## DORA Compliance - A Must-Have for Financial Firms in 2025 {#dora-compliance-financial}

The EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) became effective on January 17, 2025, reshaping how financial entities and ICT (Information and Communications Technology) providers manage cybersecurity and risk management. Whether you're a bank, insurance provider, crypto-asset service, or critical tech vendor, failure to comply with DORA compliance could lead to penalties, reputational damage, and operational downtime.

This blog will walk you through everything you need to know about DORA compliance, starting with the basics and why it’s crucial for your business. We’ll also highlight some key solutions to make your business compliant with this new rule in case you have missed the **DORA compliance date** in 2025.

## What is DORA Compliance? {#struggles-remote-learning}

DORA (**Digital Operational Resilience Act**) is a rule by the EU that asks financial companies and tech providers to have strong systems in place to handle cyberattacks and tech disruptions without falling apart. 

This means managing risks, keeping an eye on third-party services and having plans to deal with cyberattacks. Being DORA-compliant helps you keep your business secure and your customers’ trust intact. However, many organizations seem to have missed the deadline to become DORA compliant. According to a [**survey**](https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366618103/Almost-half-of-UK-banks-set-to-miss-DORA-deadline), around 43% of UK financial services organizations have missed the DORA compliance deadline since January 2025.

## Why So Many Businesses Missed the DORA Compliance Deadline? {#why-missed-dora}

### 1. Thinking “We’ve Got This” — When They Didn’t
Many leaders assumed their existing GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) setups were enough. But DORA compliance introduced a whole new level of depth. It demanded tightly woven ICT risk management across the entire organization.

### 2. Too Much to Do, Too Few Hands on Deck
Smaller and mid-sized firms often lacked the time, workforce, or budget to keep up with the DORA compliance deadline. With limited resources, rolling out a DORA compliance framework felt overwhelming, causing missed deadlines.

### 3. Blind Spots in Vendor Risk Management
Companies relying on third-party tech providers couldn’t assess those vendors’ DORA readiness. Without proper oversight, managing third-party risk became a major hurdle for financial firms.

### 4. Trapped in the Regulatory Web
For businesses operating across borders, meeting DORA compliance along with existing laws like GDPR turned into a complex task. This overlap led to confusion and slower progress. 


## Why is DORA Regulation necessary? {#dora-regulation} 

Let’s face it—the financial sector is a prime target for cyberattacks. In fact, in 2023, the average cost of a data breach reached an all-time high of USD 4.45 million. With digital systems more connected than ever, a single cyberattack can impact supply chains, disrupt critical services, and cause serious damage to customer trust.

That’s exactly why the EU rolled out the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) which focuses on:

- Managing ICT-related risks with structured & clear processes
- Improving third-party risk oversight and incident response
- Enforcing regular penetration testing and disaster recovery plans

By shifting the focus to real operational resilience, DORA helps businesses prepare for modern cyber attacks and protect the entire financial ecosystem.

## How to Get DORA Compliant: 3 Key Steps to Follow {#dora-compliant-3-key}

Getting your organization to be DORA compliant doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, a smart, structured approach can help you hit the ground running. 

### Step 1: Tackle the Most Critical Gaps First
Start by looking for high-risk areas like vendor management or incident reporting. Fixing these early can reduce major threats and prove you're actively working toward compliance with DORA.

### Step 2: Use the Right Tools for the Job
Managing everything manually can be risky. Invest in security solutions that give real-time insights, automate reporting, and help you track DORA compliance across your systems effortlessly.

### Step 3: Make Sure Your Vendors Are on Board
DORA compliance requires you to stay on top of third-party risks. Perform detailed assessments, schedule regular audits, and keep communication open with your vendors to ensure they meet the same standards you do.


##  The 5 Pillars of DORA Compliance {#5-pillars-dora-compliance}

To meet DORA compliance, financial organizations and ICT providers should focus on five key pillars that help build stronger digital operations. Here's a quick and easy breakdown:

![5 key pillars of DORA compliance](/blog/assets/2025/key-pillars-dora-compliance.webp)

- **Pillar 1 – Risk Management**

It’s no longer enough to manage risks vaguely—DORA compliance requires leaders to fully integrate ICT risks into their overall risk strategy. This means approving clear policies and regularly reviewing them.
- **Pillar 2 – Incident Response & Reporting**

DORA compliance makes it mandatory to have a well-tested incident response plan. You’ll need to act fast, inform the right people (including regulators), and submit timely, accurate reports.
- **Pillar 3 – Post-Incident Learning**

DORA compliance requires organizations to review what went wrong, identify weak spots, and update their policies so the same issue doesn’t happen again.
- **Pillar 4 – Operational Resilience & Third-Party Risks**

DORA compliance requires you to define resilience goals, run regular stress tests, and keep a close watch on your third-party tech providers. That includes risk assessments, contracts, and having a solid exit strategy in case things go south.
- **Pillar 5 – Information Sharing**

It encourages secure information sharing across trusted networks to stay ahead of emerging threats—without compromising sensitive data.

Together, these five pillars make up the foundation for true digital resilience under DORA compliance. Up next, let’s look at who exactly needs to comply and what that means for your business.

## How miniOrange Helps Businesses be DORA Compliant? {#miniorange-dora-compliance}

At miniOrange, we make DORA compliance easier by helping your organization stay secure, resilient, and ready for anything. Our security solution is built to protect every layer of your business environment—from user access to third-party integrations.
Here’s how we do it:

- **Robust Access Controls**
We help you manage who gets access to what with secure [IAM](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/), [CASB](https://www.miniorange.com/casb/), [MDM](https://www.miniorange.com/unified-endpoint-management/solutions/mobile-device-management), [DLP](https://www.miniorange.com/dlp/), and [PAM](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/) solutions—integrating DORA compliance with industry standards like PCI DSS and AWS DORA compliance.
- **Continuous Monitoring**
Our security solution offers real-time monitoring to let you detect suspicious activity fast and respond even faster, helping ensure compliance with DORA.
- **Secure Third-Party Integrations**
We reduce third-party risks by offering secure connectors and integrations with popular platforms like Google Workspace, MS365, Zoho, and many more, ensuring compliance with DORA EU standards across the board.
- **Incident Response Readiness**
miniOrange provides security to help you log, report, and act on incidents quickly—just what DORA compliance expects.
- **Automation & Reporting**
Generate detailed reports to prove your organization is staying on track with DORA compliance.

Whether you’re just starting your DORA journey or need help filling in the gaps, miniOrange solution offers you the tools and expertise to guide you through every step.

