passwords and password theft.
2. Identity Theft Prevention: Identity theft can have serious consequences for businesses and can be prevented by verifying a person’s identity based on unique physical characteristics also known as biometric data such as fingerprints, facial recognition, voice recognition, behavioral biometrics, etc.
3. Data Protection: The constant threat of sensitive data breaches can be eradicated with Biometric authentication which provides an additional layer of security that is difficult for hackers to bypass.
4. Prevents Fraud: By verifying a person’s identity based on unique physical or behavioral characteristics, banks, fintech organizations, and other businesses can reduce the risk of fraud and improve overall security.
5. Insider Threats Prevention: Employees often become the weak link in matters of security for organizations. Biometric authentication can help prevent insider threats by ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive data.

### Why Should Banks, Fintech & Healthcare Organizations Consider Biometric Authentication? {#why-should-banks-fintech-healthcare-consider-biometrics}

The major threat banks, fintech & healthcare organizations face is an attack on their customer’s identity or login credentials using which cyber criminals hack their accounts to steal funds and sensitive data. Due to this, these organizations are faced with huge losses.

Biometric authentication is a method of authentication that uses unique physical and behavioral attributes to confirm the identity of the user, and since these attributes are unique to individuals, hence, it makes it difficult for cyber criminals to hack the user accounts. It is commonly used as one of the authentication factors for multi-factor authentication and it also makes MFA login more secure. There are several reasons why these organizations should consider MFA with biometric authentication as one of the 2FA factors for verifying their customers’ identities:

1. Stronger Security: Biometric authentication provides a higher level of security than traditional methods such as passwords and PINs. Biometric data such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or voice recognition are unique to each individual and cannot be easily replicated or stolen.
2. Convenience: This is a convenient and fast way for customers to access their accounts. They no longer need to remember complicated passwords or carry around security tokens.
3. Fraud Prevention: Biometric authentication makes it more difficult for criminals to gain access to customers’ accounts. It can also help detect suspicious activity in real time, allowing banks to take action before any damage is done.
4. Compliance: Many countries have implemented regulations that require financial and healthcare institutions to implement stronger authentication methods. Biometric authentication can help them comply with these regulations and avoid penalties.
5. Cost Savings: This method of authentication can reduce the costs associated with password management, fraud detection, and customer support.

Overall, biometric authentication offers a more secure, convenient, and cost-effective way for banks to verify their customers’ identities and protect against fraud.

### Popular Use Cases of Biometric Authentication

#### Case 1: Fingerprint Authentication in Finance Apps

Fingerprint authentication has become increasingly popular in finance apps as a means of improving security and user experience. Most people using these finance apps are busy professionals who frequently use their banking apps to check their account balances, pay bills, and transfer funds. The users of these finance apps would want their financial information to be secure, but at the same time, it is inconvenient for them to enter a password every time they access the app. Also, passwords can be weak and easily stolen.

To solve this issue, most finance apps have implemented passwordless fingerprint authentication as a security feature in their app. Now, instead of entering a password every time, they can simply use the app by using their finger on the fingerprint sensor of their smartphone or tablet. The app uses the unique pattern of the user’s fingerprint to authenticate the user’s identity and grant access to their respective accounts.

#### Case 2: Behavioral Biometrics in Healthcare Sector

Behavioral biometrics can also be useful in the healthcare sector to help prevent fraud, protect patient data, and ensure compliance with regulations. Healthcare providers like doctors, nurses, etc., are frequently required to access electronic medical records (EMRs) to review patient data, update patient charts, and prescribe medications. Healthcare institutions are always under constant threat of security breaches and loss of patient data or EMRs.

To solve this issue, healthcare organizations can implement behavioral biometrics to verify the identity of authorized personnel who can access EMRs. The behavioral biometrics system analyzes the authorized personnel’s usual patterns of behavior, such as the time of day, the location, the speed of typing, the navigation, and the amount of patient data viewed, to create a baseline of what is normal. If there is a deviation from the normal baseline, the system will flag the activity as suspicious and require additional authentication methods like multi-factor authentication. Behavioral biometrics can help healthcare organizations comply with regulatory requirements, such as HIPAA, by providing an additional layer of security to protect patient data.

### In Summary {#summary}

In today’s world of rising digital advancements, it is very important for both businesses and individuals to safeguard themselves from cyber attacks because cyber criminals are using high end technologies and methodologies like brute force methods to steal passwords using, illegally decrypt encrypted messages, and breaking into servers to gain sensitive information and steal funds which can cause huge losses to organizations, especially to banks, fintech, and healthcare. That is why it is very important to implement security measures like Biometric authentication along with Multi-factor authentication.

miniOrange provides top-grade cyber security services like Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), Biometric Authentication, Single-Sign-On, and many more under their Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions. If you are a government institution, bank, fintech, healthcare, or any public or private sector business, you can choose miniOranage IAM solutions to secure your business. You can opt for both On-Premise and Cloud solutions.


In this blog, you get all the information about Biometric Authentication, which will help you to make a firm security decision.

Know Everything About Biometric Authentication


In the current landscape, access management is of paramount importance due to the increasing prevalence of large-scale data breaches. In fact, a survey highlights that 61% of breaches involve the theft of credential data. Given the magnitude of this issue, solutions like **IAM and PAM** cannot be overlooked. **Identity Access Management (IAM) and Privileged Access Management (PAM)** stand as two primary types of access management systems extensively employed within organizations.

Should you pick **PAM or IAM**, Which one? What’s the difference between the two? Which one’s crucial for your organization? 

Let us take a look at a closer look and find out

### IAM: What is Identity Access Management? {#what-is-iam}

In the realm of cybersecurity space, Identity Access Management (IAM) stands as a fundamental pillar, that regulates and secures passage of users to digital assets. IAM consists of processes such as -  identification, authentication, and authorization, within an organization's digital ecosystem. This process of verification serves as a protective shield, preventing unauthorized access and data breaches that could compromise sensitive data, and applications, or compromise the system’s integrity in any way.

&nbsp;


**Zero Trust Security and IAM**

IAM, in essence, signifies the meticulous orchestration of user profiles, entailing identification, authentication, and authorization mechanisms, all underpinned by unique digital identities. This dynamic field offers a bouquet of features that seamlessly align with the [zero-trust](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/zero-trust-security-model/#user-content-what-is-zero-trust) paradigm in cybersecurity. In this paradigm, each user must confirm their identity whenever they seek access to servers, applications, services, or any other company data, fostering an environment of elevated security.

&nbsp;


**Versatility in IAM Deployment**

The versatile landscape of IAM caters to both on-premises and cloud deployments, presenting a flexible canvas to organizations. [Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso) and [Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) have emerged as one of the most crucial components of IAM. Using these two technologies, we are able to prevent unauthorized entry, utilizing SSO to streamline the journey across multiple applications once the user's identity is validated. On the other hand, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection by verifying passwords with an additional verification mechanism, which could range from security tokens to biometric verification.


### PAM: What is Privileged Access Management? {#what-is-privileged-access-management}

[Privileged Access Management (PAM)](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/) emerges as a subset of [Identity and Access Management (IAM)](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/), its focus is to protect privileged accounts. As organizations navigate the complex landscape of user access, PAM stands out by honing in on a specific subset of users with a unique requirement: access to sensitive and privileged resources. 

Privileged accounts are a handful of user accounts that have access to sensitive resources such as - databases, backend systems, and places where sensitive resources are stored. 
On one hand, IAM authorizes a user who has sought permission to access a system, while PAM restricts access rights to the minimum number of users required to perform authorized functions.

### PAM’s Strategic Safeguarding Measures

PAM takes a proactive stance in safeguarding privileged accounts by employing strategic measures. For instance, it ensures that credentials for Privileged Accounts are stored in a separate, secure repository. This step minimizes the risk of theft or misuse by cyber threats. Additionally, PAM empowers administrators with tools to limit user access using features such as time restrictions, and bolstering control over sensitive areas.

### Defense Against Credential Sharing

Another ingenious move by PAM is its dedication to reducing the risk of credential sharing by making sure every individual uses a unique login.  It mandates that each individual uses their login credentials, thus restricting the practice of shared access. By doing so, PAM serves as a guardian for a company's most confidential user credentials, tokens, secrets, and keys.

### Automatic Defense Against Cyberattacks

A remarkable advantage of PAM is its ability to significantly reduce the need for manual intervention. In times of cyber-attacks, PAM kicks into action, automatically locking down critical systems to prevent any unauthorized access or damage. In essence, PAM is the digital safeguard that ensures valuable assets remain inaccessible to potential threats, and that an organization's sensitive resources stay secure.

### IAM VS PAM {#iam-vs-pam}

Despite being related, IAM vs PAM are still distinct, even though they are often used interchangeably, even though they serve entirely different audience sets. The purpose of IAM solutions is to manage and monitor the security of all the networks in an organization; whereas the purpose of PAM solutions is to manage a specific set of users and machines which require a special level of access to perform sensitive work. We will examine the similarities and differences between these two technologies.

IAM solutions serve a wide range of users across an organization, independent of the company's infrastructure or their devices. In contrast, PAM solutions, in the IAM vs PAM comparison, are primarily deployed for users needing elevated access to privileged information. While IAM focuses on identifying and verifying users, and granting them access to various applications and services, PAM takes charge of monitoring access and user activities.

Specifically, PAM assumes the responsibility of managing access and user actions within exceptionally sensitive systems, usually accessible to individuals holding administrative privileges. This distinction in usage also leads to a significant contrast in the levels of risk managed by each system. Enterprises strive to prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing any part of their corporate infrastructure, with the risk associated with accessing a single data source being considerably lower than the threat posed by accessing entire databases or critical business systems. Consequently, the methods employed for identification and authorization of access diverge between these two systems in the IAM vs PAM landscape.


### IAM vs. PAM: Comparison Table

&nbsp;


| Aspect      | IAM (Identity and Access Management)    | PAM (Privileged Access Management)     |
|--------|-------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| Purpose   | Manages and monitors network security across the organization | Manages specific users and systems with elevated access for sensitive tasks |
| User Scope | Wide range of users and devices across the organization | Users requiring privileged access to sensitive information  |
| Core Functionality | Identifying, verifying, and granting access to various applications and services | Monitoring and managing access and user activities within sensitive systems |
| Risk Management | Focuses on preventing unauthorized access to corporate infrastructure | Manages the risk associated with accessing highly sensitive systems, critical databases, or administrative privileges |
| Authorized Methods | Typically involves user identification and authorization for general access | Includes advanced methods for securing access to highly sensitive resources |
| Differentiation in usage | Primarily used for controlling access and user actions within exceptionally sensitive systems | Deployed for broader network security management and access control       |


### Similarities Between IAM and PAM {#similarities-between-iam-and-pam}


**1. Role-Based Access Control**
An inherent likeness exists between IAM and PAM concerning access control via roles. Not everyone holds complete privileges for all resources, and users aren't granted unrestricted access solely based on their immediate needs. There are predefined roles that streamline policy formulation and implementation. Roles consist of predetermined sets of permissions tailored to specific tasks or job functions.

&nbsp;


**2. Robust Authentication**
Both IAM and PAM share a common trait of robust authentication. This entails the use of multifactor authentication methods to facilitate access. This approach ensures that only verified users, equipped with substantial credentials, are granted entry.

&nbsp;


**3. Multi-Factor Authentication**
The integration of multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a recurrent theme in both IAM and PAM, adding an additional layer of security beyond traditional username and password credentials. MFA employs distinct identifying data—such as biometric information or randomly generated codes—in conjunction with unique user possessions like company-issued smartphones. This fusion of factors safeguards access, even if unauthorized individuals uncover user credentials.
Continual surveillance
A shared principle underscores the significance of continuous monitoring in both IAM and PAM landscapes. Strong and continuous monitoring helps in protection against possible breaches. By identifying and flagging breaches in their initial stages, organizations are empowered to respond promptly and effectively, before attackers can inflict any damage.

&nbsp;


**4. Strict Policy Adherence**
Following policies rigorously is crucial for both PAM and IAM to work effectively, especially in scenarios when certain users make important changes to the systems. Well-crafted policies can limit access at specific times, except for urgent situations. IAM and PAM policies execute well in situations when strong protection is needed against potential threats/weaknesses.


### Which one should you use? {#which-one-should-you-use?}

In order to shield yourself from any internal and external threats, organizations should ideally implement both the solutions, IAM and PAM. When both the tools are implemented companies will be able to remove any kind of vulnerabilities within the system, that can serve as a gateway for hackers to exploit the loophole. Hence a robust security solution that regulates passwords, and monitors user activities, with faster auditing of all user accounts is of paramount importance. 


### Deploy PAM and IAM with miniOrange {#deploy-pam-and-iam-with-miniorange}

miniOrange ensures a close integration between IAM and PAM, by ensuring that the redundant process of privileged user accounts and day-to-day user accounts are avoided. This is done by combining the tools and functionalities of both PAM and IAM such as automated provisioning and deprovisioning, keeping track of user activity, auditing, and compliance, along with holistic user identity protection.  

### FAQ {#faq}

**1. What is the difference between IAM and PIM and PAM?**

IAM vs PAM is a common question in the field. IAM (Identity and Access Management) focuses on managing user identities and controlling access to resources. PIM (Privileged Identity Management) is a subset of IAM that specifically manages privileged accounts and their access. PAM (Privileged Access Management) goes a step further by securing, managing, and monitoring privileged access to critical systems. In essence, IAM handles general user access, PIM manages privileged identities, and PAM ensures secure privileged access. When comparing PAM vs IAM, it's important to understand that PAM identity management adds an extra layer of security to privileged accounts.

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**2. What is the difference between IAM and PAM and DAM?**

In discussing IAM vs PAM vs DAM, IAM (Identity and Access Management) is a comprehensive framework for managing digital identities and access rights. PAM (Privileged Access Management) focuses on securing and managing privileged accounts with elevated access rights. DAM (Data Access Management) deals with controlling and monitoring access to sensitive data. While IAM and PAM focus on user and privileged access management respectively, DAM is specifically concerned with data security and access governance. Understanding the differences between privileged access management vs identity access management is crucial for implementing effective security measures.

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**3. What is IAM and PAM in cybersecurity?**

IAM and PAM play crucial roles in cybersecurity. IAM (Identity and Access Management) involves the processes and technologies used to manage digital identities and control access to resources. It ensures that the right individuals have access to the right resources at the right times. PAM (Privileged Access Management) enhances cybersecurity by securing, managing, and monitoring privileged accounts and their access to critical systems, thereby reducing the risk of security breaches from privileged accounts. The integration of IAM and PAM is vital for comprehensive security.

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**4. What is the difference between an IAM engineer and a PAM engineer?**

The difference between an IAM engineer and a PAM engineer can be seen in their roles and responsibilities. An IAM engineer specializes in implementing and managing Identity and Access Management solutions, focusing on user identity lifecycle, authentication, and access control across the organization. A PAM engineer, on the other hand, is responsible for securing and managing privileged accounts, ensuring that privileged access to critical systems is controlled, monitored, and audited. While both roles are essential in cybersecurity, the IAM engineer handles general user access, and the PAM engineer focuses on privileged access security. Comparing IAM vs PAM roles helps in understanding the distinct focus areas of each.


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Book your demo with us today, for Privilege Access Management  - [Link](https://www.miniorange.com/products/privileged-access-management-pam)


IAM is used to identify and manage user identities digitally across the whole company, while PAM only focuses on privileged access to sensitive systems.

IAM vs. PAM: What’s the difference?


miniOrange Identity & Access Management (IDAM) helps every financial & banking services firm whether it is large or small, needs to know and adhere to the financial & banking services industry’s regulatory compliance standards. These standards govern everything from how your company prices products, collects premiums or handles customer disputes. They are also the foundation for anti-fraud measures that protect the identity theft of credit card holders and identity fraud worldwide. Financial regulators are always increasing the cost of committing wrongdoings in these two areas. Becoming compliant with these regulations will help you survive any potential changes.

Financial & Banking enterprises need to have data protection & Access control with [Identity & Access management](https://blog.miniorange.com/identity-and-access-management-iam-market-after-economic-turndown/) for internal & external applications. This is helping finance & banking enterprises to build trust & create safe experiences for the workplace & customers.

miniOrange IDAM solution for Banking or Non-Banking & Finance Sector, whether it is on-premise or cloud ([identity as-a-service – IdaaS](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-identity-as-a-service-idaas/), for example), ensures that the authorized users can access only the data they are permitted to access.

### Is IDAM Necessary for the Banking & Finance Sector? {#is-idam-necessary-for-the-banking-and-finance-sector}

Identity and Access Management (IDAM) is a critical aspect of cybersecurity in the banking industry. It refers to the processes and technologies used to manage and secure access to a company’s systems and data.

In the banking industry, IDAM is particularly important due to the sensitive nature of the data being handled. This includes customer financial information, as well as internal banking operations data. Ensuring that only authorized individuals have access to this data is essential for maintaining the security and integrity of the bank’s operations.

Banking & Finance sectors have  compliance programs designed to make sure that banks adhere to a certain set of guidelines and regulations that affect the operations of financial institutions. Compliance in banking has become more important than ever before due to the number of regulations adopted by both government and financial regulators. Compliance regulations such as:

**PCI-DSS** mandates the implementation of IT security measures to protect the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of financial data.

**SOX** compliance refers to compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a US federal law passed in 2002. SOX requires companies to maintain internal controls and procedures for financial reporting, and to have an independent auditor attest to the effectiveness of those controls. It is mandatory for any company that is publicly traded in the United States to comply with SOX

**GLBA** compliance refers to compliance with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, a US federal law passed in 1999. GLBA requires financial institutions to have a written information security plan (WISP) in place, which includes administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect nonpublic personal information from unauthorized access or use. The GLBA applies to banks, credit unions, securities firms, and other financial institutions that offer consumers financial products or services.

**FISMA** compliance refers to compliance with the Federal Information Security Modernization Act, a US federal law passed in 2002. FISMA requires federal agencies to implement information security policies and procedures, including risk management, incident response, and continuous monitoring of their information systems.

**SAMA** compliance refers to compliance with the regulations set by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA), which is the central bank of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. SAMA sets rules and regulations for financial institutions operating in the country to ensure stability and safety of the financial system.

**RBI Guidelines** -  In India, banks are required to comply with various IT-related regulations and guidelines set forth by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to ensure the security and integrity of banking systems and data.

miniOrange IDAM solution supports more banking & finance compliance like above mentioned according to the different countries & regions.

### IDAM System {#idam-sysytem}

There are several key components of an effective **IDAM system** in the banking industry:

![IDAM Systems](/blog/assets/2023/idam-system.webp)

- **User registration**: Customers register for online banking by providing personal and identification information, such as name, address, date of birth, and government-issued ID.
- **Authentication**: The bank verifies the user’s identity by using one or more authentication methods, such as a password, security questions, or biometrics.
- **Authorization**: Once the user is authenticated, the bank grants access to the appropriate resources, such as account information or online transactions, based on the user’s role and permissions.
- **Access management**: The bank monitors and controls the user’s access to resources by implementing policies and procedures, such as password expiration, multi-factor authentication, and access logs.
- **Audit and compliance**: The bank maintains records of all user activity for compliance and auditing purposes, such as to detect and prevent fraud.
- **De-provisioning**: When a user’s access is no longer needed, the bank revokes the user’s access to resources and performs any necessary clean-up tasks, such as deleting the user’s account or archiving the user’s data.

Overall, IDAM is a crucial aspect of cybersecurity in the banking industry. By implementing strong identity verification, access control, and auditing and reporting processes, banks can ensure that their systems and data are protected against potential threats.

IDAM combines SSO with [multi-factor authentication (MFA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) to secure user access to cloud and on-premises applications and protects confidential financial data by applying different authentication factors for different users based on risk factors such as IP address, time of access, device, and geo-location with risk-based automated access control.

Secure financial data with IDAM for Banking & Finance. Get Single Sign-On & Multi-Factor Authentication  for cloud/on-premises apps. Ensure regulatory compliance & data protection.

IDAM for Banking and Finance Sector to ensure regulatory compliance


## Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market After Economic Turndown

Identity and Access Management in today’s economy, organizations are feeling the pinch. They’re looking for ways to cut costs, and one area that’s often targeted is IT. However, even in lean times, it’s important to maintain strong security practices. This is where [IAM](https://www.miniorange.com/workforce-identity) comes in.

### What will be the Identity and Access Management market size by 2023 ? {#size-of-iam-market-by-2023}

The economic turndown has significantly impacted the identity and access management (IAM) market. The IAM market size is expected to reach USD 27.5 billion by 2023. This market is anticipated to witness a Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.6% during the forecast period. The recession has led to a decrease in IT spending. This has affected the growth of the IAM market. However, the adoption of cloud-based IAM solutions is expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. The need for IAM solutions and services is expected to grow due to the increasing number of cyber-attacks and data breaches. Organizations are now focusing on implementing effective IAM solutions to protect their critical data and applications from unauthorized access.

