Identity Providers

Identity Providers (IdPs) are authorities responsible for managing and authenticating digital identities

Key Characteristics:

• Authentication: The core responsibility of an IdP is to authenticate users by verifying their authentication methods. This can involve traditional methods (e.g., username and password), two-factor authentication (2FA), or advanced methods like biometrics.

• Authorization: While the primary function is authentication, an IdP may also play a role in determining what resources or permissions a user is allowed to access once authenticated.

• Identity Federation: IdPs use protocols like SAML and OpenID Connect to securely transmit identity data to Relying Parties (RPs), enabling cross-platform authentication with a single identity.

• Single Sign-On (SSO): IdPs can allow users to authenticate once and access multiple services without re-entering credentials.

Types of Identity Providers:

• Internal IdPs: Managed within the same organization as the relying parties, providing full control over authentication and user identities.

  • Example: An organization using Microsoft Entra ID to manage employee authentication for internal services like email, collaboration tools, and HR systems.

• External IdPs: Managed by third-party organizations, authenticating users outside the relying party’s ecosystem.

  • Example: Services like Google, Facebook, or GitHub provide external identity verification for third-party applications, allowing users to log in with their existing credentials from these services.