**Know more about the [**compliance**](https://www.miniorange.com/compliances/) we support.**

## In Conclusion {#conclusion}

Delaying or ignoring the **DORA compliance** deadline can be a big mistake for businesses in the financial sector. However, by acting now, identifying the gaps, and creating a plan, you can meet the EU’s regulations and improve how your company handles risks and disruptions in the future.

At miniOrange, we make DORA compliance simple with solutions that give you the tools you need to stay secure and compliant. Whether it’s monitoring, access control, or managing third-party risks, we’ve got your back.

**Ready to get started?**

Have questions or need help? Email us at **info@xecurify.com** and we’ll guide you through the process. 

This blog will help you understand what the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) means for your business. Youll learn what steps to take and how to stay on track with DORA compliance. Its a simple guide to help your company reduce cyber risks, avoid fines, and stay strong against online threats.

DORA Compliance: Why Its Important for Financial Businesses in 2025?


## What Is an IAM Framework? {#What Is an IAM Framework?}

An **[Identity and Access Management (IAM)](https://www.miniorange.com/what-is-iam-identity-and-access-management) framework** is the security structure that ensures only the right individuals have access to the right resources at the right time for the right reasons. The IAM system does this by verifying user identity through a secure identity management database. Once the identity is confirmed, access management steps in to determine user entitlements, governing what resources and actions are permitted based on the verified identity.

The key components of identity and access management include user [authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/authentication), authorization, and auditing. These IAM components ensure the secure flow of data and control over user permissions. Within cloud environments, the components of IAM in cloud computing are essential for managing access to cloud-based resources while maintaining security.

**IAM policy components** define the rules for user permissions and resource access, making sure that only authorized users can perform specific actions. In simpler terms, the **basic components of IAM** are authentication (who you are), authorization (what you can access), and auditing (tracking what was accessed and by whom).

Understanding the components of IAM helps organizations build a secure infrastructure, ensuring that sensitive data and systems remain protected while allowing authorized access when needed.


## How Does an Identity and Access Management Framework Work? {#How Does an Identity and Access Management Framework Work?}


Identity Management Systems (IMS) are essential for managing user identities and access within an organization. Let us take a  step-by-step breakdown of how this operates:

![How IAM framework ](/blog/assets/2024/iam-framework.webp)



1. **User Registration Process** - The first step is to register new users. During this phase, the system collects important information from users through a form, which it then stores securely. This information is used to verify who the user is and to set up their access rights in the system. Users are given login credentials like a username and password to access the system.
2. **User Authentication Process** - After registration, every time a user tries to log in, the system must confirm their identity through a process called authentication. This is typically done using the credentials they were given during registration. For better security, additional methods like fingerprint scans, security tokens, or a code sent to their phone (known as [multi-factor authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa)) might also be used.
3. **Access Control Process** - Once the system confirms the user's identity through authentication, it then checks what parts of the system the user is allowed to access. This process, known as [access control](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-access-control/), uses the user's credentials to look up their permissions in a database and grants or denies access accordingly. This ensures users only get into parts of the system they need for their work.
4. **User Management** - User Management manages users by overseeing and adjusting their activities and access rights within the system. It's helpful to have a central dashboard where administrators can see and manage all user activities. This helps keep the system secure and makes sure that access rights are always appropriate and up-to-date.
5. **Audit Process** - Finally, regular audits are an essential part of an IMS. They help check for security issues and ensure the system works as it should. This is `especially important in cloud-based services where the system’s use and the regulatory environment are constantly changing.


## Key Components of Identity and Access Management Framework {#Key Components of Identity and Access Management Framework}

1. **User Identity Management** - [User Management](https://www.miniorange.com/products/user-management) is a crucial element of any IAM system, user identity management focuses on creating, updating, and maintaining user profiles and their access rights. This includes [user provisioning](https://www.miniorange.com/products/user-provisioning) new accounts, managing profiles as roles evolve, de-provisioning accounts when users leave or change roles, and ensuring proper access control and security across the organization.
2. **User Authentication** - It is the process of verifying a user's identity to ensure that only authorized individuals can access systems and data. [MFA Methods](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-methods) include traditional passwords, which are common but less secure, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), which combines two or more verification steps for increased security, and biometric verification, which uses physical attributes like fingerprints or facial recognition to authenticate users, offering a higher level of protection.
3. **User Authorization and Access Control** - After authenticating a user's identity, it's essential to manage their access to resources and capabilities within the system. This is achieved through methods such as [Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-role-based-access-control-rbac/), where permissions are assigned based on the user's organizational role, and [Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-attribute-based-access-control-abac/), which allocates rights based on specific attributes like department or location. Additionally, the principle of Least Privilege is applied to ensure that users are granted only the minimum access necessary to perform their duties, enhancing the overall security posture.
4. **Single Sign-On (SSO)** - [Single Sign-On](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso) streamlines access across multiple applications by enabling users to log in once and gain entry without needing to re-authenticate for each service. This not only simplifies the user experience but also enhances security by reducing the number of passwords users must manage. By minimizing password fatigue, SSO decreases the likelihood of users adopting weak security practices, such as reusing passwords. As a result, SSO is a vital feature of contemporary IAM solutions, balancing ease of access with robust security.
5. **Directory Services** - [Directory services](https://www.miniorange.com/products/directory-services) serve as a centralized repository for storing, organizing, and managing critical information about users, groups, and systems. These services ensure that this data is easily accessible to applications and services that depend on it for [authentication, authorization,](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/authentication-authorization-difference/) and other IAM-related functions. By providing accurate and up-to-date information, directory services support informed access control decisions. Examples of commonly used directory services include Microsoft Active Directory, LDAP, and cloud-based solutions like Azure AD.
6. **Audit and Compliance Reporting** - IAM systems are equipped with tools for detailed auditing and generating [compliance](https://www.miniorange.com/compliances/) reports, which are crucial for complying with various regulatory standards. This includes maintaining activity logs that record user actions, access times, and attempted security breaches. Additionally, these systems offer compliance reporting capabilities to create necessary documentation for regulations such as [GDPR](https://www.miniorange.com/compliances/gdpr), HIPAA, and others, ensuring organizations meet legal and security obligations.
7. **Identity Governance and Administration (IGA)** - IGA refers to the framework and tools that oversee and manage the lifecycle of user identities within an organization. This includes setting up new identities (provisioning), conducting regular access reviews, and enforcing compliance with regulatory standards. By automating these processes, IGA ensures that only authorized personnel have access to specific resources, thereby enhancing security and compliance. This is especially critical in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government, where precise management of identity and access data is mandatory to meet strict regulatory requirements.

