Description: Federated access allows users to access resources across different networks using a single set of credentials. This approach simplifies identity management and enhances user experience by eliminating the need to remember multiple passwords for different services. In a federated access environment, organizations establish trust relationships with each other, enabling users from one organization to access resources from another without needing to create additional accounts. This is achieved through the use of standards such as SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) and OAuth, which facilitate authentication and authorization across different domains. Additionally, federated access is compatible with multifactor authentication (MFA), adding an extra layer of security to the login process. In a world where mobility and remote work are increasingly common, federated access has become essential to ensure that users can securely and efficiently access necessary resources without compromising the security of the involved organizations.
History: The concept of federated access began to take shape in the late 1990s and early 2000s, driven by the need to simplify identity management in multi-domain environments. One significant milestone was the creation of SAML in 2001, which provided a framework for interoperability between different authentication systems. As organizations began to adopt cloud services, federated access became even more relevant, allowing users to access third-party applications without compromising security.
Uses: Federated access is primarily used in enterprise environments where multiple organizations need to collaborate and share resources. It is also common in cloud service applications, where users can access different platforms using a single identity. Additionally, it is applied in the educational sector, allowing students and faculty to access resources from different institutions without the need for multiple credentials.
Examples: An example of federated access is using Google or Facebook to log into third-party applications, where users can use their credentials from these platforms to access other services. Another case is access to academic resources where students can use their university credentials to access databases and libraries from other institutions participating in a consortium.