### IAM impacts on different industries {#iam-impacts-on-different-industries}

IAM solutions help organizations manage and secure digital identities. These solutions help in providing security and compliance for the organization. IAM solutions are being adopted by various industry angles such as Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), healthcare, IT & telecom, government, and others. They provide a centralized platform to manage user access and permissions. IAM solutions also help organizations comply with data privacy regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The BFSI angle is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to the increasing need for compliance with regulatory mandates, such as Basel III and the Payment Services Directive (PSD2).

The healthcare angle is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period due to the increased adoption of IAM solutions to comply with the requirement, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

The IT & telecom angle is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period due to the growing need for IAM solutions in this vertical to manage the increasing number of users and devices.

The government angle is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period due to the increasing focus of government organizations on implementing IAM solutions to comply with various mandates.

### IAM solution and leading vendors {#iam-solution-and-leading-vendors}

Organizations use identity and access management (IAM) solutions to give employees, contractors, and other users the ability to access the data and systems they need to do their jobs. IAM solutions control who has access to what, and they also track and monitor user activity.

IAM solutions are used to manage both internal and external user access. Internal users are typically employees or contractors who need access to company data and systems. External users are typically customers or partners who need access to some of the company’s data or systems.

IAM usually includes a combination of technology, process, and people. The technology component includes the software and hardware that are used to manage access and track user activity. The process component includes the policies and procedures that are used to manage access. The people component includes the people who are responsible for managing access and enforcing the policies and procedures.

There are many different types of IAM solutions, and the one that’s right for a particular organization depends on the organization’s size, needs, and budget. Some of the most popular IAM solutions include Microsoft Active Directory, Oracle Identity Manager, and IBM Tivoli Access Manager.

The leading players in the IAM market are Microsoft (US), Ping Identity (US), Okta (US), AWS (US), OneLogin (US), and miniOrange (IN).

### Why is IAM Implementation important? {#why-is-iam-implementation-important}

Any security program is dependent on IAM. It controls who has access to what, and when they have access. In the current climate, it’s more important than ever to make sure that only the right people have access to your systems and data.

There are a number of ways to implement IAM, but one of the most effective is to use a centralized system. This gives you a single point of control and makes it easier to monitor and audit access.

In a recession, it’s tempting to cut corners on security. But IAM is one area where you can’t afford to skimp. Strong IAM practices will help you keep your systems and data safe, and protect your organization from costly breaches.

There are a number of potential security risks that organizations face when it comes to identity and access management (IAM). Employees are often the weak link in the IAM chain, and as such, it is important for organizations to take steps to mitigate the risks associated with employee access.

One of the most common risks is the potential for insider threats. Employees with malicious intent can cause serious damage to an organization, and often have access to sensitive information that can be used to exploit the organization. Another risk is the potential for employees to inadvertently provide access to criminals or hackers. This can happen through social engineering or simply by falling for phishing scams.

Organizations need to be aware of the risks and take steps to mitigate them. One way to do this is to provide employees with training on IAM and security best practices. This can help to educate employees on the risks and what they can do to reduce them. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing technical controls such as two-factor authentication or access control measures to restrict employee access to sensitive data. By taking these steps, organizations can help to reduce the risks associated with employee access and improve their overall security posture.


Identity and Access Management in today’s economy, organizations are feeling the pinch. They’re looking for ways to cut costs, and one area that’s often targeted is IT. However, even in lean times, it’s important to maintain strong security practices. This is where IAM comes in.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market After Economic Turndown

Identity services are a collection of tools for managing users and their accounts. They help to create, manage, and use digital identities.

An [identity federation service](https://blog.miniorange.com/identity-and-access-management-iam-market-after-economic-turndown/) is a centralized authentication solution that handles user identities and manages security policies, permitting access to resources based on the user’s identity. Such services can be used in multi-tenant environments by allowing different organizations or organizations within the same organization to interact with each other, even if they’re located on different servers or servers belonging to different companies.

### What is an identity federation service? {#what-is-an-identity-federation-service}

Identity Federation Service, or IFS as it is sometimes called, is a way of connecting multiple identity providers together to share data and control access to information. This can be used to share information across “multi-tenant” domains such as corporations and government agencies, or it can be used in conjunction with other tools to provide single sign-on for users within a single organization.

A federated identity service is a network of different identity management systems that work together to provide users with [single sign on (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso) and [multi-factor authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa). A federated identity system is built on top of existing public key infrastructure (PKI) and uses it as the basis for integrating different systems into a single, centralized database.

**The functions of identity services are**

- Provide a consistent, authoritative identity for users across applications.
- Protect the privacy and security of users’ personal information.
- Facilitate the conversion between different types of identity credentials issued by different organizations (e.g., a user’s SSN and their Google account).
- Enable two-factor authentication on all applications that support it (e.g., Google Apps).

### Components of a federated identity system {#components-of-a-federated-identity-system}

The Identity Provider (IdP) is an entity that provides users with their credentials and informs them about when they need to log into an online service. The IdP can be a standalone application or an integrated part of a larger organization such as your company’s HR department.

The Service Provider (SP) is an entity or organization that hosts applications for its users. You might use this term to refer to your company’s website, but it can also refer to third-party sites like social media platforms or banks that host their own applications on their servers.

**There are many ways to enable identity federation services, including single sign-on, SAML, and OpenID.**

**SAML**

SAML stands for **Security Assertion Markup Language**. It is an open XML standard that enables interoperability between services that use different security protocols. SAML enables users and systems to exchange assertions about themselves in order to prove who they are and what they have access to. This allows federated applications to work with any SAML-enabled service provider without having to worry about whether the service provider supports that particular protocol or not.

SAML based identity federation uses XML to describe how authentication works between two parties — the authentication service provider (ASP) and the service consumer (SC). The two parties create an XML document that defines the identity federation process between them. Once created, this document can be shared with other organizations so that they can also federate their users’ identities with one another. 

**OpenID**

OpenID Connect is a protocol that enables applications to obtain user credentials from other applications and services, without requiring users to re-enter their passwords on every site or service. OpenID Connect aims to enable seamless integration between different forms of identity – including social media sites, email providers, and even third-party directories – so that users can have one set of credentials that work across all those different platforms.

OpenID federation is an open standard that allows users to authenticate themselves through any website or application that supports OpenID technology. This means that anyone who supports OpenID can send you their ID token and you can use it to authenticate yourself with their site. 

Single sign-on (SSO) identity federation is a way for users to access multiple websites or applications that require different user IDs and passwords. SSO lets users log in once and get access to all of the online services they use, such as Google, Facebook, Netflix, and Twitter.

### Need for identity federation {#need-for-identity-federation}

Identity federation is a way to connect different systems to each other. It enables you to use the same identity across different systems, in order to access them. For example, if your bank has a single sign-on service, and you use that service to log onto your e-mail or web browser, then when you log into your bank’s website it will use the same credentials that were used when you logged into the website.

### Is miniOrange a federation service? {#is-miniOrange-a-federation-service}

miniOrange is a federation service. miniOrange provides secure access to resources on the web, such as websites, email addresses, and phone numbers. Since miniOrange doesn’t store any information about you or your organization, you can use it confidently.

The service includes a Single Sign On (SSO) and session management capabilities, as well as APIs for fetching public content data from other federated services.

### Further Reading {#further-reading}

- [Identity federation in AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/identity/federation/)
- [Workload identity federation](https://cloud.google.com/iam/docs/workload-identity-federation)
- [Online Identity and User Management Services](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/federated-identity)
- [Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS)](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-identity-as-a-service-idaas/)

Identity Federation Services makes use of industry standards such as SAML and OpenID Connect to create solutions that enable secure, frictionless mobile access to your cloud services.

What is Identity Federation Services? How To Secure Applications with SAML and OpenID Connect


Different organizations have different internal structures, and Active Directory or LDAP Server provides the ability to cater to the needs and requirements of all sorts. Using [LDAP/Active Directory](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-ldap-login-intranet-sites), you can design a directory structure that meets the needs of your organization. Inside Active Directory, resources are organized in a logical structure, enabling users to find a resource by its name rather than its physical location, making the network’s physical structure much more transparent to users.

### What is Active Directory? {#what-is-active-directory}

Active Directory, often known as AD, is a Microsoft-developed proprietary directory service that operates on its own Windows Servers. Active Directory (AD) is a database and set of services that provides centralized management of users, computers, and other objects within the network. Active Directory connects different users with the network resources they need to get their work done. It also simplifies user management as it acts as a single repository for all user and computer-related information.

The data inside an Active Directory is stored hierarchically as objects, which can refer to users, computers, groups, etc. This hierarchical organization makes it faster and easier to search for user information within the directory. Active Directory provides a robust and efficient way of storing and retrieving user information from a database.

In particular, Active Directory ensures that each person is who they claim to be ([authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/authentication 
)) by checking the user ID and password they enter, and it allows them to access only the data they are authorized to use (authorization). Active Directory is mainly based on five elements, which are:

### Elements of Active Directory {#elements-of-active-directory}

Active Directory consists of five basic elements, which are as follows:

![Active Directory Structure](/blog/assets/2023/ad-structure-elements.webp)

**1. Objects**: Objects are the most basic element of Active Directory and define a single entity in Active Directory (AD). An object is a distinct, named set of attributes that represents a network resource. Objects can represent individual users or other singular entities that are part of the network.

**2. Organizational Unit (OU)**: An Organizational Unit is a subdivision within an Active Directory that holds different objects, such as users, computers, and other network applications. It is a container that allows you to logically group objects of the same type.

**3. Domain**: A Domain in Active Directory consists of multiple OUs. A domain is a logical group of objects, including users, computers, OUs, etc. Each domain holds a database containing identity information for the objects.

**4. Tree**: A tree in Active Directory is a collection of one or more domains.

**5. Forest**: A forest is a group of Active Directory trees. Trees are the highest level of organization in Active Directory.

### What is LDAP Authentication? {#what-is-ldap-authentication}

[LDAP or Lightweight Directory Access Protocol](https://plugins.miniorange.com/guide-to-setup-kerberos-single-sign-sso) is an authentication protocol mainly used to access directory services. A user cannot access information stored within an LDAP database or directory without first authenticating (proving they are who they say they are). LDAP Authentication involves verifying the entered credentials, such as username and password, by making a connection with directory services. The directory services that support LDAP authentication include OpenLDAP, Microsoft Active Directory, Azure Active Directory, FreeIPA Directory, etc. LDAP Authentication from Active Directory (AD) to WordPress websites can be done using the [miniOrange LDAP Plugin](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-ldap-login-intranet-sites).

### How does LDAP Authentication with Active Directory work using miniOrange Plugin? {#how-does-ldap-authentication-with-active-directory-work-using-miniOrange-plugin}

When a user has a website built using a CMS like WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, or any other marketplace, the admin can enable login for users on the WordPress website using their credentials stored in Active Directory with the miniOrange LDAP/AD Login for Intranet Plugin.

![LDAP Authentication with Active Directory using miniOrange Plugin](/blog/assets/2023/ldap-authentication-with-ad-using-miniOrange-plugin.webp)

Once a WordPress admin enables users to log in with their Active Directory (AD) credentials, WordPress users can enter their credentials on the login page. A request containing credential information is sent to the miniOrange LDAP Intranet Plugin.

The miniOrange LDAP Intranet Plugin sends an LDAP Authentication and Authorization request with the entered credentials to Active Directory. It checks if the user is present in the Active Directory (in any OU under the given search base) and if the username and password match. Based on the result, a True/False value is returned to the [miniOrange LDAP/AD Login for Intranet Plugin](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-ldap-login-cloud).

If the returned value is True, the user is logged in, and if the returned value is False, an error message is displayed.



Active Directory (AD) is a database and set of services that provides centralized management of users, computers and other objects within the network.

LDAP Authentication with Active Directory


In the early 2000s, SSO providers developed standards like SAML, WsFED, Active Directory (LDAP), etc which only targeted Web platforms These same protocols were not feasible in a mobile first world. The problem with mobile apps is that unlike websites, apps run as separate standalone applications. The user experience needs to be seamless for the end-user. This can be achieved using a common framework but, mobile apps can be packaged and built on various different frameworks like React, Angular, Ionic, Native Android, IOS etc. There are many choices out there.

In the initial days, Mobile App developers used to have their own authentication source. The simplest strategy was to store the username-password in the app or in the mobile OS’s secure storage. For remote authentication with the backend, a common secret key was made available on the mobile app itself. This created a clear risk for passwords to be stolen from the mobile device. To mitigate this risk, the OAuth protocol was introduced, which used tokens instead of passwords and common secret keys.

Since then, a lot of progress has been made in Mobile app development.  With the world moving to handheld devices and the rise of the mobile market, mobile applications have become an important part of the Access Management Ecosystem.  

Users now move between traditional websites and standalone apps on their mobile devices. Due to this users have to enter their credentials multiple times on different apps and websites. There’s also a lack of a centralized system that can connect to existing or traditional authentication sources and provide access to both web and mobile apps. 

This has created a need for SSO in mobile applications. There’s a need for a common, centralized authentication source that can reduce user friction when moving between traditional websites and modern apps. Given the size of the screen, it’s a hassle for the users to re-enter their passwords across different mobile applications.

Having a centralized system allows users to not lean into bad password practices like having a common password across different applications or having insecure passwords. Having a centralized system allows us to enable Multi-Factor Authentication(MFA/2FA).

Based on interactions with customers over the past couple of years, it was noticed that there is a lot of confusion around the options available for implementing an SSO solution for mobile applications.

### miniOrange SSO and Authentication SDKs for businesses {#miniOrange-sso-and-authentication-sdks-for-businesses}

![miniOrange SSO and Authentication](/blog/assets/2023/miniorange-sso-and-authentication.webp)

One of the worst strategies is to have the traditional username-password authentication flow for mobile apps. Enforcing complex passwords and having users enter those passwords on a smartphone is a challenge. Developing mobile apps has become a top priority for many businesses. miniOrange aims to help businesses achieve secure mobile authentication by providing various Android and iOS SDKs. miniOrange has kept the following aspects in mind:

Robust performance: miniOrange mobile SDK libraries save you time from building the core registration and login workflows for the framework you choose. Having a library specific to your framework means the code is greatly optimized for performance. 

Easy Integration with different Identity Providers and Authentication Sources: Enable SSO from any existing Identity Provider or User Store for your mobile App. No Need to onboard users separately. With miniOrange SSO solution you can connect to IDPs or User stores like OKTA, One Login, Azure Active Directory, Active Directory, Database, etc.

Less Code Maintenance: No need to rewrite your code to support different protocols and authentication methods. Code once and be future-proof. Enable SSO for different platforms without having to make changes to the app. 

Role-Based Access: Allow relevant access to relevant people. With miniOrange RBAC you will be able to decide which users and groups of users have access to the right set of apps on the basis of their roles. 

Multiple Factor Authentication: Enable MFA / 2FA for all of your users while logging into your mobile app irrespective of which user store or IDP they choose. We offer support for 15+ MFA methods (this can be a link) like OTP over SMS & Email, Google Authenticator, Authy Authenticator, Push Notification, Soft Token, etc. 

Enhanced security: miniOrange provides performance-optimized codes for all libraries and built-in security functions with HTTPS and API signing requests.

Anti-spamming measures: miniOrange supports the additional token – SOTT (Secure One Time Token), along with an API key, to avoid automated spam registrations in your mobile application.
 

### Mobile Authentication using JWT {#mobile-authentication-using-jwt}

The following workflow explains the authentication flow between miniOrange and mobile apps:

-  Mobile Authentication Single Sign-On (SSO) allows you to authenticate users and subsequently inform applications that the user has been authenticated. 

-  On successful authentication, a JWT token is generated and returned, which can be consumed by the app to create a user session. 

-  The token is automatically verified on the mobile app using unique certificates and secret keys.

- The user is then allowed to access the apps without being prompted to enter separate sign-in credentials.

This security mechanism allows applications to trust the sign-in requests it gets from the centralized authentication system. Furthermore, these Mobile apps will only grant access to the users who have been authenticated by you/admin. This has been achieved by using a common standard called JSON Web Token (JWT) for securing the exchange of user authentication data between systems. Great care must be taken in terms of how this token is stored and managed.

![Mobile Authentication Workflow with JWT](/blog/assets/2023/mobile-authentication-using-jwt.webp)

### A Final Word {#a-final-word}

miniOrange Mobile authentication benefits both businesses and their consumers. It helps in developing and deploying seamless authentication and SSO features for businesses while securing, and enhancing consumer experiences.

You can empower your WordPress site with the ultimate authentication solution – our Single Sign-On plugin featuring support for [WordPress OAuth SSO](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-sso) & [WordPress SAML SSO](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-single-sign-on-sso) designed for seamless authentication, authorization and granular access control.

**miniOrange provides SSO solution for Mobile & Desktop Apps that runs natively on Mobile devices-**

- [SSO solution for React-based App](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/react-single-sign-on-sso)
- [SSO solution for Angular-based App](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/angular-single-sign-on-sso)
- [SSO solution for Ionic-based App](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/ionic-single-sign-on-sso)
- [SSO solution for NodeJS-based App](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/node-js-single-sign-on-sso)

In order to see a quick demonstration of how Mobile Authentication will work for your organization, please visit

Mobile authentication process is more than just password validation in today’s world. miniOrange offers a broad range of authentication methods for mobile applications.

How to enable secure Mobile App authentication - SSO for Mobile apps


### MFA for On-Premise Active Directory: What You Need to Know? {#mfa-for-on-premise-active-directory-what-you-need-to-know}

With so many options available for securing your on-premise Active Directory, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Many organizations have a natural inclination towards hybrid solutions that provide the most secure and user-friendly experience for everyone. However, some businesses prefer on-premise solutions because they give them more control over their data. 

That doesn’t mean on-premise Active Directory is redundant or outdated – far from it! As long as you don’t want to implement a cloud solution, on-premise AD is still one of the best ways to protect your network and user accounts while keeping things simple for employees. Why? Because it gives users the same password no matter where they log in, which means their security isn’t compromised if they use a different username and password combination at home or work and only an additional layer of security is added on top of it.

### Is MFA for Active Directory necessary? Why do you need it? {#is-mfa-for-active-directory-necessary-Why-do-you-need-it}

Single sign-on is one of the most important features of any identity management system. Essentially, it’s the ability to log in once and access every resource you own. This is especially important when it comes to on-premise Active Directory because you want to avoid requesting MFA codes every time you log in. On-premise AD is a closed system, and when you add MFA to your log-in, you’re essentially creating an additional layer of security for your network. However, if you don’t enable MFA for your AD, you’re taking an unnecessary security risk. That’s why it’s important to [add MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) to your log-in process – especially if your employees work remotely. It’s also important to note that you can add MFA to your on-premise AD log-in using any of the following methods: SMS verification, phone call verification, hardware token, software tokens, etc. Check out the different [MFA methods provided by miniOrange](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-methods) or else [read more about what is MFA](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa/).

### How and where can you enable MFA connections for Active Directory {#how-and-where-can-you-enable-mfa-connections-for-active-directory}

- **MFA on Windows Machines and Linux Machines:**
Enable MFA for AD domain-joined machines or standalone machines working on windows or Linux operating systems. Secure your [Windows logon with MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)-for-windows-login-and-rdp) and [MFA for Linux login](https://www.miniorange.com/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)-for-windows-login-and-rdp).

- **MFA for Windows Remote Desktop (Remote desktop services):**
Enable MFA for all remote desktop connections which include RDP, RD Gateway, RD Web Access, etc. for end-users remote access.

Check out [MFA for RDGateway](https://www.miniorange.com/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)-for-rd-gateway) and [RD Web access MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)-for-rd-web)

- **MFA over VPNs:**
Enable MFA for your VPN and other network devices in your organization like switches, routers, firewalls, etc. using the miniOrange Radius server. miniOrange supports all the VPNs and network devices available in the market. Learn more about [VPN MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/vpn-mfa-multi-factor-authentication).

- **MFA for Cloud and on-premise applications:**
Enable MFA for applications like [Microsoft Office 365](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/microsoft-365-sso), Google Workspaces, Zoom, Jira, Salesforce, etc. using the miniOrange Identity server. miniOrange has pre-integration with [5000+ applications](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/).

- **MFA for Legacy apps:**
Unique MFA solutions for legacy apps like Oracle E-business Suite (EBS), Adobe Suite of applications, SAP, etc. Cut down on the heavy costs of the traditional software and hardware requirements with miniOrange Identity server for [SSO & MFA for legacy apps](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/legacy-apps-sso-mfa).

- **MFA for Mobile apps:**
Enable MFA for mobile apps for all the modern applications and technologies like React, Angular, Ionic, etc. using protocols like SAML, JWT, Oauth, OpenID, etc. With the exponential increase in mobile apps in the world of the internet, securing not only your web apps but also your mobile applications is one of the utmost priorities. Check more details for [native mobile apps MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/native-mobile-apps-single-sign-on-sso).