## Importance of a Solid Identity and Access Management Solution {#Importance of a Solid Identity and Access Management Solution}

A robust Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution is essential for several critical aspects of organizational management and security. Here’s the significance:

- **Security Enhancement**: IAM limits access to sensitive information to authorized users only, thereby reducing the likelihood of data breaches and mitigating insider threats. This tight control over access safeguards an organization's data assets.
- **Compliance Assurance**: By managing and logging user activities and access, IAM facilitates adherence to various industry regulations and standards, helping organizations avoid penalties and legal issues.
- **User Experience Improvement**: With features such as [Single Sign-On (SSO) solution](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/sso-solution) and [automated user provisioning](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/automated-user-provisioning/), IAM simplifies how users interact with multiple systems, reducing the hassle of remembering multiple passwords and streamlining the login process.
- **Operational Efficiency**: IAM automates many routine tasks related to identity verification and access management, thereby freeing up IT staff to concentrate on more strategic initiatives. This automation not only speeds up processes but also reduces errors associated with manual interventions.


Implementing an IAM solution empowers organizations to protect sensitive data, comply with regulatory requirements, enhance user satisfaction, and optimize operational workflows.

##  Enhance Security with advanced IAM {#Enhance Security with advanced IAM}

Implementing a robust [Identity and Access Management (IAM)](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/) system is crucial for maintaining security and enhancing the operational efficiency of any organization. Such systems are essential not just for safeguarding sensitive information but also for ensuring that access is appropriately aligned with user roles and responsibilities. As the landscape of technology and cybersecurity threats continues to evolve, IAM systems must also progress, adopting cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. These advancements help to improve security measures and optimize the user experience, keeping the organization ahead of potential security risks. 

For those looking to stay at the forefront of this evolution,[ miniOrange](https://www.miniorange.com/) provides advanced IAM solutions tailored to meet these dynamic needs.



Key components of IAM include User Identity Management, User Authentication, User Authorization and Access Control, Audit and Reporting, Single Sign On.

IAM Framework: 5 Key Components

Discover how to boost password security with password managers and SSO solutions. Learn about the miniOrange password manager and SSO.

How to Secure Multiple Passwords with Password Manager and SSO?


### **What is the CLOP Malware Attack?** {#what-is-clop}

CLOP Malware attack was recently launched against several companies stealing their data and blackmailing them for a ransom, or else the data will be leaked on the Dark Web. It was created by a group of Russian hackers It has managed to beat the top cybersecurity guidelines set by the institutions of IT Security. It can be shared through third-party applications which have been whitelisted by the SOC team for daily operations and then once in the “playing field”, they can disable all types of firewalls and security measures placed by the company’s IT security teams.

### **How does the CLOP Malware work?** {#how-clop-works}

- In 2023, hackers found a vulnerability in the popular file-sharing app called MOVEit, where employees stored their files and shared them across teams.
- A group of hackers found a vulnerability within MOVEit and managed to pass legitimate executable files over the MOVEit servers, spreading the CLOP malware across the users.
- With these CLOP malware files in place, they managed to remove all the essential security policies set by their SOC teams and stole all the company data.
- Now with this business-critical data, the hackers threatened the heads of enterprises of leaking all their data over the dark web and have started asking for ransom before the deadline.

&nbsp;

The CLOP leaks malware attack has targeted the top industry-leading companies and stolen their data. The hackers have sent an open message to all to contact them via email and give a payout in exchange for deleting their data before its released to the public on the dark web.

![Malware Clop Solution](/blog/assets/2023/malware-clop-solution.webp)

### **How does CASB secure against CLOP Malware?** {#casb-security}

With the CASB solution, and its active threat detection rules it continuously monitors for malware attacks and potential attack surface areas in the infrastructure. It also monitors the actions of the users and third-party apps interacting with the business data and makes sure they stay in check with the security rules set by the SOC team.

&nbsp;

The major features of using CASB security solution include,

**Compliance**: Compliance ensures that the security standards are met for the relevant industry in which the organization operates to find sources of data breaches and mitigate all targeted threat vectors. This makes it a highly reliable and trustworthy CASB security feature.

&nbsp;

**Data Protection**: Data Protection is a fundamental requirement for the rapidly pacing IT industry. The volume of data being generated and transferred is doubling every day. To secure these data items, your business needs a scalable solution that guarantees minimal downtimes, and most importantly, provides the best data protection solution to safeguard all your data.

&nbsp;

**Threat Detection**: Threat Detection is a feature where once a threat is identified, it needs to be isolated and discreetly mitigated without disturbing the efficient working of other processes. CASB provides deep insights and sets risk scores for identifying such potential threats.

&nbsp;

**Deep Visibility**: CASBs provide users with deep visibility to generate insights for threat reports and risk assessment to control an app’s access controls and monitor user working remotely and/or using BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) for accessing company documents.

![Clop CASB Solution](/blog/assets/2023/clop-casb-solution.webp)

### **What benefits of using CASB for Enterprise Security?** {#casb-benefits}

**Malware Detection**: CASBs actively search for malware and are updated with the latest malware policies. They are designed to provide complete malware mitigation procedures and isolate it in one place to prevent it from spreading further.

&nbsp;

**App Risk Score Assessment**: CASBs actively monitor each application’s moves and what it interacts with. If an application is observed to repetitively access the company data, it gives it a risk score. Once this risk score crosses a threshold, this third-party application’s access permissions are revoked to prevent it from accessing any more company data.

&nbsp;

**Security Report Generation**: CASBs also provide security reports and threat activities that it mitigated, so that the SOC team to gather deep insights and observe which section of their infrastructure is being targeted and then take measures to safeguard them better over time.

&nbsp;

**Role-Based Access Control**: CASBs make sure that no user or third-party application interacts with a data item, out of their scope of access by using strict role-based access control policies to control access over data and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.

### **In Summary** {#summary}

In this blog, we saw how CASB cloud security solution can secure your business from ransomware attacks such as Clop Malware. This ransomware managed to steal confidential data of government institutions and attacked universities stealing 45,000 student data which includes their social security numbers as well. The miniOrange CASB is the top solution to prevent again such attacks and will be the first line of defense against any threat that the ransomware attacks pose.

&nbsp;

So if you are looking for a CASB solution for your business and team, miniOrange is the best solution on the market with a globally recognized support team and the most affordable pricing you’ll find anywhere else

&nbsp;

So what are you waiting for? Shoot us a query at [info@xecurify.com](mailto:info@xecurify.com) we will get right back to you and address all CASB security needs!

