What is Identity Brokering?
Identity brokering is a crucial concept within the field of Federated Identity Management (FIM), which falls under the broader umbrella of Identity and Access Management (IAM) in Cybersecurity. It serves as a mediator that allows users to access multiple online services using a single set of credentials, facilitating a seamless user experience.
Functionality
In essence, identity brokers allow organizations to share identities securely across different platforms. This is achieved through standards such as SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) and OAuth (Open Authorization). When a user attempts to access a service, the identity broker authenticates their credentials and issues tokens that grant them access without needing to manage separate usernames and passwords for each service.
Benefits
One of the primary benefits of identity brokering is enhanced security. By minimizing the number of credentials that users need to manage, the risk of password fatigue and related security breaches decreases. Additionally, it simplifies user management for organizations by enabling centralized control of user identities and access across multiple third-party services.
Conclusion
In summary, identity brokering is essential for streamlining user access in complex digital ecosystems, reducing administrative overhead while enhancing user experience and security.