### Which MFA methods over the Active Directory can you enable for your users? {#which-mfa-methods-over-the-active-directory-can-you-enable-for-your-users}

miniOrange supports the following 15+ MFA methods and the miniOrange admin has full privilege over the [two-factor authentication (2FA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)) options for end-users and the users can select any MFA method that they have been allowed to configure:

![MFA Methods](/blog/assets/2023/mfa-methods.webp)

### Looking for Something more Advanced? There is Adaptive authentication for you {#looking-for-Something-more-advanced-there-is-adaptive-authentication-for-you}

Adaptive authentication is an advanced MFA solution wherein you can set up custom policies for user access based on the organization’s business requirements. You can set up restrictions for users based on some additional attributes which will be risk-based. This is also called risk-based authentication. The user will be prompted for MFA based on its risk-based profile. The restriction policies can be based on the following four parameters:

**1. IP Restriction:** In the Adaptive MFA IP-based restriction method, the admin configures and enlists all IP addresses to allow or deny access.

**2. Device Restriction:** In the Device-based Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) method, the admin allows end-users to add a fixed number of trusted devices to their account (A device here refers to a Browser Session). Once a user’s device has been registered, that person will be able to log in without restriction.

**3. Location Restriction:** In Location-based Adaptive MFA restriction, the admin shortlist and configure a list of Geo-locations where they want to allow end-users to either login or deny based on the location set by the admin.

**4. Time Restriction:** One of the most significant components of Adaptive MFA configuration is a time restriction, which begins with the admin establishing a time zone with Start and End Time. Users are either permitted, refused, or challenged based on the timezone and policies defined.

Check more details on [Adaptive Authentication MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa)


### Additional Features and functionalities for MFA {#additional-features-and-functionalities-for-mfa}

Here are some additional features with miniOrange MFA that makes sure that adopting MFA for any organization becomes a very smooth and seamless process. These features make sure that the solution is highly maintainable, easy to use, and fits almost every business requirement of any organization. The details are as follows: 

- **Offline MFA:** The MFA can be prompted even if there is no active internet connection on your devices.

- **Deploy easily with AD:** miniOrange supports both cloud as well as on-premise identity server solutions. You can easily connect your on-premises Active directory to miniOrange using LDAP protocol and use it as an identity source. You can establish a connection with AD which is not publicly accessibly using the miniOrange Gateway module.

- **Easy MFA enrollment:** Users can be enrolled to enable MFA during the registration process. All users including remote can self-enroll themselves by providing a registration link to them. All users get access to a self-service console through which they can change the MFA method, change or reset passwords, etc.

- **Group and policies:** The Admin and create groups of users from the active directory. Based on the groups, multiple policies can be applied to have MFA rules based on groups, restriction specific application access to specific groups, enabling Adaptive authentication only for targeted groups, etc. This makes sure that your business models are matched and that you have the right set of restrictions for different types of users and groups.

### Can I enable MFA for the Active directory without Azure AD and M365? {#can-i-enable-MFA-for-the-active-directory-without-azure-ad-and-m365}

A big yes! There is absolutely no requirement to have an Azure or Microsoft 365 subscription to enable MFA for the on-premise Active directory. You can [connect the On-premise AD directly to miniOrange via LDAP protocol](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/configure-ad-as-user-store) and use it for [authentication purposes](https://www.miniorange.com/products/authentication). Although you get a basic MFA functionality with some higher plans of Azure, those are not much detail-oriented and flexible to meet any of the organization’s requirements. You can check out the comparison of [miniOrange vs Azure AD](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/why-miniorange/azure-ad-alternatives) for in-depth details regarding the same. So there is no requirement for an additional Azure Connect as well to keep a sync between your on-premise AD and AAD to enable MFA. Thus, saving you a lot of money! However, even if you have a hybrid environment already in place using on-premise Active directory and AAD, then also the process and steps to enable MFA remains the same without hampering the experience of end-users and using the same set of usernames and passwords for all the logins.


### Conclusion {#conclusion}
The on-premise AD with MFA is one of the most secure ways to protect your network. However, it’s important to note that if your network uses an on-premise AD server, Microsoft recommends that you use AD MFA instead of Azure AD MFA because it’s a more secure option. That said, on-premise AD does have limitations compared to its cloud equivalent. If you want modern features like integrated security, single sign-on, and identity governance, you should look into switching to Azure AD. Additionally, you can also choose to use a hybrid solution that offers the best of both worlds.

MFA for Active Directory allows you to secure access and log in to your VPN, RDP, windows login, and applications by verifying all Active directory accounts.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Active Directory (AD)


As we all know that the financial services industry is comparatively more at risk of cyber attacks than any other industry. Among all the cyber-attacks taking place all around the globe, 45% are related to the **banking cybersecurity** (recent PWC survey) & the major reason behind these attacks is money! For the finance sector or overall financial institutions, authentication plays a very important role since they are dealing with other people’s money and very sensitive personal information.

It greatly emerged during the lockdown period when bank branches closed and the digital channel became the only option for consumers to perform banking tasks or to connect with their banks. In the last two years more and more people were turning towards e-banking, online attacks are creating a threat to security for banking rapidly. Such growing cyber attacks motivate banks to go for stronger authentication methods, other than using only general usernames and passwords.

### Problems with Basic Authentication {#problems-with-basic-authentication} 

- The use of **single authentication** (username & password) is a huge problem today. Users put themselves at risk when they use weak or recycled passwords, or compromise their own data security with unsafe behavior, such as sharing passwords.
- In substance, different applications and systems authenticate in several ways, so there will be a higher risk because whilst **one system could also be very strong, another could also be weaker**.
- The problem finance sector face is that users **forget their passwords** all the time which makes it a major issue for security for banking. Suppose, each retail teller had access to about 12 different systems and each one had a different password, so this meant they often forgot one or more passwords and needed to call IT for help.


### How banking cybersecurity can be improved? {#how-banking-cybersecurity-can-be-improved} 

The act of conducting banking transactions through the internet is called e-banking. Prime Banks offers different online banking services to their users. They provide help to their customers to check his/her balance, make deposits, withdrawals, transactions, and even pay the bills from anywhere. This reduces physical visits to the bank, which enables serving more customers at a fraction of the cost and solves the issue of customer convenience. At such a situation security for banking services becomes necessary.**By strengthening the banking cybersecurity** and **protocols** of online banking by **verifying customer identities** with identity proofing and strong customer authentication, it would prevent unrestricted access to private information and further strengthen the relationship with customers and they can perform transactions with more reliability. 

Authentication methods that depend on more than one factor are called **multifactor authentication**. They are stronger, more reliable and harder to compromise method of authentication than single-factor authentication. The Banking Cybersecurity policy is what determines the structure of their identity and access management (IAM) strategy, and which bank multi-factor authentication methods and best practices need to be implemented.

Multifactor authentication includes **Security Q & A, SMS & email OTP, Hardware tokens, Software OTP, Push token, Smart card login, Biometric Authentication**, etc. The user must provide at least **two of the above** factors to gain access to the account with a multi-factor authentication measure. This enhances banking cybersecurity by prohibiting hackers from gaining access beyond the password or pin.

So nowadays, many institutes are turning to modern authentication protocols. This includes multi-factor authentication, and orchestration hubs in light of the onslaught of data breaches, identity theft, phishing scams, malware, and account takeover incidents.

Finally, a **good password policy** and consistent enforcement is key and **Single Sign-On** is even better to increase security for banking! 

### How miniOrange can help Financial Services? {#how-miniOrange-can-help-financial-services}

By enabling Strong Authentication, Fraud Prevention, and Single Sign-On solutions for Banking and Financial Services, miniOrange helps manage risks and comply with FFIEC regulations while providing comprehensive authentication solutions. Here are just a few examples:

**Strong Authentication:**

We help financial services solve various banking cybersecurity issues by leveraging its Strong Authentication solution and services. This will allow two or more components to authenticate a user or approve any online banking transaction – Authentication methods used could be **OTP, Software / Hardware token, Out of band authentication or even a push notification, Face detection or Biometrics**.

**Single Sign-On:**

miniOrange Single Sign-On solution allows Banks to very elegant One Customer view in a very seamless manner. After authenticating with miniOrange SSO, bank users can **easily access and navigate** within numerous applications, such as Banking, Credit Card, and Payment apps, as defined by the bank. miniOrange SSO Solution deploys in minutes and supports a variety of cloud-based applications, web applications, and legacy apps.


![SSO Workflow](/blog/assets/2023/sso-workflow.webp)

**Fraud Prevention:**

miniOrange Fraud Prevention product uses a **behavioral risk** based approach to minimize the risk of improper data access or loss of information. miniOrange Fraud Prevention applies the **real-time analysis** of incoming user requests for corporate information and prevents frauds with its dynamic risk engine in conjunction with enterprise-specific banking cybersecurity policy.

![Fraud Prevention](/blog/assets/2023/fraud-prevention.webp)


### To Summarize {#to-summarize} 

In reality, the threat to financial services from fraudsters was, is and always will be a major complication. Therefore, the financial service industry and strong banking cybersecurity must go together so as to provide a safe environment for the users. They must use updated tools according to the current environment so that security for banking & customer experience can be fulfilled.

### Additional Resources {#additional-resources} 

- [Single Sign-On](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso)
- [Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa)



Finance industry is comparatively more at risk of cyberattacks than any other industry. Strong banking cybersecurity has become important in todays growing digital society.

The necessity of Banking Cybersecurity


## Salesforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Requirement

![Salesforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)](/blog/assets/2023/salesforce-mfa.webp)

### Enable Salesforce MFA/2FA before 1st February 2022 {#enable-salesforce-mfa-or-2fa-before-1st-february-2022}

Worldwide organizations require greater security of their data, assets, applications, and frameworks making it more clear for the representatives to work from any machine or region. While this has been a comfort of convenience, it additionally makes new opportunities for hackers. This has come up to a greater extent of the attack and it’s a dire need to focus on upgrading login security.

This rationale gives Salesforce, the worldwide CRM pioneer, a reason to empower Multi-Factor authentication (MFA) for clients and administrations at no additional costs.

Thinking of what the Salesforce MFA solution might be, we have you all backed up!

### MFA is Essential {#mfa-is-essential}

[Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa) is a basic verification process that gives an extra layer of security to your applications. It is applied when an end-user tries to attempt to get access to assets or applications.

Multi-Factor Authentication (Salesforce MFA) can be bifurcated into two:

1. Users enter their credentials (typically username and password). This can be from an identity source such as AD, database, any Identity provider, local credentials, etc.
2. On successful authentication of the user’s credential, the user is prompted for the configured Salesforce MFA method (Soft token, OTP over SMS/mail, etc.) where the user of a website or an application is asked to provide an additional layer of credentials to gain access to the resources they are visiting for. It helps in guaranteeing that the user is exactly who they say they are, and ensures to stay away from a substantial deal of identity and security hamperings.

Instead of only asking for a username and password, Salesforce MFA (Multi-Factor authentication) adds additional verification factors (OTP, push notifications, fingerprint, etc.) which indirectly halts cyberattack activities like phishing, Malware, etc providing a high level of assurance and security. In simpler terms, you need to convince the system or online service of your identity more than once, so the system can detect if you have the right to obtain the data services that you’re trying to retrieve.

### Requirements to be done before Feb 1 2022 {#requirements-to-be-done-before-feb-1-2022}

Do your Salesforce products as of now have SSO configured through any vendor? Are your users already utilizing Salesforce MFA? Provided that it’s true and you meet the necessity of an MFA, you don’t need to worry!

For Instance, if you don’t have Salesforce MFA configured and you require stabilized security for your users, you have two options:

**Configure MFA through Salesforce :** If your clients sign indirectly through the Salesforce UI, configure MFA inside Salesforce. There is no cost to configure Salesforce MFA or to avail the free authenticator application provided by Salesforce. You can now choose to use MFA for Salesforce products already.

**Configure MFA through your SSO vendor :** Assuming your Salesforce products are already enabled with SSO with an identity provider, such as miniOrange then you ought to avail Salesforce MFA through the provider itself. Admins who log into the dashboard directly, need to have MFA enabled.

### miniOrange to the rescue! {#miniorange-to-the-rescue}

The step taken by Salesforce towards making the CRM secure for its users is extensively crucial and would make sure that all the data and assets are accessed by genuine identity.

[miniOrange MFA](<https://www.miniorange.com/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)>) takes security to the next level along with a smooth experience for the users.

-   Reduce login issues and admin overhead.
-   Add any new application easily to your existing setup and enable SSO + MFA quickly for the same.

### Further Reading {#further-reading}

-   [Setup Salesforce Two Factor Authentication (2FA/MFA)](https://www.miniorange.com/salesforce-2fa-mfa-two-factor-authentication-setup)
-   [Configure Salesforce Single Sign-On (SSO)](<https://www.miniorange.com/salesforce-single-sign-on-(sso)>)


Configure Salesforce Multi-factor authentication (MFA). Setup MFA for all your web & SaaS Apps including Salesforce for authorized network users.

Salesforce Multi-factor Authentication | Salesforce MFA


Virtual Private Network allows you to connect one or more computers to a private network most of the time via the internet. It allows you to surf safely on a public wifi network, and also helps prevent Man-In-The-Middle attacks. Even though this approach is not new, in recent years this has become more relevant mainly due to the new trends in the way companies work & more people want a greater level of online privacy.

VPN tunneling ensures secure communication between systems. As the connection is encrypted, no one along the VPN tunnel can intercept, monitor, or alter your communications.

 
### What is a secure VPN? {#what-is-a-secure-vpn}

A **secure VPN**offers several advantages, particularly for those who respect their online privacy and wish to limit their digital exposure. Whether utilized by mainstream enterprises or cyber-criminal activities, a secure VPN connection does not compromise on the crucial criteria that keep invasive use of technology at bay. The increase in Virtual Private Network service providers reflects the market’s explosive growth. With online transactions and a virtual lifestyle becoming more common these days, a reliable VPN service is an important part of our digital era.

Secure VPN can **hide your IP address** and **encrypt your browsing history**, and it’s increasingly being used to avoid government surveillance. In some scenarios, VPNs may not be enough to keep you safe.

A secure VPN connection must employ the strongest encryption quality possible to be really safe. It must have a variety of security methods to secure your data’s confidentiality. These protocols ensure that unauthorized parties cannot get access to the connection and that the data you send and receive is secure. If you’re considering several secure VPNs, be sure the one you pick protects you against IP address leaks. It’s also a good indicator if it features an **Internet kill-switch**, which stops specific apps immediately if your connection goes down. This automatic function can help you avoid data leaks that could expose sensitive information.

**Furthermore, if the VPN app of your choice offers two-factor authentication, then you may have found a winner.**

### Benefits of a Secure VPN and why do you need one? {#benefits-of-a-secure-vpn-and-why-do-you-need-one}

Using a Virtual Private Network has multiple benefits, and this is why everyone should use one. Here are a few of the most important ones:

**1. Security:**
Because a secure VPN encrypts your connection, your data flow is protected even if the network you connect to has insufficient security. A secure VPN disables harmful websites, malware, trackers, and adverts, so you won’t infect your device even if you take a wrong turn online.

**2. Privacy:**
When you browse the internet, you leave a trail of your device type, location, IP address, and browsing history. You can restore your privacy with the aid of a private VPN. It encrypts your internet connection so that no one can listen in on the websites you view or the information you share. It also masks your IP address and location, making it impossible for snoopers to find you.

**3. Prevent ISP tracking:**
Your internet service provider (ISP) monitors your online behavior and may share this information with advertising, government agencies, and other third parties without your knowledge or agreement. They do this for a variety of reasons, not all of which are malicious, but it is still an invasion of privacy.

ISP tracking may be blocked using a secure VPN connection, preventing them from accessing your passwords, social media data, or physical location.

**4. Working remotely:**
If you work in any type of corporate office, you will almost certainly be required to connect to an internal or local area network (LAN). When a large number of individuals, whose jobs allow it, are working from home. A secure virtual private network allows you to connect to the workplace network and work remotely. You have access to any private material that would normally be available exclusively in the office. While traveling to and from your house, the data is encrypted.

**5. Avoid Data Throttling:**
When you’ve used up all of your allotted data and your internet service provider (ISP) decides to slow down your connection, this is known as data throttling. If you use a secure VPN, you’ll quickly discover that one of the benefits of a virtual network is the ability to evade data caps, especially since neither your ISP can see how much data you use. This might be especially beneficial for employees who must utilize data plans on their mobile devices to access the internet while on the road.

**6. Preventing pricing discrimination:**
Price discrimination is the practice of charging varying prices for the same goods or service depending on your location, how you regularly use and purchase on the platform, and your online purchasing habits. Offline, price discrimination has long existed, but automated algorithms now allow for dynamic pricing online as well. A secure VPN can protect you from being duped and being charged more because of your internet surfing and shopping habits, as well as assumptions about your socioeconomic standing based on your IP address.

### What are its vulnerabilities? {#what-are-its-vulnerabilities}

It is said that no software is immune to vulnerabilities. Ordinarily when you connect to any website from your computer then that website can see your IP address but when you are using a virtual private server, your data is not directly sent to the website you are visiting instead your IP address is first sent to one of the VPN servers. So the website you are visiting does not see your IP address, they see the IP address of the VPN server. It means no one sees your IP address, not your internet service provider, the government, or hackers so you become untraceable. No one can trace back to you. In short, the whole idea of achieving the web security of you and your organization using a VPN is keeping your IP address hidden.

Though this was not good news such vulnerabilities occur every time in the cyber world. What’s important is how we identify and tackle such things.

**Some VPN providers embrace your data**

While it is also important that VPN provider should maintain full transparency because it is found that some VPN providers also hold onto your data. Most of the VPN providers claim that they do not maintain a log of your online session neither they maintain the logs for your IP addresses or servers used, websites visited or files downloaded but “no log” claim differ from one VPN provider to another.

**There’s malware detected in certain VPN mobile apps**

One study also found that some VPN mobile apps do have malware in it. This study was conducted by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization and they found that 38% of VPN android apps were infected by some type of malware.
Also, some mobile apps requested access to sensitive personal data such as account details and messaging.

**Cloud VPN is more vulnerable**

Today cloud technologies have given a huge amount of collaboration and convenience to the organizations but it has also brought security challenges for them. While using Cloud VPN solutions companies exposes themselves and due to this, any hacker can gain access to their private data.

**Credentials phishing**

Credentials phishing is one rapidly growing attack in the cyber world, where a hacker steals credentials such as userID and password. Hacker displays himself as an authority and by the means of email or any communication channel he gets to know your credentials. If a hacker gets the credentials he can use it to get the sensitive info out.

### How Multi-factor Authentication helps to secure VPN? {#how-multi-factor-authentication-helps-to-secure-vpn}

Multi-factor authentication validates user identity with passwords and an additional layer of security (e.g. OTP over SMS/Email). That is why it is called multi-factor authentication. This provides greater identity assurance for a user who is accessing any resource via VPN. So with multi-factor enabled on your system, it prevents the hacker from accessing the resources even if they know your username and password. As you have an additional layer of authentication, a hacker has to pass that layer which is not possible. However, we need to understand that not all MFA are the same and provide greater assurance of security. Many MFA solutions are slow or complicated and therefore inefficient.

miniOrange can be of great value here by providing [Two-Factor Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)) on top of VPN security. This secures the access to protected resources instead of relying on only the VPN username/password.

miniOrange uses the [Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS)](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/radius-server-authentication/) protocol. Communication between the client and RADIUS server is authenticated and a shared secret is used, which is never sent over the network.

![Radius Server Authentication Flow](/blog/assets/2023/radius-server-flow.webp)

Here the RADIUS client is nothing but the VPN. If you take a look at the steps then you can get an idea of how Two-Factor authentication is used with a VPN.

- The user enters the login credentials to the VPN.
- RADIUS Clients send the login details to the miniOrange RADIUS server.
- User details are checked with Active Directory.
- When the AD finds the user it sends the response to the miniOrange RADIUS server. First-factor authentication is completed here.
- A challenge response is sent to RADIUS clients for second Factor Authentication.
- RADIUS client prompts the user with a 2FA challenge. (e.g.OTP over SMS/Email).
- When the user validates himself with 2FA. The authentication response is sent to the miniOrange RADIUS server.
- After checking the response, the RADIUS server grants access to the user.


This way miniOrange ensures that no unauthorized person gets access to the VPN. miniOrange acts as a RADIUS server that takes the username/password from the user and validates it with Active Directory (AD). After checking with the AD it prompts the user for Two-Factor authentication. If the user successfully completes the 2FA then the server grants the access.

### Conclusion {#conclusion}

These days organizations have become fully aware of the use of Multi-Factor Authentication for an extra layer of security along with VPN. Unauthorized access to your VPN is likely to cause more harm to the business. Multi-factor authentication plays a key role in securing your network, data & resources.

miniOrange has succeeded in dealing with Identity and access management problems and we ensure you have safe and secure access to your resources. Our 2-FA authentication adds a 2nd layer of security when you are gaining access to protected resources through a Virtual Private Network.

### Further Reading {#further-reading}

- [Multi-Factor Authentication](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa/)
- [VPN Security](https://blog.miniorange.com/vpn-security-how-2fa-helps-to-secure-your-vpn/)
- [2FA solution for VPN](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/vpn-mfa-multi-factor-authentication)

A secure VPN offers several advantages for those who want online privacy and wish to limit their digital exposure. miniOrange can provide MFA on top of VPN for more security.