### Additional Resources {#resources}

Check out more CASB resources by miniOrange,

&nbsp;

- [Atlassian CASB for JIRA and Confluence](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/atlassian-security-for-jira-and-confluence-with-casb)
- [Microsoft Office 365 CASB Security](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/microsoft-office-365-casb-security)
- [AWS CASB Security](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/aws-service-casb-security-solution)
- [Salesforce CASB Data Security](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/casb-salesforce-data-security)
- [G Suite IP Restriction](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/secure-access-control-for-google-workspace-gsuite-apps/)


CLOP is a dangerous malware that has affected the data storage of several businesses, education centers, and government offices bypassing all the security rules set effortlessly damaging user identities, and selling all business-critical data over the dark web. A CASB solution is the ultimate solution to safeguard your business against such malware attacks.

Preventing CLOP Malware with CASB | Enterprise Security


In today’s digital landscape, Single Sign-On (SSO) is crucial for SaaS platforms. SSO for SaaS apps simplifies user authentication by allowing access to multiple applications with a single set of credentials. This approach enhances user convenience and strengthens security, reducing the risk of password-related breaches. With SSO login, users sign in once, and the SSO solution, often using SAML authentication, manages access across authorized applications. Identity providers like, miniOrange, Azure Active Directory, Okta, and Amazon Cognito handle these credentials securely, offering one of the best single sign-on solutions. Implementing SSO for SaaS ensures seamless, secure access for users.

## What is SSO and Its Importance for SaaS {#What is SSO and Its Importance for SaaS}

Single Sign-On (SSO) is an authentication method that allows users to securely access multiple applications using just one set of credentials. This is particularly valuable for **SaaS platforms**, where employees or users often need to interact with various apps throughout their day. With SSO for SaaS apps, users log in once and gain access to all the services they are authorized to use, streamlining their experience and enhancing security. By reducing the need to remember multiple passwords, SSO for SaaS simplifies the user experience and centralizes authentication with an SSO solution, minimizing password-related vulnerabilities.

This approach also makes it easier for administrators to manage user access, making single sign-on solutions one of the best single sign-on solutions for businesses using multiple SaaS apps. By implementing **[SSO using SAML](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/saml-single-sign-on-sso)**, organizations can ensure secure, seamless, and efficient access to various services with a single login.

## How does SSO work? {#How does SSO work? }

[Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso) works based on a trust relationship established between an application (the service provider) and an identity provider. When a user attempts to access an application, the service provider sends a request to the identity provider to authenticate the user. If the user has not already logged in, they will be prompted to enter their credentials. Once the identity provider validates the credentials, it generates a token containing key information about the user, such as their email address or username.

This token is then sent back to the service provider, allowing the user access to the application. With **SSO using SAML** (Security Assertion Markup Language), this token can be securely recognized across various applications, providing users with seamless access to multiple services without the need for repeated logins. This process enhances security and simplifies user authentication in a centralized manner.

## Benefits of SSO for SaaS {#Benefits of SSO for SaaS}

Implementing SSO for SaaS apps offers numerous advantages for businesses, enhancing security, simplifying [user management](https://developers.miniorange.com/docs/idp/openidconnect/user-management), and reducing costs. Here’s a detailed look at the key benefits:

### 1. Increased Security

SSO for SaaS enhances security by allowing businesses to enforce more robust authentication policies. Passwords are not shared or stored with individual third-party service providers. Instead, users enter their credentials into a centralized authentication server, minimizing the risk of compromise. SSO issues tokens that expire automatically, ensuring that users are signed out after a certain period, reducing potential unauthorized access. Through **centralized authentication management**, businesses can monitor and manage all passwords, tokens, and permissions in one secure place. **SSO solutions** also support complex password standards, making it harder for hackers to guess passwords. Moreover, by centralizing login, businesses can prevent users from using the same password across multiple services, further boosting security.

### 2. Simplified User Management

With SSO for SaaS apps, managing users becomes much simpler. Users only need to remember one set of credentials, reducing login issues and streamlining access. If a user needs to be removed from multiple applications, it can be done quickly from the central authentication server, easing administrative tasks. SSO solutions also provide businesses with the ability to centrally manage permissions, allowing for more control over user access across different services.

### 3. Reduction in Costs and Improved Productivity

**SSO authentication** can lead to lower costs and increased productivity. Since users only need one set of credentials, they are less likely to forget them, resulting in fewer help desk calls and reduced IT costs. Furthermore, employees spend less time dealing with multiple logins and password resets, allowing them to focus more on their work. This streamlined access improves productivity and reduces login-related disruptions. Overall, [SSO single sign-on](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso) solutions are among the **best single sign-on solutions** for businesses looking to enhance security, simplify user management, and boost productivity.



## 6 Key Strategies for Enhancing Security in SaaS Single Sign-On (SSO) {#6 Key Strategies for Enhancing Security in SaaS Single Sign-On (SSO)}

Implementing SSO for SaaS apps requires careful planning and adherence to best practices to ensure security and smooth operation. Here are some essential steps to consider:

1. **Establish Trust Between Identity Providers (IdPs) and Service Providers (SPs)** - A successful SSO solution relies on a strong trust relationship between [identity providers (IdPs) and service providers (SPs)](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/idp-initiated-sp-initiated-login/). The identity provider stores users' digital identities and shares them securely with the service provider. After [authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/authentication-services), the service provider relies on the assertions made by the IDP to grant access. To ensure trust, businesses should conduct a risk assessment before setting up **SSO authentication**, identifying potential vulnerabilities, and addressing them.
2. **Use Robust Authentication Methods** - Implementing SSO using SAML is one of the most secure ways to manage authentication across multiple SaaS applications. SAML SSO ensures that user credentials are not shared directly with service providers, reducing the risk of breaches. Additionally, use [multifactor authentication (MFA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) in combination with SSO login to add an extra layer of security, making it harder for unauthorized users to gain access.
3. **Centralized Authentication Management** - One of the key advantages of SSO for SaaS is the ability to centralize authentication management. This simplifies the process of monitoring and managing user permissions across different applications. Ensure that your single sign-on solution integrates well with your [identity management](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/) system, providing centralized control over user credentials, tokens, and access policies. This will help reduce complexity and improve security by giving you better oversight of who has access to what.
4. **Implement Strong Password and Token Policies** - SSO should not compromise password security. Implement strong, complex password policies that are difficult for attackers to guess. Since **SSO authentication** often relies on tokens, it's essential to enforce automatic token expiration to limit the time users remain logged in, minimizing potential attack windows. This practice also helps in SSO single sign-on environments by ensuring users are signed out after periods of inactivity, enhancing security.
5. **Regularly Review and Update Access Controls** - As your organization grows, so does the complexity of user roles and permissions. Regularly reviewing and updating access control policies ensures that users have the appropriate level of access based on their role. This prevents unnecessary access to sensitive information and strengthens the overall security of your **SSO for SaaS** implementation.
6. **Monitor and Audit SSO Activity** - It's important to monitor and audit all SSO activities regularly. This helps detect suspicious login attempts and potential security breaches. Logging and auditing user activities ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and provide valuable data for risk management.

