Advanced Systems Architecture & Cloud-Native Admin
SSO Federation: SAML, OIDC, and OAuth2
Single sign-on federation lets users authenticate once and access many applications. SAML is the enterprise legacy (XML, browser redirects, attribute assertions). OIDC and OAuth2 are the modern standards (JSON tokens, REST, mobile-friendly). Choosing and operating them correctly means understanding what each protocol actually proves: authentication (who you are) versus authorization (what you can access).
Vigtige pointer
- SAML 2.0: XML-based, browser SSO via redirects, attribute assertions. Dominates enterprise and legacy SaaS integration.
- OIDC: identity layer on OAuth2, JSON ID tokens (JWT), REST-friendly. The modern standard for new applications.
- OAuth2: authorization framework, not authentication. Grants access tokens for API access; do not use it alone for login.
- OIDC is the right choice for new apps; SAML persists where enterprise IdPs (ADFS, older Okta) require it.
- Token security: validate signatures, issuer, audience, and expiry on every token; never trust a token without verification.
- Session management: short-lived access tokens plus refresh tokens, with rotation and revocation on logout.
- MFA at the IdP propagates to all federated apps, which is the main operational benefit of SSO.
- Logout is the hard part: single logout (SLO) across SAML/OIDC is fragile; test it explicitly and plan for partial failures.
Ofte stillede spørgsmål
SAML or OIDC for a new app?
OIDC for new apps: simpler, mobile-friendly, and better tooling. SAML only where an enterprise customer mandates it.
Is OAuth2 an authentication protocol?
No. OAuth2 grants access to resources. OIDC adds authentication on top. Confusing the two causes security bugs.
How do I migrate from SAML to OIDC?
Run both in parallel, migrate apps one at a time, and keep SAML as a fallback until all apps support OIDC.
What about MFA?
Enforce MFA at the IdP; federated apps inherit it. This is the strongest operational argument for centralizing identity.
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