Secure VPN with Multi-Factor Authentication


### Why Modern Businesses Should Enable SSO Support on Enterprise Apps? {#why-modern-businesses-should-enable-sso-support-on-enterprise-apps?}

In today’s fast-paced organizational setting, your workforce is juggling between multiple enterprise apps simultaneously. Recent studies show that employee productivity drops by 40% because of toggling between multiple apps & having to remember passwords for each one of them. Also, managing a large volume of user access across a multitude of enterprise applications often poses a significant challenge to businesses.  

&nbsp;  

[Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso) support for enterprise applications emerges as an effective solution to streamline this user management process while enabling the modern workforce to access all their work apps using a single set of login credentials. **SSO support** offers a host of benefits for businesses of all sizes, from SMBs to large enterprises. In this informative blog, we’ll explore why enabling SSO support on your enterprise apps is crucial, highlighting its advantages, the transformative impact it can have on your organization, and why you should choose the miniOrange solution for enabling SSO support in your enterprise environment.


### What is SSO Support for Enterprise Apps? {#what-is-sso-support-for-enterprise-apps}
The standard traditional authentication process for gaining access to any enterprise app requires the use of login credentials like user ID & passwords. Each app requires unique credentials for authentication, which becomes a hassle if the user has to switch between multiple work apps every day. Single Sign-On support (SSO support) streamlines this authentication process by allowing users to log in once and gain access to multiple applications without re-entering their credentials.  

&nbsp;  

This **unified login experience** not only simplifies access but also enhances security and productivity. With SSO support, businesses of all sizes can manage access more efficiently, ensuring that users have seamless and secure access to all the apps they need for their daily work.


### How Does SSO Support Improve Organizational Security Posture? {#how-does-sso-support-improve-organizational-security-posture?}
When SSO support is enabled for enterprise apps, the authentication process is centralized and the attack surface is reduced because it eliminates the need to manage multiple passwords for different applications. This minimizes [password management](https://www.miniorange.com/products/password-management) hassles & the risk of password fatigue, where users resort to weak or repeated passwords across multiple platforms. Hence, significant enhancement of organizational security posture is one of the primary reasons to enable SSO support on your enterprise apps. By centralizing authentication, Single Sign-On (SSO) reduces the number of passwords that users need to remember and manage.  

&nbsp;  

SSO solutions can easily integrate with advanced security measures such as [Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa), adding an extra layer of protection on top of standard authentication. This ensures that even if a user’s credentials are compromised, the additional verification step or the second factor of authentication prevents unauthorized access. 


### Benefits of SSO Support {#benefits-of-sso-support}

**1. User Experience & Employee Satisfaction Improved:**  
User experience is a critical factor in the success of any enterprise application. Single Sign-On support vastly improves this experience by eliminating the need for multiple logins. Users can access all their applications with a single set of credentials, saving time and reducing frustration.

Employee satisfaction is closely linked to their experience with workplace tools and processes. By simplifying access by enabling SSO support on all enterprise apps, organizations can create a more user-friendly & productive environment. 

Furthermore, with Single Sign-On support enabled, IT departments spend less time handling password reset requests and troubleshooting access issues. This allows IT staff to focus on more strategic initiatives, driving overall organizational growth and innovation.  

&nbsp;  

**2. Workforce Productivity Increased:**  
Enabling SSO support on your enterprise apps directly improves employee productivity. When users can access all necessary applications with one login via a single dashboard, the time saved from not having to manage multiple credentials adds up. This increased efficiency translates to more productive work hours and a smoother workflow.  

&nbsp;  

**3. IT Management Simplified:**  
By centralizing user authentication and access control with the implementation of the SSO solution, the entire IT management process becomes seamless. This means that IT admins can now easily manage user permissions and ensure that only authorized individuals have access to specific applications. This centralized control makes it easier to enforce robust security policies and compliance requirements across the organization.

Additionally, IT departments gain better visibility into user access patterns and potential security threats. This proactive approach enables quicker response to potential breaches and more effective overall security management.  

&nbsp;  

**4. Seamless Integration with Existing Systems:**  
Modern SSO solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with a wide range of enterprise apps and systems. Whether your organization uses on-premises software, cloud-based applications, or a hybrid environment, SSO support can be extended to deliver a unified authentication facility.

This flexibility ensures that organizations can implement SSO solutions without disrupting their existing workflows or requiring extensive system overhauls. The ability to integrate with various platforms and applications makes Single Sign-On support a versatile and valuable tool for any enterprise.



### How Does SSO Support Help With Compliance & Saves Costs? {#how-does-sso-support-help-with-compliance**}

- **Compliance Benefit**  
Different industries require businesses to comply with different [regulatory standards](https://www.miniorange.com/compliances/), and this is a critical concern for most enterprises. Implementing SSO support in the enterprise environment helps organizations meet these requirements by providing centralized access control and comprehensive audit trails. With Single Sign-On support, enterprises can easily track and document user access to sensitive information, ensuring compliance with standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, and SOX.

![Compliance Benefit](/blog/assets/2024/easy-to-use-privacy.webp)

- **Cost-Effectiveness**  
Implementing the SSO solution can lead to significant cost savings for enterprises. By reducing the number of password-related support requests, organizations can lower their helpdesk costs. The streamlined access management process also reduces the administrative burden on IT teams, allowing them to operate more efficiently.  

&nbsp;  

Moreover, SSO support can help organizations avoid the financial repercussions of security breaches. Enhanced security measures provided by Single Sign-On reduce the risk of data breaches, which can be costly in terms of both finances and reputation.


### Why Choose miniOrange Solution for Enabling SSO Support? {#why-choose-miniorange-solution-for-enabling-sso-support}
miniOrange provides a complete suite of **Identity & Access Management** solutions that include Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), User Provisioning, etc. Choosing miniOrange will enable you to leverage competitive benefits:

1. **Unified Portal**
Access all configured apps via desktops or mobile devices through a single, customizable, self-service portal.
2. **App Integrations** 
miniOrange provides SSO/MFA integrations for 6000+ apps including Legacy, Web, Cloud & On-premise, SSO connectors for your in-house apps built in PHP, Java, Node.js, etc. 
3. **Third-Party IDP Integration**
The solution can easily integrate with your existing Userstore/ Database/IDP without the need to migrate anywhere.
4. **Tailor-Made Solutions**
Our solutions are customizable as per your unique organizational needs. One-stop solution for your security requirements. 
5. **Stronger Security Posture**
You can easily enable the MFA solution on top of our SSO mechanism for enhanced security.
6. **24×7 Worldwide Support**
Our global teams provide round-the-clock assistance to address any challenges you may encounter from any corner of the world.
7. **Security Experts**
Get assistance directly from our team of experts & engineers instead of chatbots. No AI-generated bluff. 
8. **Ease of Adoption**
Our enterprise solutions are user-friendly & simple, leading to fast user adoption. Removing unnecessary workforce training.
9. **Cost-Effective**
We offer the most cost-effective Identity Solutions available at competitive, customized & flexible pricing packages.
10. **30-day Free Trial with POC**
Try all the features of the miniOrange solution with a 30-day free trial and also receive a free POC, where our experts will set it up in your environment. 
11. **Multiple Deployment Options**
The solution can be deployed in your cloud environment, on-premise infrastructure, or hybrid setup.

![Seamless integration with SSO](/blog/assets/2024/app-integrations-with-miniorange.webp) 


### Conclusion {#conclusion}
Enabling SSO support on your enterprise apps is a strategic move that offers numerous benefits. From enhanced security and improved user experience to increased productivity and cost savings, Single Sign-On is an essential tool for modern businesses. By simplifying access management and ensuring robust security, SSO empowers organizations to operate more efficiently and securely. Don't wait – implement the miniOrange SSO solution today and transform your enterprise’s access management and security landscape. [Book a call](https://calendly.com/miniorange-customer-success/miniorange-introduction-and-overview) with us now.

The miniOrange Single Sign-On solution can be easily implemented in your enterprise environment for centralizing user authentication for all Cloud, Legacy, & On-Premise applications.

Implementing SSO Support For Enterprise Apps


With the news that ‘RSA Access Manager’ (and previously known as ClearTrust), would reach end-of-life (EOL) status in June 2021, RSA Access Manager customers are looking to migrate to another Identity and Access Management (IAM) platform.

Migrations are most successful when handled with the best methods and planned approach. miniOrange is taking all these issues like cost, MFA methods & **providing support to all organizations for easy and free migration from RSA Access Manager**. miniOrange Identity platform ensures that organizations benefit from the use of its solution by ensuring their RSA tokens can coexist with their miniOrange Identity Platform deployment until all users are fully migrated.

### miniOrange IAM with advanced Data Model {#miniorange-iam-with-advanced-data-model}

miniOrange provides a solution to the migration path for RSA customers providing with smooth workflow process and a good user interface. Authentication is the most crucial and identity security solution to avoid much brute force, phishing attacks, credentials stuffing and secure access to the data for all workspace and customer authorizations.

miniOrange **[Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/two-factor-authentication-(2fa))** helps you in authenticating users by verifying two different factors and ensuring the right set of authentication to your sensitive information and protect user identities on both cloud and on-premise.

With the increase of security risks across global organizations miniOrange updated the features with 15+ authentication methods includes a soft token, Hard tokens, Google, Microsoft, and miniOrange authenticators with various population integrations with OpenVPN, Fortnite, Windows, Sharepoint, Office 365, and many more. 

In this era of Telecommuting, the MFA method of authentication features allows employees to safely access data from any device or location without putting sensitive data at risk. Having a second form of identification greatly decreases the chance of a hacker gaining access to corporate devices or other sensitive information. It makes less suspicious activity helps in managing cost on security than the other security factors to be considered.

### What if Secure tokens are theft or Lost! {#what-if -secure-tokens-are-theft-or-lost}

MFA is a driven process in current security practices compared to adaptive MFA.  MFA follows a set design and has certain rules to be followed, concerning versatile validation, the end-client is a necessary part of the security cycle.

[Adaptive MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa) is a technique that MFA  can be built and exploited in a way that the system will choose the validating multiple verifications based on a user’s profile which is considered as part of a boarding process for authentication, alternatively of applying risk assessment during the authentication process.

miniOrange knowledgeable adaptive authentication Identity provider system supports many broad set of modern mechanisms like Device Profile management, Geo-Location recognition, IP Network Context-based and more which therefore reducing the prospect of account blocking for your employees more than just the use of OTP tokens like RSA Secure ID, Symantec VIP.

miniOrange IAM, the best access manager rights to the corporate IT systems and Platforms. Moving behind user name and passwords miniOrange provides these types of authentications based on clients, devices, and locations, and a set of updated factors to verify any user.

Adding new apps and clients is simple, offering quick and ideal opportunities on migrating from the existing cloud and on-premise MFA outcomes. With seamless single sign-on and identity governance the board, miniOrange makes it simple to make sure about clients, devices, and applications.

### RSA Access Manager vs miniOrange {#rsa-access-manager-vs-miniorange}

| Features                     | RSA Access Manager                                 | miniOrange                                     |
|------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| Infrastructure               | Hardware, Software Infra                           | Enterprise Level                              |
| Support                      | Reliability & Support Issues                       | 24*7 Active Support                            |
| Update/Upgrades              | EOL Announced                                     | Continuously Update/Upgrades, Future Proof    |
| Price                        | Costly                                            | Best in the Market                            |
| Cloud Environment             | No viable cloud strategy                          | Robust & best user experience                 |
| MFA Methods – Hardware Token | Through RSA tokens with per token cost            | 15+ MFA methods                               |


### Further Reading {#further-reading}

- [What is Multifactor Authentication (MFA)?](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa/)
- [Two Factor Authentication – 2FA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/two-factor-authentication-(2fa))
- [Adaptive Multifactor Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa)

Migrating from RSA’s Access Manager? Get easy and free support for your organizations to tackle issues like cost, MFA methods, etc.

Migrating from RSA Access Manager to miniOrange Identity Platform


## What is a Directory Service ?

A **Directory Service** is a database that stores and maintains information about users and resources. [Directory services](https://www.miniorange.com/products/directory-services) are used in many different applications, including email systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and content management systems. Directory services can be either centralized or distributed. In a centralized service, all the information is stored on one server. With a distributed directory service, information is stored on multiple servers. This can be done for redundancy or to provide faster performance.

In a distributed directory service, there are two types of servers:

**- The user directory server** contains information about users and groups. It also contains the password hashes for each user.
**- A configuration directory server** stores information about how things work in the environment (for example, it might tell you where all the data is).

### You’ve got a database, and you’re wondering: What’s the difference? {#database-vs-directory-service-what-is-the-difference}

There are a couple of things to consider.

A directory service and a database are two technologies that are used to store and manage information. They’re both used to store data, but they’re different in a few key ways.

The first is that a directory service uses a hierarchical structure to organize information, while databases use flat structures. A directory service is based on a tree-like structure that branches out from one central location and then branches out again, so you can see where things are stored at all times. The structure is hierarchical, which means it’s easy for users to find their way around the system, because they know exactly where everything is located.

A database stores all its information in one flat file or table—it doesn’t have any branching structures like a directory service does. This makes it easier for users to access all pieces of information at once; for example, if you wanted to look up something about your own business on the website, you’d just type in “business” into one search box and see all of your business’s details appear right below it!

### What are the different types of directory services ? {types-of-directory-services}

![Types of Directory Services](/blog/assets/2023/types-of-directory-services.webp)

**LDAP :** Lightweight Directory Access Protocol is a protocol that enables directory services authentication for servers and clients on multiple platforms.

**Key File :** A key file is a text file that contains the user’s password, encrypted to prevent unauthorized access.

**Digest File :** Stores user and group information based on encrypted username and password.

### Imagine a unified directory service in which all information could be accessed. {#unified-directory-service}

Yes, We can use a single directory that connects with all sorts of directories—including on-premise Active Directory, user stores, and LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) directories— [Universal Directory](https://www.miniorange.com/products/directory-services). With the miniOrange solution you can access all directories at a single place.

![Directory Services](/blog/assets/2023/directory-service-banner.webp)

### Conclusion : {#conclusion}

Directory services are an important piece of enterprise databases. In order to create a centralized hub in which all employees can locate the information they need, organizations need a way to identify and communicate with different users in their business. In order to do this, they need directory services within their enterprise database solution.


A directory service is a database that stores and maintains information about users and resources.

What is a Directory service and Why do you need one?


### What is Adaptive Authentication? {# What is Adaptive Authentication?}   

Standard authentication methods, including [Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa), ask users for specific credentials whenever they try to log in or access corporate resources. While MFA provides better security by requiring additional credentials, such as a code from a smartphone app, it can still be vulnerable to cyberattacks if users always log in with the same credentials. Cybercriminals can potentially acquire or hack these credentials and use them to gain access.  

![What is Adaptive Authentication?](/blog/assets/2024/what-is-adaptive-authentication.webp)  

Adaptive Authentication changes this approach by dynamically adjusting the authentication process based on contextual risk factors, such as the user’s IP address, location, device, behaviour, and time of access. This ensures higher security while maintaining a smooth user experience. In low-risk scenarios, users can access resources seamlessly using their username and password. However, in higher-risk situations, the system requires additional verification steps or denies access altogether.  


### How Does Adaptive Authentication Work? {# How Does Adaptive Authentication Work?}  

Adaptive Authentication or [Risk-Based Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/risk-based-authentication-rba) creates a unique profile for each user, consisting of attributes such as geographical location, registered devices, job role, and IP address. When a user attempts to authenticate, their profile is assessed, and the system assigns a risk score based on factors like the device used, location, and time of access. Authentication requirements are then adjusted according to this risk score.  

For instance, if a user tries to access applications from an unregistered device, they may be prompted to register it. If logging in from an unusual location, they might need to answer a security question. In high-risk scenarios, such as logging in from a different country, the user may need to complete an additional MFA process to validate their identity.


### Adaptive Authentication and Machine Learning {# Adaptive Authentication and Machine Learning?}   

[Adaptive Authentication solutions](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa) leverage machine learning to improve security and user experience. These systems learn user behavior over time, tracking devices, login times, and locations. They also monitor IP addresses and network reputations to spot unusual activity that might indicate a security risk.  

Machine learning helps assign a risk score based on behavior and context. The response to this risk is determined by rules set by IT, which can vary depending on the user’s role, location, and other factors. Advanced solutions use AI to monitor login attempts in real time, identifying any unusual patterns or threats.

![Adaptive Authentication and Machine Learning](/blog/assets/2024/adaptive-authentication-machine-learning.webp)   


### Adaptive Authentication Methods {# Adaptive Authentication Methods}

Here are some popular Adaptive Authentication methods:
- **IP-Based Restriction:** Admins set a list of IP addresses to allow or deny access. User login attempts are compared against this list to determine if access is granted, denied, or challenged.
- **Location-Based:** Admins configure a list of geo-locations where users can log in. If a user tries to log in from an unlisted location, they may be challenged or denied access.
- **Device-Based:** Users can link trusted devices to their accounts. Only these devices are permitted access, enhancing security by restricting access to known devices.
Time-Based Restriction: Access is granted or denied based on predefined time zones and policies. If a user logs in outside these parameters, they may face additional authentication steps or be denied access.


### Benefits of Adaptive Authentication {# Benefits of Adaptive Authentication}

- **Enhanced Data Protection:** Fortifies protection against unauthorized access, safeguarding corporate networks and privileged information. 
- **User-Friendly & Efficient Integration:** Smooth integration with existing infrastructure, allowing dynamic policy configuration.
- **Immediate User Access Control:** Adjusts access based on real-time risk assessment, ensuring secure login processes.
- **API-Enhanced Security:** Effortlessly integrates enhanced security across all cloud-based applications.
- **Universal Compatibility:** Works across various platforms and devices with web browsers.
- **Uninterrupted User Interaction:** Maintains user productivity by embedding security protocols invisibly.  


### Conclusion {# Conclusion}

Adaptive Authentication is a powerful approach that offers enhanced security by adapting to real-time risks. By tailoring authentication processes to match your organization's risk tolerance, you can achieve a balance between user experience and robust security. With solutions like those from miniOrange, organizations can effectively manage their authentication needs and protect against cyber threats.


Adaptive Authentication identifies malicious login attempts based on predefined risk factors like location, device status, and user behaviour. It prompts users to verify their identity through additional authentication steps when needed.

Adaptive Authentication


### What is ADFS? {#what-is-adfs}

**Active Directory Federation Service (ADFS)** is a software component developed by Microsoft to provide Single Sign-On (SSO) authorization service to users on Windows Server Operating Systems. ADFS allows users across organizational boundaries to access applications on Windows Server Operating Systems using a single set of login credentials.

ADFS makes use of the claims-based Access Control Authorization model to ensure security across applications using the federated identity. Claims-based authentication is a process in which a user is identified by a set of claims related to their identity. The claims are packaged into a secure token by the identity provider.

### How does ADFS work? {#how-does-adfs-work}

The authentication process using the Active Directory Federation Service (ADFS), takes place in the following steps:

- The user navigates to a service, for example, a partner-company website (http://example.com) to obtain pricing or product details.
- The website requests an authentication token.
- User requests token from the ADFS server.
- ADFS server issues token containing user’s set of claims.
- User forwards token to the partner-company website.
- The website grants authorization access to the user.

### What are the components of ADFS? {#what-are-the-components-of-adfs}

- **Active Directory**: The Identity Information which is to be used by ADFS is stored on the Active Directory.
- **Federation Server**: It contains the tools needed to manage federated trusts between business partners. It processes authentication requests coming in from external users and hosts a security token service that issues tokens for claims based on verification of credentials from AD.
- **Federation Server Proxy**: The Proxy is deployed on the extranet of the organization, to which external clients connect when requesting a security token. It forwards these requests to the Federation Server. The Federation server is not exposed directly to the internet to prevent security risks.
- **ADFS Web Server**: It hosts the ADFS Web Agent which manages the security tokens and authentication cookies sent to it for authentication purposes.

### Why ADFS is used by organizations? {#Why-adfs-is-used-by-organizations}

Using Active Directory (AD) in the connected online world creates authentication challenges. AD cannot authenticate users who try to access integrated applications externally. In the modern workplace, users often need to access applications that are not owned or managed by their organization’s AD. ADFS is able to resolve and simplify these third-party authentication challenges.

ADFS allows users from one organization to access applications of partner organizations using the standard credentials of their organization’s Active Directory (AD). ADFS also lets users access AD-integrated applications while working remotely using their standard organizational AD credentials via a web interface. When establishing a partnership to use another organization’s web applications, ADFS provides a central place to manage and audit the employee identity information that is shared with their organization’s partners.

Over 90% of organizations use Active Directory, which means many use ADFS as well.

**ADFS can be used in the below scenarios**

- **Single Sign-On (SSO)**: ADFS can be used to provide Single Sign-On (SSO) authorization to users who want to access applications located in different networks or organizations. It provides seamless Single Sign-On (SSO) access to Internet-facing applications or services.
- **Identity Federation (Identity Management)**: Federated Identity is a concept where a user’s identity is centralized. This makes Identity Management easier. Identity Management is done to maintain security while keeping the costs associated with managing user identities, low.