## Implementing SSO in an Organization {#Implementing SSO in an Organization}

Implementing [Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-single-sign-on-sso/) in an organization streamlines user authentication by allowing employees to use a single set of credentials to access multiple applications. This not only simplifies the login process but also enhances security and user management. To successfully implement SSO, businesses can adopt various approaches depending on their infrastructure and requirements. Below are the key methods for integrating SSO in an organization:

1. **Enterprise SSO** - Enterprise SSO is designed for organizations with on-premise software installed on local servers or computers. This approach enables users to access these applications with a single set of credentials. When a user logs in for the first time, their credentials are recorded by a desktop client, and Enterprise SSO automatically applies them for future login prompts. Implementing this solution does not require modifying the existing applications, but a system administrator is responsible for distributing, installing, and maintaining the **[Enterprise SSO](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/enterprise-sso-single-sign-on/)** software on all devices.
2. **Web SSO (Cloud-Based SSO)** - As businesses increasingly adopt cloud-based applications, Web SSO becomes an essential solution for streamlining authentication across web-based apps. With Web SSO, an enforcement agent intercepts web traffic and authenticates the user against a central repository. This approach helps users avoid remembering multiple passwords, making it easier for them to access cloud services. It offers a seamless, secure login experience for cloud-based apps, significantly reducing the need for multiple passwords and login prompts.
3. **SSO Authentication for Hybrid Environments** - In today's complex technological landscape, many organizations are adopting hybrid environments that combine on-premise, cloud-based, and mobile applications. For these setups, SSO solutions must be flexible enough to authenticate across all platforms. By integrating SSO into their [identity and access management (IAM) systems](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/), businesses can streamline access, improve security, and manage user authentication more efficiently. With the rise of hybrid working environments, a robust SSO solution ensures that employees can access both legacy and cloud applications securely, no matter where they are located.
4. **Cloud-Based SSO Authentication** - [Cloud SSO](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/cloud-sso) allows users to log in to multiple cloud applications with a single identity, using the same set of credentials across all platforms. This not only reduces password fatigue but also lowers IT management costs by centralizing the authentication process. **Cloud-based SSO** validates user login requests by considering previous authentications in the same session and applying specific policy requirements related to the user's role and the sensitivity of the application being accessed. This scalable solution ensures that users can seamlessly transition between applications without needing to re-enter their credentials.


## Steps to Implement SSO in an Organization {#Steps to Implement SSO in an Organization}

Successfully implementing SSO authentication in an organization requires careful planning and strategy. Here are the steps to follow:

1. **Identify Applications to Connect to SSO** - Start by creating a comprehensive list of the applications you want to integrate with SSO. This includes both cloud-based and on-premise applications.
2. **Establish a Connection with an Identity Provider (IdP)** - Choose a reliable identity provider (IDP) such as miniORange as IDP that supports your organization's security requirements and application environment. The IdP will manage user authentication and provide tokens for secure access.
3. **Review Information in Your Identity Directory** - Ensure that your identity directory is up-to-date and accurate. This includes verifying user credentials, role-based permissions, and other essential data for authentication.
4. **Evaluate Users' Access Privileges** - Before implementing SSO, examine users’ access rights and ensure that they only have access to the applications and data they need. [Role-based access control (RBAC)](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-role-based-access-control-rbac/) can help manage these privileges effectively.
5. **Maintain High Availability of the SSO System** - To prevent disruptions in user access, ensure your SSO system has high availability. This may include implementing backup servers and redundancy to avoid downtime.
6. **Consider a Reputable Cloud Partner** - If using cloud-based SSO, partner with a reputable cloud provider that offers secure and scalable solutions. They can assist in deploying and maintaining the infrastructure needed for SSO.

In conclusion, implementing **SaaS SSO authentication with miniOrange** offers a seamless and secure solution for managing user access across multiple applications. With a single username and password, users can easily log in to multiple accounts while benefiting from a high level of security that protects sensitive information. 

The **Single API Key** simplifies the integration of authentication and authorization processes, making it easy for developers to manage access for various applications through a unified portal. By using miniOrange's SSO solution, organizations can provide a consistent, streamlined login experience that eliminates the hassle of remembering multiple passwords, ultimately improving user satisfaction and security.

SSO authentication simplifies login by allowing users to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials, streamlining user security.

6 Best Practices for Implementing SSO for SaaS Authentication in 2024


[Privileged Access Management (PAM)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/privileged-access-management-pam) is a crucial cybersecurity strategy that helps organizations protect their privileged accounts from cyber threats. With cybercriminals increasingly targeting privileged accounts to access networks and carry out malicious activities, privileged access management has become a top priority for businesses worldwide. These privileged accounts are crucial for managing IT environments and carrying out administrative tasks, are found everywhere within an organization, including traditional systems and cloud infrastructure.

The importance of implementing PAM best practices cannot be overstated. [Privileged accounts](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-are-privileged-accounts/), such as domain administrators, service accounts, application accounts, and root accounts, can become main targets for attackers. If these credentials are compromised, cybercriminals can exploit critical systems, alter data, change configurations, and even bring operations to a standstill. 

For two consecutive years, [Gartner](https://www.gartner.com/reviews/market/access-management/vendor/miniorange) has recognized [privileged access management](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-privileged-access-management-pam/) as the top IT security priority. In 2022, it was highlighted as one of the Top 7 Trends in Cybersecurity, particularly under Identity System Defense. Despite this focus, many organizations still struggle to maintain even basic privileged account management best practices, leaving them vulnerable to potential attacks.

Implementing effective privileged user management best practices not only protects sensitive data but also ensures attackers cannot operate undetected within an organization's network. Let us have a look at Top 10 privileged account management best practices that can help businesses to secure their critical accounts, reduce security risks, and protect their operations from disruption.

First, have a look at the four key pillars of the PAM solution to gain a clear understanding of the essential elements that require focus.

## The 4 Pillars of Privileged Access Management {#The 4 Pillars of Privileged Access Management}

To effectively implement privileged access management (PAM) best practices, organizations must focus on four key pillars: Discover, Secure, Audit, and Automate. Each pillar plays a crucial role in strengthening the security of privileged accounts and ensuring that only authorized users have access to sensitive resources. Here’s a breakdown of these pillars and how they contribute to a robust PAM framework.

