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Common Federation Protocols: SAML and OAuth

Common Federation Protocols

Federation Protocols like SAML and OAuth enable secure, standardized communication for authentication and authorization across domains.

SAML: Security Assertion Markup Language​

SAML Protocol

SAML: Security Assertion Markup Language is an XML-based protocol used for Single Sign-On (SSO).
It enables the exchange of authentication and authorization data between identity providers (IdPs) and service providers (SPs).

  • Use Case: Enterprise applications, such as logging into a corporate dashboard.
  • Key Benefit: Reduces password fatigue by enabling centralized authentication.

OAuth: Open Authorization Protocol​

OAuth Protocol

OAuth: OAuth is a token-based protocol for authorization. It allows third-party applications to access resources on behalf of a user without sharing credentials.

  • Use Case: Allowing apps like Google Calendar to access your Gmail account.
  • Key Benefit: Enhances security by sharing limited access tokens instead of sensitive credentials.

SAML vs. OAuth: Key Differences​

SAML vs OAuth

Key Differences:

  • Purpose: SAML focuses on authentication (SSO), while OAuth is centered on authorization.
  • Token Type: SAML uses XML-based assertions, whereas OAuth uses JSON Web Tokens (JWT).
  • Use Cases: SAML is widely used in enterprise SSO, while OAuth is common in consumer applications.

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