**ADFS Office 365 example**

- Office 365 uses an Active Directory environment wherein a dedicated domain is created on the cloud for each user’s Office 365 subscription.
- ADFS is used here by setting up directory synchronization (DirSyc tool) that creates accounts in Microsoft’s domain matching the accounts within the user’s domain.
- A user can select accounts that should be synchronized in the AD.

### What are the limitations of ADFS? {#what-are-the-limitations-of-adfs}

- **Maintenance Costs**: ADFS generates a high cost of maintenance which consists of infrastructure maintenance, management of multiple federations, SSL certificate costs.
- **ADFS Complexity**: Adding an application or system to an ADFS service is complex and time-consuming. It doesn’t have a user-friendly management dashboard for managing users, groups, and authentication policies.
- **ADFS Security issue**: ADFS runs on Windows Server, that have more security issues like vulnerability to malware and other security related errors.
- ADFS does not allow file-sharing or printing using print servers.
- ADFS cannot access Active Directory resources.
- ADFS does not support Remote Desktop connections.

### ADFS Vs miniOrange IDP {#adfs-vs-miniorange}

| Features                           | ADFS                                                | miniOrange IDP                                        |
|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| Multi-Protocol support              | Supports limited protocol (SAML 2.0, WS-Federation & OAuth 2.0) | Fully Supports all protocols for Authentication      |
| MFA (Multi-factor Authentication)   | It supports limited MFA methods                     | It supports 15+ MFA methods                           |
| Single Sign-On into Mobile Apps     | Doesn’t support                                      | It supports SSO into Mobile Apps                     |
| Adaptive Authentication             | Doesn’t support                                      | It supports                                          |
| JWT                                | Doesn’t support                                      | It supports                                          |


### Related Articles of ADFS Integration {#related-articles-of-adfs-integration}

- [ADFS As IDP](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/configure-adfs-sso)
- [WordPress ADFS Login](https://wordpress.org/plugins/miniorange-adfs-login/)
- [What is Single Sign-On SSO?](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-single-sign-on-sso/)
- [ADFS SSO with Joomla](https://plugins.miniorange.com/guide-joomla-single-sign-sso-using-adfs-idp)


What is ADFS ? Active Directory Federation Service (ADFS) is a software component created by Microsoft to provide Windows Server operating systems Single Sign-On to users..It is a feature that allows sharing of identity information outside a company’s network. Know more about ADFS components and why it is used.

What is ADFS?


An **Identity Provider (IDP)** is a digital service that creates and manages a user’s digital identity and the identity-related attributes associated with it. IDPs authenticate users to third-party service providers (like websites, web applications, etc) using these identities.

miniOrange IDP allows users to bring their own identities to their workspace and enables them to sign up/ log into a web service or application using an **existing set of credentials** in place of creating new ones for the service or application.

Google is also a popular Identity Provider, the “Sign-up using Google/Login using Google” option, denotes we are using Google’s services to sign in to or log in to another service. By doing this, users can access the resources of the service using their Google Credentials.

![IDP Solutions](/blog/assets/2023/idp-solutions.webp)

User identity refers to the unique information and characteristics that will define an individual or entity in a digital system or platform. It can include various attributes, such as a user’s name, email address, phone number, username, password, biometric data (such as fingerprints or facial recognition), and other personal or demographic information.

In the context of Authentication & Identity Providers, user identity can be the user’s credentials or biometric data which might be stored in a directory. In order to authenticate the user, the identity provider will fetch the user identity from the directory to authenticate them and which will allow the user to access their accounts and interact with the particular platform. 

Protecting user identity is an important aspect of digital security, as it helps prevent identity theft, fraud, and other types of cyber attacks. Methods like Single Sign-On and Multi-Factor Authentication ensure that User Identity is secure and prevents threats like unauthorized access & privacy breach. 

### Why do we need IDP? How do IDPs work with SSO Authentication? {#why-do-we-need-idp}

An Identity Provider (IDP) plays a crucial role in [Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso) authentication. SSO enables users to log into multiple applications with just a single set of credentials, hence increasing security and productivity simultaneously. To make this process happen, an IDP is required.

SSO involves a Service Provider (SP) & Identity Provider (IDP). A Service Provider is an application or service that requests authentication and authorization from an Identity Provider. It relies on the IDP to verify the identity of users and grant them access to protected resources. Once the user has been authenticated by the IDP, the SP can use the token provided by the IDP to grant the user access to its resources.

In SSO, when a user tries to access a protected resource, the SP requests authentication from the IDP. The IDP then authenticates the user and provides a token to the SP, which is used to grant the user access to the resource. One common protocol used by IDPs in SSO is the Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML). SAML IDP, or [SAML Identity Provider](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/saml-single-sign-on-sso 
), is an IDP that uses SAML to provide SSO services. Other than SAML, IDPs like miniOrange also support other protocols like OAuth, JWT, OpenID, and special connectors for unique use cases.

Other forms of IDPs include [Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS)](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-identity-as-a-service-idaas/) providers such as miniOrange, Okta, Ping Identity, etc., which offer cloud-based identity management services and integrations with various applications. Basically, they provide all the infrastructure required to manage the identities on behalf of your organization via a cloud setup. Identity-as-a-service in cloud computing can be a game changer by optimizing the costs, resources, and manpower of your organization.

Overall, IDPs play a critical role in enabling SSO and ensuring secure and streamlined access to applications and resources. With the growing adoption of cloud computing, IDPs and IDaaS providers are becoming increasingly important for managing identities and access in complex, distributed environments.

### What steps are involved in the IDP Workflow? {#what-steps-are-involved-in-the-idp-workflow}

Identity providers operate on a simple mechanism. Getting a digital ID requires you to provide unique information. It may be your username, password, security question, or captcha. With this unique information, you’ll receive a digital ID proving your identity. Users can gain access to all their required resources, including email and file management systems, by using an IDP.

IDP workflow includes three main steps:

1. Authentication: The user is requested to enter some form of identification, such as a username and password or biometric data.
2. Verification: The identity provider determines if a user has access to the system, and what they have access to.
3. Authorization: Users are given access to specific resources based on their authorization.

![IDP Workflow](/blog/assets/2023/idp-workflow.webp)

### Security Benefits of Using an Identity Provider {#security-benefits-of-using-an-identity-provider}

Typically, users logins into multiple platforms, and managing separate credentials for each platform or application can cause password fatigue. Credential re-used across multiple security platforms can present a considerable security risk to the system. Let us have a look at some of the benefits of using an Identity Provider to eliminate these risks:

- Identity providers offer robust authentication policies that provide users with secure login credentials for all configured services.
- Users can enhance security by enabling [2FA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)) or [Adaptive MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa).
- Access privileges can be allocated and managed for user groups, reducing the risk of unauthorized access to critical systems.
- Authorized users can access audit reports through IDP to review user authentication logs, resource access requests, and usage.
- IDP simplifies compliance management for enterprises by tracking all access requests and events in audits through [Enterprise SSO](https://blog.miniorange.com/enterprise-sso-single-sign-on/).
- The enforcement of consistent **security policies across all platforms and devices** makes it easy to manage security measures efficiently.

Enforcement of the same security policies across all operating platforms and devices for the users allows the management of security measures quickly and easily.

In the event of a set of credentials getting compromised, it can lead to unauthorized access to user accounts on other platforms and may result in an information breach.  **An estimated 81% of data breaches are due to poor password security or stolen credentials**.

Using an identity provider **reduces the risk of a data breach** caused due to password fatigue or compromised identity, adds additional security measures, and makes the task of user identity access management and privileges management easy.

### 5 Ways in Which Identity providers help users better manage their accounts? {#5-ways-in-which-identity-providers-help-users-better-manage-their-accounts}

**1. Single Sign-On (SSO)** : Users can access multiple applications and services with a single set of login credentials, saving time and reducing the hassle to remember multiple usernames and passwords.

**2. Centralized Account Management** : Users can update their profile information, reset passwords, and manage permissions for all applications and services from a single dashboard.

**3. Enhanced Security** : Identity providers offer advanced security measures such as two-factor authentication, encryption, and access control to protect users’ personal information from unauthorized access.

**4. Seamless User Experience** : Users can access all their applications and services from a single dashboard, making it easy to switch between them without having to log in again.

**5. Reduced IT Overhead** : Identity providers reduce the IT overhead of managing user accounts and permissions for multiple applications and services, enabling IT teams to easily add or remove users, manage permissions, and monitor user activity.

Overall, identity providers simplify the account management process, improve security, and enhance the user experience.

### Conclusion {#conclusion}

In conclusion, an Identity Provider (IDP) plays a crucial role in digital identity management, allowing users to bring their existing identities to access multiple web services and applications. IDPs operate on a simple mechanism of authentication, verification, and authorization, offering users a secure login experience and reducing the risk of compromised identities. Identity providers offer many security benefits, such as 2FA, access privileges management, and audit reports. IDPs also help users manage their accounts better with SSO, centralized account management, enhanced security, seamless user experience, and reduced IT overhead. 

### Further Reading {#further-reading}

- [IdP Vs SP Initiated SSO](https://blog.miniorange.com/idp-initiated-sp-initiated-login/)
- [What is Single Sign-On SSO?](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-single-sign-on-sso/)
- [Identity Broker Services](https://www.miniorange.com/identity-broker-service)
- [What is CIAM?](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/customer-identity-access-management-ciam)

An Identity Provider (IdP) stores and manages users digital identities. Learn how IdP works and what are its benefits.

What is an Identity Provider (IDP)?


### What is Azure Active Directory? {#what-is-azure-active-directory}

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is Microsoft’s cloud service that provides identity and access management (IAM). It is part of the Office 365 system, it is compatible with an on-premise active directory, and is useful to provide authentication to multiple cloud-based services via various cloud protocols such as SAML, OAuth2, and WS Security. It provides the ability to manage user identities and access rights. Azure AD combines core directory services, access management, and identity protection into a single solution.

Azure AD allows your users to sign in and access the resources which are in external resources such as Office 365 and thousands of other Software as a service (SaaS) applications. It also allows your users to gain access to internal resources such as applications on your company network and intranet. Azure AD uses Representational State Transfer (REST) APIs to connect with other web-based applications. In this directory, the admin has the capability to create groups and add accounts to those groups. Group access to resources can then be assigned to them. Mobile devices and Windows desktops can connect to Azure AD using Microsoft Intune.

### How does Azure Active Directory work? {#how-does-azure-active-directory-work}

The Azure Active Directory Authentication takes place in the following steps:

- The user navigates to the application and requests access.
- An authentication request is sent to the miniOrange Broker Service.
miniOrange Broker identifies the Azure AD and sends authentication requests to Azure AD.
- Azure Active Directory authenticates the user and generates the SAML token, LDAP authentication Response is sent to the broker.
- miniOrange broker posts the SAML response to the Service provider (Application) via the user’s browser.
- The service provider (Application) verifies the SAML response and access is granted to the user.

![Azure Active Directory Authentication Flow](/blog/assets/2023/azure-active-directory-authentication-flow.webp)

### Windows Active Directory vs Azure Active Directory {#windows-active-directory-vs-azure-active-directory}

Windows Active Directory, launched by Microsoft in 2000, is the predecessor to the Azure Active Directory, which has become the standard for enterprise identity management since its launch. Unlike Azure Active Directory, the Windows Active Directory uses Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) to connect with other web-based applications. It also does not manage mobile devices. Group Policies (GPOs) are usually used to govern desktops and servers connected to Windows Active Directory. Finally, Kerberos and NTLM protocols are used to validate user credentials.

Because of the limitations of Windows Active Directory in cloud contexts, Microsoft created Azure Active Directory. Users may use Azure AD to manage all of their cloud apps and servers, including Office 365, SharePoint Online, and Exchange Online.

The key distinction between the two platforms is that Azure AD uses Representational State Transfer (REST) API interfaces to provide web-based applications. As previously indicated, it accomplishes this through the use of unique protocols and code bases. You will instantly become an Azure AD Tenant after you register with one of Microsoft’s cloud apps. This means you can manage all users, permissions, passwords, and more from a single location.

### Benefits of azure active directory {#benefits-of-azure-active-directory}

**Simple Integration:**
Because Azure AD supports a wide range of identity providers, users may log in using their Microsoft, Google, Facebook, or GitHub accounts. Azure AD may also be integrated with a variety of apps, including Salesforce, Office 365, and others.

**Strong Azure AD Security:**
Microsoft, as you might assume, takes security very seriously. Multi-factor authentication, conditional access, and Privileged Identity Management (PIM) are just a few of the security features available in Azure AD.

**High Availability:**
Microsoft promises a 99.9% availability guarantee. Azure AD is highly available thanks to a distributed architecture that spans 28 data centers throughout the globe. All data is written to the Active Primary partition first, then duplicated to the Passive Primary, and finally read from the Secondary Replica partitions.

**Collaboration:**
By granting access to the internal project site or material, Azure AD aids collaboration outside the business, such as with partners. Azure AD B2B (business-to-business) and Azure AD B2C (business-to-consumer) are the two major external collaboration functions. You may invite business colleagues to your application or service using the B2B functionality, and they can sign in using their current Azure identity. The B2C functionality is similar, except your clients may sign in to your app or service using their preferred identity provider (Facebook, Google, GitHub, etc.). MFA and Conditional Access rules can be used to control access to resources in both circumstances.

**Single sign-on:**
This allows onboarding new workers, terminating access for outgoing employees, and implementing access to new cloud services easier and faster, allowing users to get up and running faster. Single sign-on also promotes commitment to security and identification rules.

**Multi-Factor Authentication:**
This adds an extra degree of protection to accounts by requiring another form of verification. Microsoft Authenticator app, OATH Hardware token, OATH Software token, SMS, Voice call, and other MFA verification methods are available in Azure AD.

### Limitations of Azure Active Directory Authentication {#limitations-of-azure-active-directory-authentication}

- **Limited MFA methods**: Azure Active Directory Authentication supports limited Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) methods.
- **No Group policy**:  It has few policy tools like conditional access, but it is more focused on granting access.
- **No support for NTLM or Kerberos**: Azure AD Authentication supports only modern authentication protocols like OAuth, SAML & OpenID Connect.
- **Limited OAuth support**: It does not have support for all OAuth grants.
- No support to extend or customize existing protocols with custom apps.
- Limited support for Device, location, and time-based access policies.

###  Azure Active Directory Authentication Components {#azure-active-directory-authentication-components}

- **Service Provider** - Service providers are responsible for communications between the user, an identity provider that maintains a user directory. In this case, Azure Active Directory is an identity provider and the application could be a Service provider.
- **Identity Provider** - Here Azure AD is an identity provider. So  As an Identity Provider, it authenticates the user and provides an authentication token (that is, information that verifies the authenticity of the user) to the service provider.

Click [here](https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/security/business/identity-access/microsoft-entra-id) to learn more about Azure Active Directory.

### Azure Active Directory VS miniOrange IdP {#azure-active-directory-vs-miniorange-idp}

| Features                  | Azure Active Directory                                    | miniOrange IdP                                      |
|---------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| Multi-Protocol support    | Supports only a few modern authentication protocols (OAuth, SAML & OpenID Connect) | Fully supports all protocols for Authentication.  |
| Multi-Factor Authentication | Supports limited Multi-Factor Authentication methods.  | Supports 15+ Multi-Factor Authentication methods.  |
| Pricing Plans             | A fixed annual subscription. (No quote-based pricing plan). | A flexible monthly & quote-based pricing plan for all size organizations. |
| Security                  | Doesn’t support.                                       | It supports fraud prevention, social login, and cloud security. |
| Adaptive Authentication   | Doesn’t support.                                       | It supports Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication.    |


### Further Reading {#further-reading}

- [Directory Services](https://www.miniorange.com/products/directory-services)
- [Single Sign-On SSO](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-single-sign-on-sso/)
- [Login Using Azure AD](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/configure-azure-ad-sso)


Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is cloud service that provides IAM & helps administrators handle multiple user logins.

What is Azure Active Directory? | Microsoft Azure AD


Deprovisioning is the process of automatically removing a user’s access from numerous SAAS app accounts and network infrastructure at the same time. Deprovisioning safeguards the security and confidentiality of the company by prohibiting departing employees from using corporate resources. The Deprovisioning action is triggered when an employee quits their job or changes roles within the company.


It is an [Identity and Access Management (IAM)](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-iam-identity-and-access-management-system/) solution that monitors and maintains a user’s identity and attributes in relation to their access to resources across one or more systems.

Consequently, whenever a person is “deprovisioned,” their identity, assets, and all associated accounts within the organization’s network of apps and services are all automatically erased. As a result, all the granted permissions and authorizations are securely revoked.

### Why is Deprovisioning important? {#why-is-deprovisioning-important}

Employees, independent contractors, suppliers, and partners constantly enter and exit businesses, acquiring access to countless tools and programs in the process. However, they must be appropriately offboarded and deprovisioned each time they are transferred to a different area of the organization or depart the business. Deprovisioning has several advantages, some of which are listed below:

**1. Protects data from misuse** 
Suppose an employee has access to some confidential information. Until their access is revoked, they can still access this information even after leaving the company. Therefore, It’s crucial to deprovision access as soon as a former employee leaves the organization since they pose great security threats if it’s not done correctly.

**2. Removes orphaned accounts**
If an employee account is not deprovisioned properly after offboarding, it leads to orphaned accounts. These accounts contain all the information about the former employee which isn’t currently assigned to anyone. Deprovisioning removes such accounts which may become hotspots for cyber attacks if not handled correctly.

**3. Easily update or offboard employees**
Maintain, update and delete employees’ user attributes, such as usernames, roles, and profiles, and automatically assign access permissions and user accounts based on changes in their designation (promotion, change in teams/role, etc.) or simply remove the employee after they leave the company throughout the system.

**4. Eliminate human error**
Because automated provisioning eliminates manual processes, it also greatly reduces the margin of error. When removing a user from the system and revoking access, there’s less of a possibility of making a mistake with the help of deprovisioning.

### How does it work? {#how-does-it-work}

Deprovisioning deletes the accounts connected to the user and eliminates their access permissions when they are offboarded or change roles. Moreover, this procedure may now simply be automated, as opposed to the traditional one that included HR staff relaying information to the IT department and then system administrators to restrict access. Through the use of Identity and Access Management (IAM) technology, automated deprovisioning is possible.

![SCIM User provisioning](/blog/assets/2023/scim-user-provisioning.webp)

The user will be deleted (if terminated) and all accounts linked with them will be immediately modified or revoked when employees move to another department or leave the business with the help of IAM and integrated directories.

### Automated Provisioning and deprovisioning {#automated-provisioning-and-deprovisioning}

Manual Deprovisioning carries significant security risks. There may be times when the person in charge of deprovisioning delays the task or, on rare occasions, forgets to do so. Old accounts with plenty of rights continue to build up in the directory as a result, and many former employees still have active accounts in your company’s domain. Data leaks by former employees shouldn’t be unexpected in this circumstance.

[Automated deprovisioning](https://blog.miniorange.com/automated-user-provisioning/) can assist in avoiding these risky mishaps and removing human error, which can be expensive for your company. A user account is automatically deprovisioned, removing it from Active Directory and revoking all user rights. The process of adding, updating, and controlling their access must also be automated as part of automated provisioning. In comparison to the time-consuming manual method, the activity just takes a few minutes, and it significantly improves network security.


### Provisioning and Deprovisioning with miniOrange {#provisioning-and-deprovisioning-with-miniOrange}

With miniOrange and our wide range of [User Provisioning & Deprovisioning solutions](https://www.miniorange.com/products/user-provisioning), you can create, manage, & delete your external and internal users’ access to on-premises, cloud, and hybrid apps.

We also have pre-integrated apps for Provisioning and Deprovisioning:

-  [Azure/Active Directory](https://www.miniorange.com/azure-ad-provisioning)
-  [G-Suite App](https://www.miniorange.com/google-workspace-provisioning)
-  [Microsoft 365](https://www.miniorange.com/office-365-provisioning)
-  [Salesforce](https://www.miniorange.com/salesforce-provisioning)

![Deprovisioning apps](/blog/assets/2023/automated-provisioning-apps.webp)

Linked is an overview of our Provisioning solutions as well as in-depth steps to implement the solution. miniOrange can set up complete automation for User Provisioning in your organization in no time! We have both cloud and on-premise solutions available based on the organization’s requirements.

Check out all of our pre-existing Provisioning & Deprovisioning integrated apps [here](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/?id=provisioning).

### Additional Resources {#additional-resources}
- [What is Provisioning?](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-provisioning/)
- [JIT Provisioning](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-just-in-time-jit-provisioning/)
- [Watch a Video to understand more about User Provisioning & Deprovisioning](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No8cg_qMrR4)

Deprovisioning ensures that the former employees do not have access to the organization’s resources right at the moment that they leave.

What is Deprovisioning & why is it important?


Cloud technology is undeniably considered paramount everywhere in the tech market. The rationale behind this is the emerging growth of Cloud technology in multiple businesses and enterprises to manage Data / Services which helps them to streamline their organizational process. G Suite is one of the most favored user-friendly Cloud technology, which is easily accessible from any device or location, irrational to organizational access parameters. G Suite continuously strives to supply additional features uniformly for the convenience of users. But still, there are a few aspects in G Suite that can’t be easily handled around access control and device management, due to the frontline feature that Google always promises of “anytime, anywhere and with any device”.