![four main pillars of privileged access management](/blog/assets/2024/four-pillars-of-privileged-access-management.webp)

###  1. Discover

The first step in any **privileged access management** strategy is to identify all privileged accounts within the organization. This includes not just user accounts but also service accounts, application accounts, and shared accounts. Up-to-date information on all privileged accounts and their associated access rights is required. By identifying these accounts, organizations can gain visibility into who has access to what resources, allowing them to implement **privileged access management best practices** effectively. Discovering and cataloging these accounts is crucial for monitoring access and minimizing potential security gaps.

### 2. Secure

Once the privileged accounts are identified, the next step is to secure them with proper life cycle processes. This involves setting up strict access controls and continuously evaluating the access capabilities of each account based on its type. Effective privileged user management best practices include implementing strong authentication mechanisms, such as [multi-factor authentication (MFA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa), and securing passwords within an [enterprise password vault](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/password-vault) to prevent unauthorized access. Regularly rotating and updating passwords, along with enforcing the least privilege principle, ensures that each account only has the permissions necessary to perform its tasks. Documenting these security measures creates a structured approach to privileged access, reducing the risk of exploitation.

###  3. Audit

Continuous [auditing and monitoring](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/privileged-session-audit-trail) are critical components of [privileged account management](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-privileged-account-management/) best practices. Regularly reviewing privileged access helps detect any unauthorized activities or anomalies in user behavior. Utilizing session monitoring and logging tools provides detailed tracking of user activities, enabling organizations to identify suspicious behavior promptly. These logs not only serve as an early warning system for potential threats but also provide evidence during security incidents or audits. By integrating routine audits into the PAM Solution, organizations can maintain [compliance](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/resources/privileged-access-management-compliance), enforce security policies, and ensure that privileged access is managed effectively.

###  4. Automate

The final pillar of **PAM best practices** is to incorporate automation into the organization’s access management processes. Automation tools streamline and standardize access protocols, reducing the chances of human error and enhancing overall security. Implementing tools for just-in-time access allows organizations to grant temporary privileged access when needed, while identity governance and administration (IGA) tools help manage account life cycles efficiently. By automating key aspects of **privileged access management**, such as password rotation and access reviews, companies can enforce security policies consistently, respond to threats quickly, and maintain a high level of control over privileged accounts.

## Top 10 best practices for Privileged Access Management (PAM) {#Top 10 best practices for Privileged Access Management (PAM)}

### 1. Implement Zero Trust & Least Privilege Access {#Implement Zero Trust & Least Privilege Access}

**[Zero Trust](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/zero-trust-security-model/)**: This approach treats every user, device, and network as a potential threat, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the organization's network. Access is granted only after continuous verification of identity, device health, and other contextual factors. [Zero Trust](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/zero-standing-privileges-zsp/) ensures that unauthorized users cannot move laterally within the network.

**[Least Privilege Access](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/principle-of-least-privilege-polp/)**: This principle limits user permissions to the minimum necessary to complete their job functions. For example, if an employee only needs to access a specific database for their work, they should not have permission to modify system settings or view other databases. This reduces the attack surface and limits the potential damage in case of a breach. Implementing these policies together strengthens overall security and prevents unauthorized access to sensitive data.

### 2. Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) {#Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)}

Why MFA? Relying solely on passwords is risky, as they can be guessed, stolen, or compromised through phishing and social engineering attacks. [MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) adds an extra layer of security by requiring additional verification, such as a one-time code sent to a mobile device or biometric authentication.

**How to Implement**: When users log in, they must provide at least two forms of verification (e.g., password and fingerprint). This ensures that even if an attacker acquires a user's password, they still cannot access the account without the secondary factor.

**Employee Training**: Beyond implementing MFA, organizations should train employees to recognize phishing attempts and social engineering tactics that can compromise login credentials. Proper training helps employees avoid falling victim to schemes designed to exploit MFA and strengthens the overall defense strategy.

### 3. Regularly Rotate and Expire Passwords {#Regularly Rotate and Expire Passwords}

**Frequent Changes**: Regular [password rotation](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/password-rotation) (e.g., every 30-60-90 days) prevents long-term misuse of credentials. In case a password is compromised, frequent changes minimize the window of opportunity for attackers to exploit it. 

**Automatic Expiry**: Configuring passwords to expire automatically enforces this practice and ensures that even dormant accounts do not pose a security risk. Passwords should not be reused, and each new password should be unique to reduce the risk of common passwords being cracked.


### 4. Monitor Privileged Activity {#Monitor Privileged Activity}

**Why Monitor**: Privileged accounts have the highest level of access, making them prime targets for attackers. [Monitoring](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/privileged-session-monitoring) these accounts helps detect unusual activities, such as login attempts from unfamiliar locations or unauthorized access to critical systems.

**How to Monitor**: Use security information and event management (SIEM) tools to log and analyze privileged account activities. Setting up alerts for specific events, like failed login attempts or access to sensitive files, allows security teams to respond quickly to potential breaches.

### 5. Use Secure Password Storage {#Use Secure Password Storage}

**Encryption**: Store passwords using strong encryption algorithms, such as AES-256. This ensures that even if the password storage is breached, the data is unreadable without the decryption key.

**Password Management Tools**: Utilize [password vaults](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/password-vault) or [managers](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/privileged-password-management) specifically designed to store privileged credentials securely. These tools not only encrypt passwords but also allow for secure sharing and [automated password rotation](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/password-rotation), reducing the risk of password exposure.

### 6. Conduct Regular Security Audits {#Conduct Regular Security Audits}

**Review Policies**: Periodically review access controls, password policies, and security procedures to identify any weaknesses or non-compliance with the organization’s security standards.

**Access Audit**: Check who has access to what resources, especially privileged accounts, to ensure that only authorized personnel have the appropriate level of access. Audits can reveal unused accounts or excessive privileges, allowing you to take corrective actions, such as revoking unnecessary access.

Explore how miniOrange PAM Solution meets compliance regulations, click to learn more!

[![Compliance Benefits of Privileged Access Management Best Practices](/blog/assets/2024/miniorange-pam-compliance.webp)](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/resources/privileged-access-management-compliance )

### 7. Limit Access to Sensitive Data {#Limit Access to Sensitive Data}

**Access Controls**: Implement access controls that limit exposure to sensitive information. Sensitive data, such as financial records or customer information, should only be accessible to users who need it for their specific roles.

