SAML
Last updated
Last updated
Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) is an XML-based open standard data format for exchanging authentication and authorization data between parties, in particular, between an identity provider and a service provider.
The purpose of SAML is to enable single sign-on (SSO) access to web-based applications across different organizations. It allows users to authenticate with one identity provider and access multiple applications without having to re-enter their credentials.
SAML works by allowing the identity provider to authenticate the user and then pass an authentication assertion to the service provider. The service provider then validates the assertion and allows the user access to the application.
The benefits of using SAML include improved security, reduced cost and complexity of managing multiple user accounts, improved user experience, and improved application performance.
SAML is different from other authentication methods such as LDAP and Kerberos in that it uses XML-based messages for authentication and authorization. This allows for more flexibility and scalability in how applications are secured.
An identity provider is an entity that provides authentication services to users. It is responsible for authenticating users and providing information about them to service providers.
A service provider is an entity that provides services to users. It is responsible for validating authentication assertions provided by the identity provider and allowing users access to the application.
An authentication assertion is an XML-based message that contains information about the authentication of a user, such as username, authentication method, and time of authentication. It is sent from the identity provider to the service provider.
SAML is used in web applications to enable single sign-on (SSO) access to the application. The identity provider authenticates the user and then passes an authentication assertion to the service provider, which allows the user access to the application.
A SAML request is an XML-based message that is sent from the service provider to the identity provider. It is used to request authentication information about the user, such as username and password.
A SAML response is an XML-based message that is sent from the identity provider to the service provider. It contains information about the user’s authentication, such as username, authentication method, and time of authentication.
A SAML identity provider is an entity that provides authentication services using the SAML protocol. It is responsible for authenticating users and providing information about them to service providers.
A SAML service provider is an entity that provides services using the SAML protocol. It is responsible for validating authentication assertions provided by the identity provider and allowing users access to the application.
The relationship between an identity provider and a service provider is that the identity provider authenticates the user and then passes an authentication assertion to the service provider. The service provider then validates the assertion and allows the user access to the application.
A SAML assertion is an XML-based message that contains information about the authentication of a user, such as username, authentication method, and time of authentication. It is sent from the identity provider to the service provider.
The SAML protocol is an XML-based open standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between parties, in particular, between an identity provider and a service provider.
A SAML binding is a method for transporting SAML messages between parties. The most commonly used binding is the HTTP Redirect binding.
A SAML attribute is an XML element that contains information about the user, such as username, email address, and other identifying information.
There are three different types of SAML assertion: authentication assertion, authorization assertion, and attribute assertion.
The SAML 2.0 protocol is an XML-based open standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between parties. It is the most current version of the SAML protocol and is widely used for single sign-on (SSO) access to web-based applications.