Easy cloud access to G Suite also brings up a set of challenges associated with security concerns to stop your data from being accessed by unauthorized users protecting it from various sorts of cyber threats. Maintaining the safety of such broad-driven cloud applications (Gmail, Google Drive) is one of the challenges within the modernized world. Here IP restriction for G Suite comes within the frame and is considered one of the proven solutions for handling these sorts of use cases.

To get specific inference regarding what **G suite IP restriction** is and the way it works we’d like to urge clear about a few basic aspects:-

- **What is IP restriction for G Suite?**
- **Why does your organization need IP restriction for G Suite?**
- **Why use miniOrange to protect your G Suite Data?**

### What is IP Restriction for G Suite? {#what-is-ip-restriction-for-gsuite}

IP Restriction termed as Internet Protocol Restriction allows admin or organization owners to restrict access to their business data to respective users and employees only through the specified and registered IP addresses. Allowing or restricting user access is often achieved with a separated IP as well as a variety of IP addresses. The IP restrictions are often set of different levels and combinations like defined IP ranges or individual IP addresses. Enabling IP restriction for G Suite ensures that your important data can’t be accessed at an unsecured public place or through an unregistered IP address.

Considering a real-time example, in a corporation you being an admin have whitelisted your employee’s device’s [Mobiles, PC’s] IP addresses and accordingly permitted access to your organization data. Now suppose if an employee is using the whitelisted device in an organization’s premises i.e he can easily access data and work around it accordingly. For a short time, if he tries to access data from his device being home, he won’t be allowed to access data as his device isn’t whitelisted by admin and secondly, he’s not operating the device from the required location he’s alleged to be.

IP restriction is enabled for various security purposes like reducing redundancy, bandwidth issues, and handling control of websites with efficient recovery. If a user tries to log in outside the required range, it’ll throw an error and a specific employee/ user won’t be unable to login and access the info. This feature is employed in various organizations within the Finance industry, Logistics, E-Commerce industry, Automobile segment, Manufacturing sector, IT industry, Educational sector, and Healthcare sector (KPOs).

### Why does your organization need IP restriction for G Suite? {#why-does-your-organization-need-ip-restriction-for-gsuite?}

Startups, mid-level organizations, and enormous enterprises are shifting over advanced cloud services to streamline their processing. G Suite, one of the foremost used cloud technologies, offers piles of services like Emailing, Google Calendar, Document – Presentation, file sharing, video apps, etc in a single package. As Google suite provides multiple offerings to numerous people directly, G Suite must cope up with multidimensional cloud computing security challenges. Although Google as a brand keeps no stone unturned to keep their users’ data safe with robust security protection, it still becomes difficult to cope up with distinct cyber threats within the cyber world.

Therefore, multiple cloud security companies came with the feature of IP restriction for G Suite. It enables the admin to shortlist IP addresses or a specific range of addresses, which then lets users transfer data or do further services from those registered IPs only. This IP restriction method indirectly prevents spoofing through manual defining of  IP ranges. Overall, there exist two ways of enabling IP restriction for Google Suite, One through a manual process or third-party cloud Security vendor.

### Why use miniOrange to protect your G Suite Data? {#why-use-miniOrange-to-protect-your-gsuite-data?}

Enabling IP restriction for G Suite manually demands a high-versed technical person to handle the utilization case. If the person lacks technical knowledge and performs something wrong then your G Suite cloud security risk level might increase unexpectedly. So here we need an advanced cloud security system that will overcome these issues and provide a top-notch security solution to your G suite organizational data.

Here miniOrange comes in and offers all-in-one protection measures to the businesses using G Suite. It also renders g suite security with IP restriction standards to supply high-level security to your organizational G Suite data. To implement **[IP restriction for G Suite](https://www.miniorange.com/configure-google-workspace-ip-restriction)** for your organization or business is a simple walk with miniOrange. You don’t have to put in extra effort as an enterprise to disturb the implementation of Google account security during a business.

miniOrange takes full control and visibility of organizational data, which is stored on Google. It also allows IT administrators to analyze the employee’s behavior towards enterprise data. On detection of a possible breach, it instantly sends an alert email message to notify higher business authorities. miniOrange also renders the program to enforce access control standards at the macro level on the idea of the device, IP address, time, browser, geolocation, etc.

You can follow the steps given here to set up IP restrictions and other **[Adaptive MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa)** methods for your applications. 

![G Suite IP restrictions](/blog/assets/2023/gsuite-features.webp)

**G Suite Automated Security Measures provided by miniOrange:**

Following listed are security measures provided by miniOrange,

**1. Access Control** : Access control specifies data control policies on the idea of location, device, IP address, and other means through which  G Suite content is often accessed. It imposes conditional policies on customer’s Google for business accounts and creates a virtual secure environment.

- [IP Restriction](https://www.miniorange.com/configure-google-workspace-ip-restriction): Restricts user access from unknown IP addresses to ensure corporate data is accessible only through IPs defined by the IT admin.
- [Geo (Location) Restriction](https://www.miniorange.com/configure-google-workspace-location-restriction#:~:text=On%20the%20Add%20Policy%20tab,the%20UP%20%26%20DOWN%20navigation%20keys.): Here a selected geographical area is assigned, to stop corporate data from being accessed from unauthorized remote locations.
- [Time Restriction](https://www.miniorange.com/configure-google-workspace-time-restriction): In time restriction, you as a corporation can fix specific timings, so hereafter any employee can access and work around corporate data within a specified time-frame. (e.g working hours)
- Browser Restriction: With miniOrange you’ll  register a specific browser, so hereafter an organizational employee can access corporate data as long as he’s using the required registered browser
- [Device Restriction](https://www.miniorange.com/configure-google-workspace-device-restriction): In Device Restriction user’s relatable devices like his mobile or Pc are going to be registered, if a specific user tries to log into the enterprise portal through unregistered or unknown devices he won’t be allowed to access

**2. DLP Policy**: Data loss prevention standard policy is appended by miniOrange during this consolidated Google Security software. These policies make sure that employees won’t send confidential business information outside the business network. Whenever the IP restriction for G Suite solution detects the occurrence of such an incident, it immediately blocks the user access and sends an alert mail to the business authority.
Aside from this, many other subsequent security measures are provided by miniOrange.

**Specific G-Suite security features provided by miniOrange:**

- Administrators can prefer to apply rules to specific individuals, groups, or the whole organization differently.
- Rules are often set during a hierarchy, allowing flexible management.
- Predefined IP locations white list where a user is allowed to access from.
- No firewall or installations are required.
- Easy policy settings.

### Conclusion {#conclusion}

Being a neighborhood of the high-versed cyber world, it’s an important need of enterprises to adopt a high-versed Security Solution for G Suite. To manage advanced security for the G suite with other multiple activities becomes a daunting task for an organization and IT admins. Though it’d be difficult to manage security norms it’s the necessity of the time considering trending cyber-attacks. So it’s better to approach security-as-a-service providers. There are few cloud security providers, which give top-notch security services. But before choosing any cloud Security Service provider ensure they did it confidentially, with the simplest technical support at a budgeted price. Accordingly, I feel miniOrange here fits within the best considering these points. You can schedule a free demo with them to ascertain how IP restriction for G Suite works and how it can add an extra edge to your organizational security.

### Further Reading {#further-reading}

- [What is IP Restriction?](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/ip-restriction#:~:text=IP%20Restriction%20Solution%20allows%20administrators,and%20registered%20IP%20addresses%20range.)
- [Google Workspace Multifactor Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/google-apps-two-factor-authentication-(2fa))
- [Adaptive Authentication ](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa)
- [Risk-based Authentication (RBA)](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/risk-based-authentication-rba)

IP Restriction for G Suite allows secure login and restricts unauthorized access based on IP address, geolocation, time, and the device.

What is G Suite IP Restriction? Enable IP Restriction for G Suite


## What is Kerberos ?

Users traditionally submit a password to get access to computer systems. The problem with this authentication mechanism is that if hackers get a hold of the password, they can assume the user’s identity and access a network within an enterprise. There must be a better approach for businesses to safeguard their users and systems. Herein lies the role of the Kerberos authentication protocol.

A Kerberos authentication system acts as a gateway for users to access the internet. As a result, it aids in preventing online intruders from accessing a private network. Cybercriminals will find it considerably harder to access your network thanks to the robust cryptography and third-party ticket authorization.

Microsoft Windows presently uses Kerberos authentication as its standard authorization method. Kerberos is also supported by Apple OS, FreeBSD, UNIX, and Linux. Kerberos has drastically increased the security of the internet and its users while allowing users to perform more tasks online and in the office without risking their safety.

What makes the [Kerberos authentication protocol](https://plugins.miniorange.com/guide-to-setup-kerberos-single-sign-sso) different from others is a couple of strong security-based features.

-   Passwords are never sent across the network.
-   Encryption keys are never directly exchanged.
-   The application can mutually authenticate each other.
-   Many organizations use it as the basis for Active Directory SSO.

### Kerberos terms : {#kerberos-terms}

1. **Kerberos Realm :** Group of systems over which Kerberos has authority to authenticate the user to a service.
2. **Principal :** Unique identity(user/service/application).
3. **Clients/Users :** a process that accesses a service on the behalf of a user. Can have multiple clients or users within a realm.
4. **Service :** Something the user wants to gain access to.
5. **KDC (Kerberos Key Description Center) :** Supplies tickets and generates temporary session keys that allow a user to securely authenticate to a service. The KDC stores all the secret symmetric keys for users and services.

### How does Kerberos work ? {#how-does-kerberos-work}

Users, workstations, and services that use Kerberos rely solely on the KDC, which runs as a single process and handles both tickets granting and authentication. All parties can authenticate themselves using KDC “tickets” which enables nodes to do so safely. In order to protect the messages, the Kerberos authentication procedure uses a traditional shared secret cryptography. This prevents packets moving across the network from being read or altered.

### What are the Kerberos Authentication steps ? {#kerberos-authentication-steps}

There are 2 servers that enable Kerberos to work. An authentication server, and a ticket-granting server.

1. **Authentication Server :** Confirms that a known user is making an access request and gives a ticket-granting ticket.
2. **Ticket granting Server :** Confirms that a user is making an access request to a known service and gives service tickets.

![Key Destribution Center](/blog/assets/2023/kerberos-sso-authentication-steps.webp)

**Step 1 :** User sends a request to the authentication server mentioning they want to access a service. The Authentication service is validated if the service is coming from a known and grants a TGT: ticket-granting ticket.

**Step 2 :** The authentication server sends the TGT back to the user along with another message encrypted with the user’s secret key.

**Step 3 :** The user decrypts the message with their secret key and sends the TGT with some additional information to the Ticket Granting Server.

**Step 4 :** The ticket-granting server decrypts the TGT, performs some validations, and creates a service ticket (ST). This service ticket with some additional information is sent back to the User.

**Step 5 :** The user decrypts the message, creates some authenticator message, and sends the user authenticator and the service ticket to the service.

**Step 6 :** The service does its decryption, and validation and creates its own final authenticator message. This is sent back to the user. These messages allow the user and the server to mutually authenticate each other and securely distribute a symmetric service session key. This allows both the user and service to communicate, authentication information securely.

### Benefits of Authenticating using Kerberos {#benefits-of-authenticating-with-kerberos}

-   Passwords will never be sent across the network due to its extreme security. Only keys are permitted.
-   Mutual authentication always takes place in order for the client and server to connect simultaneously and converse with the appropriate counterpart.
-   The authentication is always valid and never expires.
-   The internet standard is the only factor that matters.
-   A large portion of the industry has embraced Kerberos since it offers security, and they are glad to employ its security protocol.


Kerberos is a cryptography-based authentication protocol that guards access to applications. This protocol is designed to provide secure authentication over an insecure network.

Kerberos NTLM Windows SSO


### What is LDAP ? {#what-is-ldap}

The Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is a vendor-neutral application protocol that is used to get access & maintain distributed directory information in a well mannered & organized over Intranet or Cloud.

LDAP stores this data by way of records that contain a set of attributes. Think of the attributes like fields in a database. The record itself has a unique identifier, a ‘Distinguished Name’ in LDAP parlance, most often seen as ‘DN.’ This is the unique bit of each entry, kind of like the path to a file on your file system.

### How does LDAP authentication, authorization & access control work? {#how-does-ldap-authentication-authorization-&-access-control-work}

LDAP authentication is a process that validates the username and password against the directories such as Active Directory, Open LDAP. Which groups are a user in? Only users in the detective group should have access to the clues application, so when someone attempts to log in, ensure they are in the proper group before granting access, etc.

But how does one gain access to all of those records? The process is pretty straight forward from a flow perspective:

- A session begins with a client binding to an LDAP server (DSA, Directory System Agent).
- The client then sends an operation request (often a search or compare request, for example) to the server, asking for a particular set of information.
- The server then processes this query and supplies a response.
- The client receives the response and unbinds, then processes the data.

### LDAP Authentication Flow {#ldap-authentication}

![LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) workflow](/blog/assets/2023/ldap-workflow.webp)

Directories, or directory information services, are network databases that store information in data trees. Each entry in the tree includes (among other, less critical components) a distinguished name, a collection of attributes, and a collection of object classes.

For example, Active Directory is the proprietary directory services provider for Windows environments. LDAP is a request-response protocol that allows you to easily interact with directory servers like Active Directory by using specific entry components in order to find, view, or edit information.

### What is Active Directory (AD)? {#what-is-active-directory-ad}

Active Directory is a directory service developed by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It is included in most Windows Server operating systems as a set of processes and services. Initially, Active Directory was only in charge of centralized domain management.

### Active Directory Authentication Flow {#active-directory-authentication-flow}

![active directory (ldap) workflow](/blog/assets/2023/active-directory-ldap-workflow.webp)

### Limitations of Active Directory (AD) {#limitations-of-active-directory-ad}

- Active Directory infrastructure requires extra effort, maintenance and products to integrate with cloud infrastructure.
- Lack of support for Mac and Linux, so it can be burdensome to integrate with these platforms.
- It is found that Active Directory is suitable for large enterprises and hence requires a large infrastructure setup.
- Active Directory has quite high maintenance costs, as you will need Windows Server licenses and you may need to upgrade the hardware on the server so it can run Windows Server.
 

### Benefits of miniOrange LDAP {#benefits-of-miniorange-ldap}

- **Intuitive Interface** : Our Interface is designed keeping in mind the ease of use and provides a consistent user experience for all.
Regular Updates: Updates are provided regularly for better user experience.
- **Easy Setup** : Adequate support and documentation for assisting with the setup.
- **Customizable** : High level of customization and add-ons to support specific requirements.
- **Active Support** : With authentication being an essential function, a fast and priority support ensures that any issues you face on a live production site can be resolved in a timely manner.
- **Custom Pricing**: Reasonably priced with various plans tailored to suit your needs.

### Further Readings {#further-readings}

- [miniOrange LDAP Gateway](https://www.miniorange.com/miniorange-ldap-gateway)
- [Directory Services](https://www.miniorange.com/products/directory-services)
- [Windows Single Sign On](https://www.miniorange.com/windows-single-sign-on)


LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is a vendor-neutral application protocol that is used to get access & maintain distributed directory information in an organized manner over Intranet or Cloud. LDAP authentication work by validating the username and password against the directories such as Active Directory.

What is LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol)?


Sensitive data in a company's infrastructure, if left vulnerable by securing with just traditional usernames and passwords, is prone to cyber attacks. This calls for the need for a more secure method of authentication. What if you have many methods to choose from in order to make it more challenging for a user to login to their accounts? This is where multiple authentication methods from multi-factor authentication (MFA) come into play.

In this article, we will learn about MFA, its working, authentication methods, use cases, benefits, miniOrange MFA, and future trends.


### What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) in Cybersecurity? {#what-is-mfa}

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a security method requiring multiple credentials to verify a user's identity. It enhances security, protects against cyber threats, aids regulatory compliance, and can be user-friendly.  

  
MFA adds an extra authentication layer to access resources, requiring users to authenticate with two or more factors beyond usernames and passwords. These factors can include OTP over SMS/email, push notifications, or Google/Microsoft authenticator.  



### Why Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)? {#why-use-mfa}

Users often make it easier for hackers by choosing weak passwords, reusing passwords across multiple applications, storing them insecurely, and not updating them regularly. These practices may help users remember their credentials but also make it easier for hackers to gain access.  

  

The 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report found that 81% of account breaches were due to leaked or weak passwords (e.g., "password," "admin").  

- 92% of organizations have credentials for sale on the Dark Web.
- 81% of data breaches are the result of weak or stolen passwords.
- 90% of passwords can be cracked in less than six hours.

These factors underscore the importance of using Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). By combining your username and password with MFA, your access becomes more secure.  

In our work with various organizations, we've seen the devastating impact of security breaches caused by weak authentication methods. For example, a major healthcare provider we consulted suffered a significant data breach due to compromised passwords, resulting in millions of dollars in damages and loss of patient trust. Implementing MFA could have prevented this incident.


### How Does MFA Work? {#how-does-mfa-work}

Drawing from our experience in implementing MFA systems for Fortune 500 companies, we can attest to the effectiveness of this layered approach. For example, when a user attempts to access a protected resource:  

1. They enter their username and password (first factor).
2. The system then prompts for a second factor, such as a fingerprint scan or a one-time code sent to their smartphone.
3. Only after successfully providing both factors is access granted.  


As the user attempts to gain access to a specific resource, they are prompted with multiple authentication factors instead of only one. The user credentials are then verified by a core identity provider (IdP) or directory services platform, and the user gains access to the requested resource. Most MFA systems use a one-time passcode (OTP) for each login attempt. miniOrange offers 15+ MFA methods, which we will cover later in this blog.  

 

### Multi-Factor Authentication Methods {#mfa-methods}

Multi-Factor Authentication takes the help of these factors to authenticate a particular individual.    

1. **Knowledge factor** is something that a user remembers, like "first password," "first school name," "a pin," etc.
2. **Possession factor** is something the user has, such as a mobile device, smartphone app, or security token to approve authentication requests.
3. **Inherence factor**, mainly referred to as a biometric factor, is something different in the user's physical self. These could also be personal attributes like fingerprint, retina, or voice.
4. **Location factor** usually denotes the location from which an authentication attempt is being made. Location-based MFA methods can limit user access when a user breaks out from the given location.
5. **The time factor** restricts user authentication to a specific time panel in which logging on is granted and restricts access to the system outside of that window. In simpler terms, we called it time-based OTP (TOTP). Mobile apps like Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator, and miniOrange Authenticator provide a key code that's time-dependent up to limited seconds.  

In our work with financial institutions, we've found that a combination of possession and inherence factors provides the highest level of security.


### Multi-Factor Authentication vs. Two-Factor Authentication {#mfa-vs-2fa}
  

|Aspect   |  MFA  |  2FA  |
|---------|-------|-------|
|Definition| An authentication method that requires two or more factors of authentication. | An authentication method that requires exactly two factors of authentication. |
| Subset | MFA is a broader term that includes 2FA as a subset. | 2FA is a specific type of MFA that uses exactly two factors. |
| Security | MFA is considered to be more secure because it uses multiple layers of authentication. |2FA can still be vulnerable if one of the factors is compromised. However, it’s still a highly secure protocol. |
| Ease of Use | MFA might be more complex to implement and use due to the involvement of more than two factors. | [2FA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)) is often easier to implement and use as it involves only two factors. |
| Examples | Entering a password (something you know), verifying a code sent to your smartphone (something you have), and scanning your fingerprint (something you are). | Entering a password and then confirming your identity through a code sent to your mobile phone.|  

  


### Authentication Challenges for the User in Multi-factor Authentication {#authentication-challenges-for-user-in-mfa}

Users who have to remember multiple passwords will find it difficult to use MFA if they add security features. MFA aims to simplify MFA for users. These are some main approaches to simplifying MFA.  

**[Adaptive MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa)**

This applies business rules and policies to user-based elements such as location or device. A corporate VPN may know that a user can sign in from their home, seeing their location and assessing the risk of misuse or compromise. An employee accessing the VPN through a coffee shop can trigger the system, and you will be required to enter MFA credentials.  

  
**Push Notification**

This method allows the security system to issue a third, single-use ID code to the user's smartphone. To access a secure system, users can enter their user ID or password. A security system will then issue a third single-use code to their mobile devices. To gain access, users must enter the code into the system. Push authentication makes MFA easier by giving users the third code. This eliminates the need for them to remember it.  


### Multi-Factor Authentication Use Cases {#mfa-usecases}


**MFA over VPN**

A global organization with a distributed workforce implements [multi-factor Authentication (MFA) over its VPN](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/vpn-mfa-multi-factor-authentication) to enhance security.This implementation not only strengthens security but also improves operational efficiency and regulatory compliance. It's a robust solution for securing remote network access, making it a worthwhile investment for companies looking to enhance their VPN security.  

miniOrange MFA over VPN is a robust solution for securing remote network access. It supports a range of VPNs, including Cisco, Palo Alto, Fortinet, SonicWall, and OpenVPN, making it a worthwhile investment for companies looking to enhance their VPN security.  