**Data Segmentation**: Use data segmentation techniques, such as network segmentation or database partitioning, to isolate sensitive information. This containment strategy limits the potential damage of a breach by preventing attackers from easily accessing other parts of the system.

### 8. Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) {#Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)}

**RBAC Model**: [Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-role-based-access-control-rbac/) allows access permissions to be assigned based on roles within the organization. For example, an employee in the finance department will have different access rights than someone in IT support. This helps maintain an organized access control system that is easy to manage and audit.

[Granular Access Control](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/granular-access-control) in a PAM solution operates through an Access Control Policy, which allows restrictions at a highly detailed level. For example, a super admin can block users from running sensitive commands in PowerShell or Command Prompt (CMD), and also prevent users from running unauthorized applications on endpoints.

### 9. Use Privileged Session Management {#Use Privileged Session Management}

Through [Privileged Session Monitoring and Recording](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/privileged-session-monitoring) all privileged sessions to provide a detailed audit trail. This means capturing who accessed what resources, what actions were performed, and when. Such logs are invaluable for forensic analysis in the event of a security incident. Some tools offer real-time session monitoring and control features, allowing security administrators to terminate sessions if suspicious activity is detected. This proactive approach prevents unauthorized changes and ensures that privileged accounts are not misused.

### 10. Continuously Train and Educate Users {#Continuously Train and Educate Users}

**Security Awareness**: Regularly conduct training sessions to keep employees informed about the latest security threats and best practices for managing privileged accounts. They should understand the importance of strong passwords, MFA, and be able to recognize phishing scams.

**Ongoing Education**: Since attack methods constantly evolve, education should be continuous. Training should also include handling sophisticated social engineering attacks and addressing MFA fatigue. Educating employees empowers them to act as a frontline defense against potential breaches.

### NEXT STEP! 

By adhering to these best practices, organizations can greatly enhance their security posture, effectively safeguarding privileged accounts and protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access and potential breaches. To ensure robust and up-to-date defenses, consider leveraging [miniOrange's](https://www.miniorange.com/) advanced [Privileged Access Management solutions](https://miniorange.com/pam), tailored to meet your specific security needs in 2024 and beyond.

[![Download PAM buyers guide](/blog/assets/2024/miniorange-pam-buyers.webp)](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/resources/pam-buyers-guide)


Discover the top 10 best practices for Privileged Access Management in 2025 to secure your critical systems and data. Learn expert tips now!

10 Privileged Access Management Best Practices in 2025


Dive into the world of privileged accounts with our comprehensive guide, exploring the types and significance of these crucial cybersecurity assets. From admin to system accounts, understand how they form the backbone of [Privileged Access Management (PAM)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/privileged-access-management-pam) and safeguard your organization's sensitive information and systems. 

Learn how miniOrange's advanced PAM solutions provide unparalleled protection through strategic access control, authentication, and monitoring. Whether you are new to the cybersecurity domain or looking to strengthen your existing framework, this blog offers essential insights into securing your most valuable digital assets.


**Key Takeaways**

- Understand the crucial role and types of privileged accounts in cybersecurity.
- Learn about the significance of privileged accounts in PAM 
- Safeguarding critical assets, minimizing security risks, & enhancing operational control.
- Discover how miniOrange's Privileged Access Management solutions provide robust protection.

## What are Privileged Accounts? {#what-are-privileged-accounts}

Privileged accounts give special permissions that are more than what regular user accounts have, letting them manage and control important IT resources.  Privileged user accounts can be linked to individuals like employees, and contractors, as well as to machines and applications. Individuals or machines having access to these special accounts are known as privileged users. These users need to use specific access codes, like passwords, SSH keys, and DevOps secrets, to prove they have the right to this higher level of access.

Since these accounts have permission to sensitive information and resources, therefore privileged accounts are highly sought-after resources for cyber attackers. They play a crucial role in security breaches, often used to gain initial access or to navigate and escalate privileges within a compromised system. Managing these accounts through privileged access management (PAM)  involves strategies and technologies aimed at securing, monitoring, and [auditing access](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/privileged-session-audit-trail) to ensure it's only used appropriately and safely.

## Types of Privileged Accounts {#types-of-privileged-accounts}

**Privilege accounts** can be broadly categorized into two types: The first type includes those that could belong to actual people, like IT administrators, or the other one that belongs to machine users such as applications and services that require elevated access for functioning. 

![Types of Privileged Accounts](/blog/assets/2024/types-of-privileged-accounts.webp)

Some privileged accounts offer a considerable level of increase in access rights, allowing for more capabilities than a standard user account, while there are others, like the root account in [Unix and Linux systems](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/privilege-management-for-linux-unix), that grant complete control over the system. It enables users to execute any command or change. Below, we explore more sub-types of the two broad categories mentioned above:


### 1. Admin Account (Root/Administrator Accounts) {#1-admin-account}

Admin accounts are also known as superuser accounts, root/ admin accounts, or supervisor accounts. These accounts grant a few privileged accounts nearly unlimited privileges over a system. Some of the privileges include the ability to execute commands, make system changes, create and modify files, or change settings, additionally, they can grant or revoke permissions for any users.

### 2. Domain Accounts {#2-domain-accounts}

Domain accounts are those with administrative privileges and stand as some of the most critical privilege accounts within any organization. They have unrestricted access across a wide range of assets, making them highly valuable targets for cyber threats. These accounts often include domain administrator accounts, which hold the keys to virtually every part of the IT environment. To safeguard against potential security breaches, organizations must limit the number of these powerful accounts, carefully control who can access them, and ensure they are securely managed. 

### 3. Database (DBA) Accounts {#3-database-dba-accounts}

Database Administrator (DBA) accounts hold critical privileges in an organization’s database management, enabling actions from data modification to full system overhauls. Given their extensive access, these accounts are essential for maintaining data integrity but also pose significant security risks if compromised. Implementing strict Privilege Access measures is important and consists of enforcement of least privilege principles, robust auditing, real-time monitoring, and [strong authentication mechanisms](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-methods). 

Such protocols ensure that DBA activities are closely watched and managed, safeguarding against unauthorized access and maintaining the security and efficiency of the organization's databases.

### 4. Network Accounts {#4-network-accounts}

Network accounts refer to credentials that provide elevated access across network devices and systems, such as routers, switches, firewalls, and network management consoles. These accounts are critical for maintaining the security and efficiency of an organization's network infrastructure but also pose a significant risk if compromised due to their high-level privileges. Managing network accounts within a Privilege Management framework involves tight security measures, including implementing the principle of least privilege to ensure individuals have only the access necessary for their specific roles. 