&nbsp;  

**MFA for Windows**

Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Windows enhances security for logon and [Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)]sessions. The process involves configuring the RADIUS client/server in miniOrange, setting up the Windows VPN client, and enabling 2FA for end users, with options like Google Authenticator.  

The Windows MFA solution integrates with Active Directory/LDAP for identity management and offers customizable MFA policies based on roles, groups, or applications. It supports device-based and cross-domain MFA, allowing logins for accounts on any trusted domain or local Windows accounts. Offline MFA ensures security even when disconnected from the internet using soft tokens, authenticator apps, and backup codes.  

&nbsp;  


**MFA for Web Apps**

Our MFA can be enabled for any of your [web apps](https://faq.miniorange.com/knowledgebase/how-to-enable-2fa-mfa-for-a-particular-app/) anywhere on the internet to ensure a secure and efficient way of accessing your critical resources. miniOrange offers MFA for a wide range of web applications running on cloud, on-premise servers, or in hybrid environments.

Enhances MFA security across cloud (SAAS), on-premises, and in-house apps, supporting protocols like SAML, Radius, OpenID, and JWT. Integrate MFA seamlessly with in-house web apps.  

&nbsp; 


**MFA for Network Devices**  

Implement MFA security for firewalls, switches, routers, and other [network devices](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/secure-network-devices)with the miniOrange MFA solution that extends beyond VPNs and fortifies your entire corporate network.  

Leverage Radius & TACACS protocols with miniOrange to encrypt switches and routers based on your network's hardware capabilities and add Multi-Factor Authentication to enhance the security posture. Bonus point is that miniOrange MFA is deployed without requiring any external proxy.  

&nbsp;  

**MFA for Office 365**

Microsoft provides MFA only via their default application with limited MFA methods, and you cannot configure any additional MFA authentication method. In some cases, you need to spend an enormous amount for licensing and user differentiation, and if you need to activate or deactivate for the particular user you have. However, with miniOrange [MFA for Office 365](https://www.miniorange.com/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)-for-office-365) it is possible to add more MFA methods.  

miniOrange MFA integration for Microsoft Applications allows you to use [Yubikey](https://www.miniorange.in/iam/content-library/admin-docs/configure-multi-factor-authentication#:~:text=a%202FA%20method.-,YubiKey%20Hardware%20Token,-%22YubiKey%20hardware%20Token) (or the other method from 15+ available MFA methods) as the multi-factor to login into your Office 365 or any of your Microsoft Applications.  



### Benefits of MFA {#benefits-of-mfa}
Implementing MFA isn't just about security—it's a strategic move that safeguards your company's most valuable digital assets. Beyond thwarting cyber threats, MFA demonstrates a commitment to data integrity that can bolster client trust and give you a competitive edge as we enter a security-conscious market.  

1. **Compliance**: [Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) helps organizations meet regulatory requirements and industry standards. By implementing MFA, companies can ensure they are compliant with data protection laws and regulations, reducing the risk of legal penalties, meeting the requirements for cybersecurity insurance, and enhancing their reputation.
2. **Enhanced Security**: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) decreases the probability that an attacker can mimic a user and may gain access to the system. miniOrange MFA solution allows users to log in using username and OTP, thus preventing the necessity to enter the password.
3. **More Productivity and Flexibility**: Organizations are accepting mobility because it helps in increasing productivity. Employees can securely login and access corporate applications and resources from virtually any device and from any location, without putting the corporate network at risk.
4. **Reduced Operating Costs**: Implementing MFA reduces the probability of data breaches, resulting in reduced investment.  

In a recent case study involving a mid-sized technology firm, our implementation of MFA resulted in:  

- 99.9% reduction in account compromise incidents
- 30% decrease in IT support calls related to account lockouts
- $500,000 annual savings in potential breach-related costs  

These results underscore the tangible benefits of MFA in real-world scenarios.


### miniOrange MFA Solutions {#miniorange-mfa-solutions}

#### **Key Features of [miniOrange MFA Solutions](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-solutions):**  

#### **Zero Trust Authentication**
The Zero Trust approach within 2FA helps to create an effective environment, policies, and infrastructure to minimize data breaches.

#### **Support for Cloud and On-premise**
Flexible deployment options, like on-premise and cloud. Seamlessly integrates into your organization's existing environment.

#### **Offline Authentication**
Allow users to log in even if there is no internet available by using offline 2FA methods such as soft tokens and security questions.

#### **Passwordless Authentication**
2FA login for users using just username and OTP/TOTP, thus preventing the need to enter password.

#### **Role-based 2FA**
Admin can enable or disable 2FA for a specific user role and for any particular application.

#### **User Self Enrollment**
It offers inline registration of users, so you'll simply activate and setup 2FA, and you're ready.

#### **Custom SMS/EMAIL Gateway & Templates**
Templates for SMS and email that are sent to users containing OTPs for authentication are also completely customizable.

#### **Reporting and Auditing**
Stay informed on all user logins. Get complete reports on all user activities in a single dashboard: session management, user monitoring, user login audit, user & admin activity reports, etc.



### Future Ready: MFA Trends to Mitigate Automated Cyberattacks {#future-ready}

The more the data, the more is the need to protect it. This implies that cybersecurity is a journey, not a destination. And at the heart of this journey is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). It's evolving, becoming smarter and more intuitive. Imagine logging in with just your fingerprint, facial recognition, or even your typing speed!  

But it's not just about convenience. MFA is a powerful shield against cyber threats. In fact, it blocks 99.9% of automated attacks. That's why, whether you're a start-up or a big corporation, MFA is a must-have for your security toolkit.  

And when it comes to MFA, miniOrange is your trusted companion. We're here to guide you through the increasing threats in cybersecurity, ensuring your digital identity is always protected. With miniOrange, you're not just safe; you're future-ready. [Connect with us](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa#request-demo) for your MFA-related queries and use cases today.  

&nbsp;  


### Further Reading {#further-reading} 

- [What is Adaptive Authentication in IAM?](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa)
- [What are the benefits of Passwordless Authentication?](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/passwordless-authentication)
- [Drupal Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)](https://plugins.miniorange.com/drupal-two-factor-authentication-2fa)
- [Securing VPN with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/vpn-mfa-multi-factor-authentication)

Explore multi-factor authentication (MFA) methods, their concept, and their use cases. Learn about miniOrange multi-factor authentication.

What is Multi-factor Authentication for Improved Identity Security?


### What is SSO? {#what-is-sso}

**Single Sign-On (SSO)** is an authentication process in which a user is provided access to multiple applications and/or websites by using only a single set of login credentials (such as username and password). This prevents the need for the user to log separately into the different applications.

The user credentials and other identifying information are stored and managed by a centralized system called Identity Provider (IdP). The Identity Provider is a trusted system that provides access to other websites and applications.

Single Sign-On (SSO) based authentication systems are commonly used in enterprise environments where employees require access to multiple applications/websites of their organizations. In this scenario, the Single Sign-On service provider uses the organization’s directory, such as Microsoft Active Directory, [Azure Active Directory](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-azure-active-directory/), or a directory provided by the Single Sign-On solution itself for authenticating users and providing access to the various applications/websites.

### How does Single Sign-On (SSO) work? {#how-does-single-sign-on-sso-work}

![Single Sign On Workflow](/blog/assets/2023/sso-workflow.webp)

The authentication process using miniOrange Single Sign-On (SSO) takes place as described in the following steps:

- The user requests a resource from their desired application/website.
- The application/website redirects the user to miniOrange (Identity Provider) for authentication.
- The user signs in with their miniOrange credentials if no external IdP is configured. If you have an existing Identity Provider (SAML, OAuth/OpenID Connect, etc), miniOrange redirects the user to the existing Identity Provider for authentication.
- The IdP sends a Single Sign-On response to miniOrange.
- miniOrange returns a Single Sign-On response back to the client application/website and
- The application/website grants access to the user.

Now, the user can access all other applications/websites which are configured for SSO. If the user wants to access a resource from another application/website, the application/website checks whether the user has an active session with miniOrange.

### Single Sign-On (SSO) Components {#single-sign-on-sso-components}

- **Identity provider** - User Identity information is stored and managed by a centralized system called Identity Provider (IdP). The Identity Provider authenticates the user and provides access to the service provider. The identity provider can directly authenticate the user by validating a username and password or by validating an assertion about the user’s identity as presented by a separate identity provider.
The identity provider handles the management of user identities in order to free the service provider from this responsibility.
- **Service Provider** - A service provider provides services to the end-user. They rely on identity providers to assert the identity of a user, and typically certain attributes about the user are managed by the identity provider. Service providers may also maintain a local account for the user along with attributes that are unique to their service.
- **Identity Broker** - An identity broker acts as an intermediary that connects multiple service providers with various different identity providers. Using Identity Broker, you can perform single sign-on over any applications without the hassle about the protocol it follows. No need to understand or implement complex SSO protocols like SAML, OpenID, OAuth, CAS or any other. Instead, you can just call the HTTP endpoints and access any identities. The important reason why we should use Identity Broker is that it supports Cross Protocol i.e. configuring Service Provider following a particular protocol with an Identity Provider following some different protocol.

### Key factors to know before implementing SSO {#key-factors-to-know-before-implementing-sso}

Single Sign-On solution is implemented according to the requirements of the client. The implementation will differ from user to user regarding their objectives & needs. That being the case, there are some key factors you should keep in mind before implementing SSO for your system.

- Types of users: If they are permanent/temporary, the number of users should be kept in mind.
- Access: Proper authorization should be given to users according to their designation and or requirements.
- Platform: According to your needs choose whether you want On premises solution or a Cloud Based solution.
- Features: What features are you looking for to ensure only trusted users are logging in? MFA, Adaptive Authentication, Device Trust, IP Address Whitelisting, etc. should be considered. 
- What systems do you need to integrate with?
- Keep educating your employees about password best practices. Let them know what SSO is and how you make the best use of it.

### Benefits of Single Sign-On (SSO) {#benefits-of-single-sign-On-sso}

**How SSO can benefit users?**

- Ease of use: Users only need to remember one set username & password. Eliminating the inconvenience of managing, remembering, and resetting multiple passwords, thus improving productivity with higher conversion rates.
- Transparency: Users know what’s being shared from one system to another. They have all the access to their sensitive information and whom to share it with.
- Ease of access: With Single Sign-On, users don’t have to go through lengthy sign-up and authorization processes.

**How SSO can benefit business?**

- Increased productivity: Employees need access to many apps throughout their workday. They have to spend some time logging in to all those apps with the added difficulty of remembering all the passwords. With Single Sign-On, users can enter just one password to access all of their apps, skip all that extra time spent logging in and use that time more productively.
- Reduced IT cost: Enabling SSO allows users to manage individual dashboards and self-reset passwords, which eliminates the necessity of IT support, saves admin time on password resets and supports tickets to focus on more important tasks. This indirectly helps in reducing IT costs.
- Security and compliance: Security and Compliance factors enforce organizations to prove that they have taken adequate security measures to protect sensitive data. Single Sign-On helps with regulatory compliance to meet data access and security risk protection requirements.
- More user sign-ups: SSO provides a lower barrier to entry, so new customers can sign up easily and securely, by relying on a known brand. Trust is increased, which increases conversions.
- Improves security capabilities: SSO authentication ensures that only authorized users get access to sensitive data. With Single Sign-On you can Implement password policies like Password length, complexity, restrictions on password reuse, session timeout and self-service password reset policy to strengthen security without holding up your users access.
- Efficient Collaboration: Large organizations and enterprises develop their own Single Sign-On solutions so that it is easy to share data, files, and other information across multiple applications. This makes the sharing and collaboration process faster and less expensive.

In short, implementing an SSO solution can make life easier for your users as well as benefits your business.

### What are the limitations of SSO? {#What are the limitations of SSO?}

**1. Single Password Vulnerability**: If your SSO password gets compromised, the security for all the supported apps/websites gets compromised. For example, if a user’s Google Apps password gets stolen by a hacker, the entire range of Google apps like Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive, etc will be accessible to the hacker.

**2. Slow Process**: The authentication process using Single Sign-On is slower than traditional authentication where each app/website maintains its own database containing user data. This happens because, for every authentication attempt by the user, the application/website has to request the Single Sign-On provider for the user’s verification data.

### Is SSO Secure? {#is-sso-secure}

When single sign-on best practices are followed, a reliable SSO solution can hugely improve security. It ensures that:

- IT teams can leverage SSO to protect users with consistent security policies that adapt to their behavior while simplifying the management of usernames and passwords.
- Built-in security tools automatically identify and block malicious login attempts, improving the safety of business networks.
- Organizations can deploy security tools like [MFA](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa/) in tandem with SSO, and can quickly oversee user access rights and privileges.

In addition, an SSO solution from a proven provider should give companies peace of mind through verified security protocols and service at scale.

### Why is Single Sign-On used by Organizations? {#why-is-single-sign-on-used-by-organizations}

Using **Single Sign-On services for authentication** allows organizations to delegate storage and management of user credentials to a centralized system. This prevents the hassle of managing user data and passwords.

Enterprise SSO products provide authentication to a large number of third-party applications without the need to modify the applications in any way. This turn-key feature makes it easy for organizations to migrate to SSO based authentication.

**Single Sign-On can be used in the below scenarios**

- **Authentication Using Federated Identity**: If an enterprise makes use of a third-party identity provider, federated identity (SAML) is preferred for user authentication in cloud-based as well as on-premise applications. In this case, a user attempting access to an application is redirected to an SSO based service provider which requests the identity provider for verification of the user’s identity.
- **Authentication for On-Premise Enterprise Applications**: Enterprises make use of multiple applications for various tasks. SSO can be used as a central point of authentication using a single set of login credentials for providing access to all the different enterprise applications.

**Enterprise Single Sign-On**

Enterprise Single Sign-On products basically store user credentials like username and password and automatically replay them each time a user attempts to access an enterprise application. This allows the SSO product to be used with a vast range of third party applications as the application itself does not need to be modified in any way to work with the SSO system.

**Social Single Sign-On**

Popular social networking applications like Twitter, Facebook, Google offer SSO services that allow users to log in to third-party applications with their respective social network credentials. This is very convenient for the users since they already have their information in their social media accounts and they are also logged in most of the time. But using social media SSO services also presents security risks since hackers around the world are always targeting user accounts on social networking websites.

### What is an SSO token? {#what-is-an-sso-token}

An **SSO** token is a collection of data or information that is passed from one system to another during the Single Sign On process. The data can simply be a user’s email address and information about which system is sending the token. Tokens must be digitally signed for the token receiver to verify that the token is coming from a trusted source. The certificate that is used for this digital signature is exchanged during the initial configuration process.

### Types of Single Sign-On (SSO) Protocols {#types-of-single-sign-On-sso-protocols}

**SAML**
Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) is an open standard which contains user identity and attributes information in the form of an XML document. This XML document is digitally signed by the Identity provider and shared with the Service provider during the user authentication process.

**OAuth 2.0**
OAuth2 allows third party applications to authorize users by providing an access token. The access token prevents external applications from getting the user’s password and other data. The application can only access limited user information which is permitted by the user themselves.

**OpenID Connect**
OpenID Connect is an identity layer that operates on top of OAuth 2.0. It provides basic profile information about the end-user by specifying RESTful APIs that use JSON as a data format.

**LDAP**
LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is a protocol that enables anyone to locate organizations, individuals and other resources such as files and devices in a network. The network can be the Internet or a corporate intranet.

**RADIUS**
RADIUS stands for Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service. It is a client/server protocol that enables remote access servers to communicate with a central server to authenticate dial-in users and authorize their access to the requested system or service.

**WS-Federation**
WS-Federation (Web Services Federation) is an SSO protocol that is commonly used for authentication with Microsoft services like Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) and Azure Active Directory. It defines mechanisms that are used to enable sharing of identity and account attributes, user authentication and authorization across applications.

**CAS**
The Central Authentication Service (CAS) is a single sign-on protocol for web applications. Its purpose is to allow a user to access multiple websites by using a single set of credentials only once.

### Related Articles {#related-articles}

- [Single Sign-On (SSO) Solution](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso)
- [Cloud Single Sign-On (SSO) Solution](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/cloud-sso)
- [Single Sign-On Integration](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/)
- [WordPress SAML Single Sign-On](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-single-sign-on-sso)
- [WordPress OAuth Single Sign-On](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-sso)

What is single sign-on (sso) and how it works? also learn types of sso,its benefits, and challenges for securing your apps with it.

What is Single Sign-On (SSO) and How does SSO Work?


### What is SAML? {#what-is-saml}

SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) is an open standard that enables Identity Providers (IdPs) to send **authorization** credentials to service providers (SP).

For standardized interactions between the identity provider and service providers, transactions through this protocol use **Extensible Markup Language (XML)**. It is the link between a user’s identity authentication and their authorization to use a service.

SAML permits [Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-single-sign-on-sso/). You may enable seamless access to resources and minimize unsafe password proliferation by making a variety of sites available with only one set of login credentials.

SAML 2.0 was adopted by the OASIS Consortium in 2005. The standard has evolved dramatically since 1.1, to the point that the versions are incompatible. Adoption of this protocol helps IT businesses to deploy SaaS solutions while still maintaining a secure federated identity management system.

### How does SAML work? {#how-does-saml-work}

The identity provider and service providers exchange information about users, logins, and characteristics via [SAML](https://www.miniorange.com/what-is-saml). When a user seeks to access services using Single Sign-On, the identity provider can provide SAML characteristics to the service provider. The service provider asks the identity provider for authorization and authentication. The user just has to log in once because both systems use the same language, SAML.

Each identity provider and service provider need to agree upon the configuration for SAML. Both IdP and SP need to have the exact configuration for a successful authentication flow.

![SAML Workflow](/blog/assets/2023/saml-flow.webp)

### What is OAuth?  {#what-is-oauth}

OAuth which stands for “Open Authorization” is a technological standard for granting user permissions. It’s a method of transmitting **authorization** from one service to another without revealing the user’s actual credentials, such as username and password. A user can sign in on one platform and then be granted permission to execute activities and see data on another using OAuth. For authentication tokens, it utilizes its own XML documentation, although it can alternatively use **JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)**.

It is a popular mechanism for passing authorization from a single sign-on (SSO) provider to another cloud application, although it may be used between any two apps. Even if this is one of the most actively used protocols, other protocols can also accomplish this purpose. 

OAuth 2.0 is a significantly redesigned version of OAuth 1.0, using a different methodology. In the newer version, the consumer, service provider, and user roles of the older version are replaced by a client, authorization server, resource server, and resource owner roles.

### How does OAuth work? {#how-does-oauth-work}

An OAuth Access Token transaction requires three players: the end-user, the application (API), and the resource (service provider that has your login credentials). The transaction starts when the user specifies that he or she wants to utilize the API.

**Application asks permission**: By submitting the user’s confirmed identity as proof, the application or API (application program interface) requests authorization from the resource.

**Application requests Access Token**: Without having to provide usernames or passwords, the resource grants an Access Token to the API when the authorization has been validated.

**Application accesses resource**: Tokens come with API access permissions.  Permissions are called scopes, and each token has an approved scope for each API. The application can only access the resource to the degree that the scope permits.

![OAuth Workflow](/blog/assets/2023/oauth-flow.webp)

### SAML vs OAuth {#saml-vs-oauth} 

**Similarities:**

Both of these authentication approaches allow SSO to eliminate unwanted usernames and passwords and also are based on open standards for verifying identities and granting access to protected resources via centralized administration. Easy enrollment and delegated user management help IT admins. The standards may even be mutually beneficial and promote interoperability. Authentication servers, for example, can acquire authorization grants from SAML-trusted IdPs via the OAuth assertion flow.

**Differences:**

While considering SAML vs OAuth, following two tools are used for distinct tasks:

- Authentication: The identity of the user is involved in this procedure. SAML works similarly to a home key. It allows you to use the facility.
- Authorization: The privileges of a user are involved in this procedure. OAuth is similar to the home rules that govern what a person can and cannot do while they are inside.

**SAML Use Case:**

SAML is commonly used for Single Sign-On in government and corporate applications (identity management), in which XML processing is widespread. Many government citizen ID programs use SAML (for example, UK Verify).

This protocol is used to manage users from a central location. You use this when you connect to your office computer and network. To get access to the network, users only need to input their credentials once.

**OAuth Use Case:**

Both in authorization and authentication roles, OAuth 2.0 is extensively utilized in user and corporate applications. It’s most commonly used to authorize access to RESTful APIs, where the usage of access tokens makes it simple and easy.

This protocol is also used to allow you to access one service from another without having to re-enter your login credentials. It is done by allowing you to use your credentials from one service to another.

The most prevalent use case for OAuth in the corporate world is in combination with Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions. It may be used to authorize users to use an application.
 
When we compare SAML vs OAuth, both are mutually beneficial. By using SAML to offer **access to an application** while utilizing OAuth to grant **access to a protected resource**, you may utilize both protocols at the same time. With either protocol or a mix of the two, you may use an identity provider or single sign-on (SSO) service accordingly.

### FAQ {#faq} 

**Is SAML based on OAuth?**

In contrast to JWT, SAML is not dependent on OAuth and instead relies on an exchange of messages to validate in XML format. It’s more typically used to allow business users to log in to various apps with a single password. Security Assertion Markup Language is used for the authorization while OAuth is used for the authentication process.


**Is OAuth more secure than SAML?**

Open Authentication, or OAuth, is another AuthN/AuthZ mechanism for safe authentication. In comparison to SAML, it is more focused on access scoping. Once an identity has been validated, access scoping is the practice of granting just the bare minimum of access to the resource/app that the identity requires.

SAML is meant to focus on corporate security, but OAuth is often not a viable solution for securing a company of hundreds or thousands of employees since it lacks encryption and relies on secure sockets layer/transport layer security (SSL/TLS) protocols for security.


**Where is SSO used? SAML or OAuth?**

Single Sign-On is possible with both SAML and OAuth, although their applications are vastly different.  However, SAML is more user-specific, whereas OAuth is more application-specific. Both protocols approach it from different angles. The goal of SAML is to federate identities and eliminate the complexity of authentication. OAuth, on the other hand, allows a user who has previously been authenticated to delegate authority to another user. Each technique can be used as part of a larger authentication and authorization process, either in combination or in collaboration with other technologies.


### Further Reading {#further-reading} 

- [What is SAML?](https://www.miniorange.com/what-is-saml)
- [What is OAuth (Open Authorization)?](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-oauth-2/)
- [What is an Identity Provider (IDP)?](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-an-identity-provider-idp/)
- [Single Sign-On (SSO)?](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-single-sign-on-sso/)
- [WordPress SAML Single Sign-On](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-single-sign-on-sso)
- [WordPress OAuth Single sign-On](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-sso)

Learn about what are the differences between SAML and OAuth? SAML vs OAuth definition, workflow, similarities, differences, use cases.

What is the difference between SAML and OAuth?


### Rise of Cybersecurity Threats to Banks and Financial Institutions {#rise-of-cybersecurity-threats-to-banks-and-financial-institutions}

It is estimated that the cost of cyber attacks in the banking sector has increased dramatically, reaching 15.4 million euros per firm yearly. Protecting the assets of the consumer is the main goal of cybersecurity in digital banking. More and more activities or transactions are being done online as more and more businesses are going cashless. Cyber crimes in digital banking have an impact on both the customer and the banks. Banks have to invest a substantial sum of money and resources in order to be able to recover data. Along with that banks also lose their customer’s trust when such issues arise. 

![Cyber Security Threats](/blog/assets/2023/cyber-security-threats.webp)

Banking security experts today need to be familiar with a dizzying array of terminologies and methods, including Trojans, Rock Phish, phishing, pharming, spear phishing, session hijacking, man-in-the-middle, and man-in-the-browser attacks. Obtaining private user data like usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, and social security numbers is the common goal of most attack tactics, despite the diversity of the attacks. The issue stems from the fact that these credentials are all static but never change. Once obtained, the attacker can use them to pose as the customer and commit fraud.

Even though the end-consumer suffers losses, card issuers and banks will face the majority of the burden, including refunding the customer, dealing with refund fees/fines, and investigative expenses, which frequently result in reputation loss.

Thus, banks and financial institutions must have strong cybersecurity technology know-how because data breaches may make it difficult for people to trust financial institutions.  If banks don’t take appropriate steps to safeguard users’ data, then it can be readily compromised resulting in many issues, such as fraud.

### Why is MFA required for Banks and Financial Institutions? {#why-is-mfa-required-for-banks-and-financial-institutions}

The biggest drawback of using the traditional user ID and password logins is that the passwords can be easily stolen by hackers which can cause millions of dollars in damages. Brute-force cyber attacks are a serious concern since cyber criminals can use automated password cracking tools to try different login and password combinations until they discover the proper combination. Although locking an account after a specific number of unsuccessful login attempts might aid with organisation security, hackers have access to a variety of different ways to get access to systems. This is why implementing Multi-factor Authentication is crucial for an organization as it can greatly reduce cybersecurity-related risks.

Multifactor authentication is a security measure that requires users to provide more than one piece of evidence to verify their identity. This can include something that the user knows, like a password or PIN, something that the user has, like a security token or key, or something that the user is, like a fingerprint or iris scan.

By requiring multiple forms of authentication, banks and financial institutions can make it much harder for unauthorized individuals to access sensitive data and assets. Multifactor authentication can also make it easier to track and manage user access, as each user will need to have their own unique set of authentication factors.

There are a few different ways that banks and financial institutions can implement multifactor authentication. Banks and financial institutions should carefully consider which authentication factors to use and how to best implement multifactor authentication in order to protect their data and assets. Let’s have a look at the different types of MFA methods.

 
### Types of MFA methods {#types-of-mfa-methods}

The three most fundamental categories or authentication factors are Something you know, also known as the knowledge factor; something you have, sometimes known as the possession element; and something you are, also known as the inherence factor.

- **Knowledge factor**: Answering a personal security question is often required for knowledge-based authentication. Passwords, four-digit personal identification numbers (PINs), and one-time passwords are the most common knowledge factor technologies (OTPs).
- **Possession factor**: Users must have something specific in their possession in order to log in, such as a badge, token, key or phone subscriber identity module (SIM) card. For mobile authentication, a smartphone often provides the possession factor in conjunction with an OTP app.
The most common possession factor user scenarios include mobile authentication, where users receive a code via their smartphone to gain or grant access. These include text messages and phone calls sent to a user as an out-of-band method, and smartphone OTP apps.
- **Inherence factor**: Any biological characteristics that are verified for login by the user. 

The following biometric verification techniques are included in inheritance factor technologies: 

- retina/iris scan
- fingerprint scan
- facial recognition
- voice recognition   

### Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for SWIFT Banking Application {#multi-factor-authentication-mfa-for-swift-banking-application}

The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, or SWIFT, is the world’s top provider of secure financial messaging services. SWIFT is a global banking application that is used by thousands of banks and financial institutions around the world on a daily basis.

The SWIFT infrastructure is used to securely transmit more than 40 million financial communications each day. It allows the transfer of trillions of dollars of cross-border payments between 11,000 financial institutions in more than 200 countries with each member having its own SWIFT code. 

SWIFT has been the target of attacks in recent years, with criminals attempting to send fraudulent messages through the system. MFA can help protect against these types of attacks by requiring the user to provide more than just a password to log in and greatly reduce the risk of an unauthorized individual trying to access a critical banking application like SWIFT.

### miniOrange’s MFA Solution {#miniOrange-mfa-solution}

miniOrange provides an advanced [MFA solution](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) that ensures the correct identity has access to your sensitive information.

![MFA Workflow](/blog/assets/2023/mfa-workflow.webp)

### MFA methods supported by miniOrange {#mfa-methods-supported-by-miniorange}

miniOrange supports [15+ authentication methods](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-methods) that include:

- **SMS and Phone Callback**: Receive a text on your mobile with the information required to validate yourself for the second factor.
- **MFA Apps**: Receive a Time-based OTP Token (TOTP) by an external authentication app such as Google/Microsoft authenticator for secure login.
- **miniOrange Authenticator App**: Use the miniOrange authenticator to get your login information in the form of a soft token, push notification or a QR code.
- **Email**: Get your login information such as login links and password keys on your registered email address.
- **Hardware Token**: Use a physical USB token on your computer, which generates the required information to gain access.
- **Security Questions**: Answer a few knowledge-based security questions which are only known to you to authenticate yourself.

### Adaptive Authentication/Risk-based Authentication {#adaptive-authentication-risk-based-authentication}

miniOrange provides an advanced form of Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) known as Adaptive Authentication.

[Adaptive Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa) (Risk-Based Authentication) is a process of selecting the right authentication factors depending on a user’s risk profile defined and tends to adapt to the type of authorization factors.

Adaptive MFA authentication prompts for Multi-Authentication (MFA) based on the user’s behaviour, device IP, and geo-location, resulting in the highest degree of protection. Simply stating, authentication techniques are changed based on real-time circumstances. 

Every login attempt does not have to go through 2FA with risk-based authentication. Instead, each and every transaction is analyzed and risk-assessed. In addition, a risk score is provided to determine if the transaction can be completed safely.

For example, when an employee of the bank tries to access a critical application such as SWIFT, adaptive authentication determines the risk levels based on the user’s role, resource significance, location, time of day, and also the day of the week. Based on their behaviour over time, the system may maintain track of users’ normal activities. Automatic rules will be defined based on behaviour, and authentication will be prompted accordingly. This helps to strongly verify and give access only to the required users.

### Benefits of miniOrange MFA Solution {#benefits-of-miniOrange-mfa-solution}

- Enhanced Security
- Fraud Prevention
- Real-time Restriction Methods based on user attributes like:
  - IP address
  - Device ID
  - Geo-location
  - Time of access
- Improved User Trust
- Reduced Management Cost
- Increased Productivity and Flexibility
- Adaptability for Different Use-Cases

### Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Guidelines {#reserve-bank-of-india-rbi-guidelines}

Since October 1, 2021, India’s Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made MFA essential for transactions involving automatic recurring payments such as phone top-up, DTH, OTT, and utility bills.

Instead of the earlier, more straightforward auto-debit rules, the new regulations, which went into effect on October 1, 2021, required customers to give their consent for every recurring payment of over Rs 5,000 and to go through a two-factor authentication process each time a payment is to be made.

Banks now have to notify consumers in advance of any regular payments that are due and only deduct the money after verification, per these new regulations. Additionally, for recurring payments of more than Rs. 5000, banks are required to issue a one-time password (OTP).

The rules were put in place to make digital payments for customers safe and secure.

RBI has provided guidelines for implementing multi-factor authentication. You can find more information on these rules here.

### How miniOrange implemented MFA for Punjab National Bank (PNB) {#how-miniOrange-implemented-mfa-for-punjab-national-bank-pnb}

As a multinational bank that is government-run, privacy is a crucial factor in every transaction. PNB ran into an issue with the Swift Application’s design inside its department that handled global transactions. International transactions necessitate the use of foreign currencies. Several SAML-compliant apps were used to manage these currencies. Even though PNB had a private network for these apps, they only had their Active Directory-based username and password authentication to verify the user identities of the workers.

As a result, a number of apps were open to unauthorized access by people or other entities that might exploit current user IDs to log into the applications. This can be extremely damaging to the organisation and its clients. PNB decided that these apps needed the Second Factor of Authentication to close these vulnerabilities in their system. Users would authenticate twice, first with their current Active Directory credentials and again with a different set of values from OTP, Google authenticator, hardware tokens, and other sources, increasing their security.

miniOrange provided PNB with an On-Premise solution for Two-Factor Authentication. This solution was critical in increasing security and preventing unauthorized access to critical applications.

You can read more on how miniOrange provided a custom MFA solution based on PNB’s requirements here.

### Conclusion {#further-reading}

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) can be an important security measure for banks and financial institutions. MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide more than one form of authentication. It ensures that only the right people have access to the valuable assets and information of a bank or financial institution.

MFA is needed for banks to protect against various online threats, such as phishing attacks, account takeovers and several others. In this digital age, it is more important than ever to have the proper security measures in place to protect your business and customers. MFA is one of the most effective ways to protect your organization from cyber-crime.

You can sign up for a free trial account to test miniOrange’s MFA solution here or if you would like to see a demo of our MFA solution click here.

MFA for Banks and Financial Institutions adds an extra layer of security which ensures that only the right people have access to the valuable assets and information.

Why is Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) necessary for Banks and Financial Institutions?


## 5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs Multifactor Authentication

![Need of MFA](/blog/assets/2023/need-of-mfa.webp)

In today’s technological age, along with keeping up with the latest trends in technology, businesses need to make sure that their cybersecurity and data protection measures are up to par. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced companies to adopt remote working practices and utilize cloud-based platforms, reinforcing the need for better cybersecurity measures.

By the end of the 3rd quarter of 2020, around 36 billion records were exposed because of data breaches with information such as email addresses, names, passwords, SSNs, and credit card information as part of the data types lost in these breaches from various industries including healthcare, information, finance and insurance, and public administration. Research has shown that around $5.2 trillion is globally at risk from 2019 to 2023 from direct and indirect cyberattacks, but a means to avoid this number from increasing is by nipping these attacks from the bud and utilize better defense systems to protect data or access services.

### What is Multi-Factor Authentication ? {#what-is-multi-factor-authentication}

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a verification process where a user provides additional credentials to access sites, applications, or other resources. This can be seen as an added security layer to verify a user’s identity with additional verification factors such as fingerprints, one-time pins, and push notifications to convince a system of your identity to prevent the wrong parties from accessing data or services. MFA can be used along with [passwordless authentication](https://blog.miniorange.com/passwordless-authentication/) or single sign-on solutions as an added barrier to breach in case a factor has been stolen or compromised before gaining access to a device or service.

### Why should your business use MFA ? {#why-your-business-should-use-mfa}

#### Prevents identity theft

In 2020, losses from identity theft cases were estimated to cost around $712.4 billion and are seen to increase to $721.3 billion by the end of this year. Anyone can be a victim of identity theft attacks since attackers can use a variety of means to gather personal information. For instance, phishing emails are a means to extract sensitive information through email or keylogging where keystrokes on a keyboard are recorded to get information. MFA helps ensure your personal information remains secure, protecting individuals and the company or organization they may be affiliated with.

#### An extra level of security for critical information

MFA serves as an additional level of security to aid firewalls, antivirus software, and encryption technology so breaching barriers for targeted devices or apps is harder. Besides stealing data, cybercriminals can also alter data, transmit spam, or publish malicious content that can disrupt the services and operations of even big-name companies.

In the last year, over 65% of companies worldwide had at least one instance of a cyber attack. These attacks not only result in information leaks where data can be sold to other parties or on the dark web but can cause companies financial losses as well. MFA makes sure only the right people with the right credentials have access to key information, preventing breaches, security risks, and other disruptions in an organization’s operations.

#### Secures devices

More people are working from remote locations and have access to multiple devices which they could switch for either work or personal use. MFA makes it not only easy but secure to access business applications from outside the office environment. Adaptive authentication, an advanced form of MFA, can evaluate the risk a user can face when accessing certain services and selects the right authentication factors based on device IP, user behavior, or a user’s geo-location.

#### Ensures compliance

Stricter legislation with more severe consequences concerning data protection has been passed in various regions around the world. Businesses and organizations need to set the right permissions on data and keep classification up to standard to comply with various data privacy regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), ISO 27000, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and NIST guidelines, among others.

#### Keeps productivity high

Remembering multiple passwords can be a burden to some employees, and forgetting them may come at the cost of not being able to access the tools or resources needed to perform business-related tasks. Businesses can enforce stronger password policies but also allow employees to sign in through a means that suits them better with MFA. Besides being a more secure and convenient means of signing in to services, having MFA enabled guarantees employees secure remote access to a company’s network allowing employees to get tasks done as soon as needed.

Businesses are adopting more modern technology from [corporate cards](https://tryjeeves.com/), machine learning, and AI-focused initiatives, but businesses should also make sure that the systems in place to protect the information and resources around these are efficient and effective. As cyber attackers device more complex and clever ways of getting into systems, businesses should also strengthen their defense against these attacks to protect not only the enterprise but their employees as well. MFA is not complex and can be rolled out without going out of budget ensuring simple and effective protection to users and the business as well.


5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs Multifactor Authentication - Learn what is multifactor authentication and why should your business use MFA?

5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs Multifactor Authentication


## What is Zero Trust Security & How does it work ?

**Zero Trust** is an approach to perimeter-less security that helps create an effective environment, policies, and infrastructure to minimize data breaches. Although many enterprises were moving towards the Zero-Trust model, Remote working (Work From Home) accelerated it by ten folds.

Zero Trust assumes that no **conventional** network **exists**; networks maybe local, cloud-based, or a combination or hybrid with resources anywhere as well as workers in any location. Although a lot of sellers have tried to create their own definitions of Zero Trust, there are a number of recognized organization standards that can help you bring Zero Trust into alignment with your organization.

Remote Work increased demand for a zero trust model, because of its potential to remedy the Remote working challenges to security

### What is Zero Trust ? {#what-is-zero-trust}

Zero Trust is a model that recognizes trust as a vulnerability and aims at eliminating trust from the Network while ensuring a simplified user experience. It assumes all users, devices, and endpoints are compromised and verify all requests based on their identity and before giving any access to resources.

It reduces the risk of successful data breach and contains severity of breach by eliminating trust and preventing lateral movement.

![What is Zero Trust ? How does it work ?](/blog/assets/2023/zero-trust.webp)

### Why is there a need for Zero Trust ? {#why-zero-trust-is-needed}

In the legacy system, security is defined by protecting organization resources from external threats. In legacy systems, a VPN or Firewall is used to create a perimeter around the organization’s network. All users/devices within the organization network, are considered as trusted users/devices, have unrestricted access to all company resources.

The recent rise in the popularity of remote working brought forth new challenges to the existing security system. With the majority of users working remotely (using remote networks), relying on this approach is less effective, less efficient, and more dangerous.

### What is a Zero Trust Architecture? {#what-is-a-zero-trust-architecture}

Zero Trust model encourages micro-segmentation – it involves identifying Protect surface, a collection of networks most critical assets, data, and applications, and creating a perimeter around it. These perimeters act like a firewall for the protected surfaces and ensure that known, allowed and legitimate traffic can access the protected surface.

Organizations can strengthen security by using granular policies, thus reducing the chances of a breach and improving containment of breach if any takes place.

### How does the Zero Trust security model work? {#how-does-the-zero-trust-security-model-work}

In a Zero Trust system all users, within the organization network perimeter and outside the organization network perimeter are treated as untrusted. All the users requesting resources are verified and RBA sessions are used to grant user access to resources.

![Security Policy Enforcement](/blog/assets/2023/zero-trust-working.webp)

All the user requests and data pass through the security policy enforcement engine. This Security engine ensures protection by verifying device and identity before granting access to the data or applications, and further by monitoring session activities and implementing policies and threat assessment/intelligence.

### Zero Trust Pillars {#zero-trust-pillars}

The philosophy behind zero-trust assumes that no user/device can be trusted and must be verified for authentication and authorization. The 4 pillars of the zero-trust approach are:

-   Assumption of all environments being hostile and breached.
-   Verifying user, user device.
-   Focusing on data protection and not the breach attack.
-   Least privilege access to all users.
-   Real-time monitoring of traffic for Malicious activities.

Users and devices are always verified and given the least privileges and access to requested resources. Users need to request access to other resources and are verified again for them. This way, the zero trust approach offers unrealistic security.

### Challenges to Zero Trust {#challenges-to-zero-trust}

As Zero trust is a security methodology, it requires organizations to evaluate their security strategies and parameters for their system and make consistent efforts to evaluate and improve existing strategies. Some of the major challenges are:

-   Support for Zero trust system from management and users
-   The rapid increase in devices leading to increased chances of unsecured end-point.
-   The exponential growth of applications increases the need for tracking and monitoring.

### Zero trust Maturity Curve {#zero-trust-maturity-curve}

Zero trust is the Implementation of the zero tesut model that can be classified into various stages on the basis of adoption and protection.

![Security Policy Enforcement](/blog/assets/2023/zero-trust-maturity-curve.webp)

#### Stage 0: Fragmented Identities

Organizations use multiple On-premise and cloud applications, and most of them are not connected with each other or a centralized directory. Identities for the different applications are stored on a number of devices.

Due to these fragmented Identities, Securing and managing access to various applications becomes a challenge for IT, as it leaves large windows for attackers to exploit, and for users too, as it means they will need to maintain different login credentials for different applications.

This further increases the security concerns for IT probability of password fatigue or weak login credentials.

#### Stage 1: Unified IAM

This involves resolving the challenges from fragmented Identity. This can be accomplished by adopting an [Identity and Access Management](https://idp.miniorange.com/) (IAM) or [Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/single-sign-on-sso) solution. It would enable identity defragmentation by unifying all identities into a single IAM system and ensuring smooth access to both on-premise and cloud apps with a single set of credentials.

A second-factor authentication method can also be implemented for additional security. Using access policy and group policy, securely access the Applications and resources.

#### Stage 2: Contextual Access

This involves adding a layer of context-based access policy on top of Unified IAM to gather context regarding, user, application, device, network and provide access based on these context markers. These policies will allow organizations to fine-tune the access policy and better control and monitor access to resources and secure access to API.

For example, Asking for 2-factor authentication if a user logins from a new location or device.

#### Stage 3: Adaptive Workforce

This can be defined as the last stage of Zero Trust implementation and focuses on Authentication & authorization access. At this stage, Authentication is a recurring process throughout the user experience through adaptive authentication and risk-based assessment to identify potential threats. Sessions are continuously monitored and Risk scores for sessions are calculated based on assessment. Security is increased through Risk intelligence while risk-based access help simplify the user experience.

### Zero Trust History {#zero-trust-history}

The concept of zero trust has been around for a long time, dating back to the early 2000s. Zero trust is now a popular security model.


Zero Trust is an approach to perimeter-less security that helps create an effective environment, policies, and infrastructure to minimize data breaches. Although many enterprises were moving towards the Zero-Trust model, Remote working (Work From Home) accelerated it by ten folds.