### 5. Application Accounts {#5-application-accounts}

Application accounts are essential for seamless application-to-application (A2A) and application-to-database (A2D) communications. Mostly it operates autonomously, requesting and receiving credentials for access. However, the widespread practice of using default credentials poses significant security risks. Secure management, including regular credential updates, secure storage practices, and robust authentication methods, is crucial to mitigate these risks and protect against unauthorized access.

### 6. Emergency Accounts (Break Glass) {#6-emergency-accounts}

Emergency accounts, often known as break glass or firecall accounts, are designed to grant users swift access to high-level system accounts they wouldn't normally have permission to use. This can include root access in Unix/Linux environments or SYS/SA access for databases.

Intended strictly for use in critical situations, these accounts come with safeguards such as time-restricted access, often enforced through password expiration or similar controls, to ensure that their use remains strictly controlled and within the context of resolving emergency issues.

### 7. Privileged User Accounts {#7-privileged-user-accounts}

**Privileged user accounts**, typically established locally on endpoints for IT support functions, can act as authorized backdoors with local administrator privileges. Their ad hoc setup often results in security vulnerabilities, such as non-unique or shared passwords across devices, influenced by the device’s age, location, or owner. Ensuring security best practices, like assigning unique passwords and closely monitoring and managing access for each account, is crucial. However, managing these credentials remotely presents a challenge due to network constraints. Strengthening endpoint security by limiting unauthorized inbound connections can further protect these critical accounts.

### 8. Service Accounts {#8-service-accounts}

In Windows environments, service accounts are essential for running services and applications. functioning without the need for local login but with the potential to be exploited for system or application compromises. As these accounts do not correspond to individual users but to services, they often escape rigorous security checks. 

Service accounts operate as shared resources across various assets, requiring effective management to function. Integrating service accounts into a [Privileged Access Management (PAM)](https://www.miniorange.com/pam) system mandates synchronization of any credential changes to ensure services can restart without disruption. 

Identifying and grouping shared service accounts for collective management is crucial to avoid overlooking any account, preventing credential rotation issues, and ensuring new assets using these accounts fall under tight security protocols, thus reducing the risk of security breaches.

###  9. Application Service Accounts {#9-application-service-accounts}

Application service accounts are specialized accounts that run automated services, applications, or processes within an IT environment. In the context of privileged access, these accounts are critical because they often require elevated privileges to perform their functions, like accessing databases, modifying system files, or running programs. Managing these accounts involves ensuring they are granted only the permissions necessary to fulfill their roles, (principle of least privileges).

 PAM strategies for application service accounts also include regular auditing, [credential rotation](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/password-rotation), and the enforcement of strong authentication measures

###  10. System Accounts {#10-system-accounts}

System accounts are integral to the operation of computer systems, providing the necessary permissions for the system's core processes and tasks. Within Privileged Access, system accounts represent a significant security focus due to their high-level access to critical system components and settings. Proper management of these accounts includes strict control over their use, monitoring of their activity, and the application of security policies that limit their access to what is strictly necessary for system operations. 


## Importance of privileged accounts {#importance-of-privileged-accounts}

Privileged accounts play a pivotal role within Privileged Access Management (PAM) frameworks, underscoring their importance in maintaining organizational security and operational integrity. 

Here’s why privileged accounts are so crucial in PAM:

- **Gatekeepers to Critical Assets**: Privileged accounts act as gatekeepers to an organization's most sensitive and critical systems, including servers, databases, and network devices. Managing these accounts is essential to protect against unauthorized access and potential breaches.
- **Compliance and Audit Requirements**: They help organizations meet strict compliance and audit requirements by ensuring that access to sensitive data and systems is strictly controlled and monitored, aligning with regulations like [GDPR, HIPAA, and SOX](https://www.miniorange.com/compliances/).
- **Minimizing Security Risks**: By managing privileged accounts, organizations can minimize the risk of security breaches. PAM solutions ensure that privileged access is granted based on the principle of least privilege, reducing the attack surface available to cyber attackers.
- **Enhanced Operational Control**: PAM provides an organization with enhanced control over its IT environment. It allows for the [monitoring, recording, and analysis](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/privileged-session-monitoring) of all privileged account activities, offering insights into potential security threats and operational bottlenecks.
- **Rapid Incident Response**: In the event of a security incident, having a robust PAM strategy that includes efficient management of privileged accounts enables organizations to respond more quickly. It allows for the immediate isolation of affected accounts and systems, mitigating potential damage.
- **Efficient Management of Access Rights**: simplifies the management of access rights for IT administrators. Automated workflows for granting and revoking privileged access reduce manual overhead and enhance overall operational efficiency.

The importance of privileged accounts in Privileged Access Management cannot be overstated. They are central to securing an organization’s most valuable assets and ensuring the smooth operation of its IT infrastructure, making PAM an indispensable part of modern cybersecurity strategies.

## How miniOrange Protects Your Privileged Accounts {#how-miniOrange-protects-your-privileged-accounts}

miniOrange specializes in comprehensive Privileged Access Management solutions, designed to protect your organization's most critical assets. Our approach combines least privilege enforcement, [multi-factor authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa), and advanced monitoring, ensuring your privileged accounts are secure yet accessible. 

Let us show you how our tailor-made security strategies can fortify your infrastructure. Schedule a demo with our experts today and take the first step towards unparalleled cybersecurity protection with miniOrange.


Discover what privileged accounts are & types that grant users elevated access to essential IT resources, such as servers and databases, beyond standard permissions.

What are Privileged Accounts? and its Types


## What is a Directory Service ?

A **Directory Service** is a database that stores and maintains information about users and resources. [Directory services](https://www.miniorange.com/products/directory-services) are used in many different applications, including email systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and content management systems. Directory services can be either centralized or distributed. In a centralized service, all the information is stored on one server. With a distributed directory service, information is stored on multiple servers. This can be done for redundancy or to provide faster performance.

In a distributed directory service, there are two types of servers:

**- The user directory server** contains information about users and groups. It also contains the password hashes for each user.
**- A configuration directory server** stores information about how things work in the environment (for example, it might tell you where all the data is).

### You’ve got a database, and you’re wondering: What’s the difference? {#database-vs-directory-service-what-is-the-difference}

There are a couple of things to consider.

A directory service and a database are two technologies that are used to store and manage information. They’re both used to store data, but they’re different in a few key ways.

The first is that a directory service uses a hierarchical structure to organize information, while databases use flat structures. A directory service is based on a tree-like structure that branches out from one central location and then branches out again, so you can see where things are stored at all times. The structure is hierarchical, which means it’s easy for users to find their way around the system, because they know exactly where everything is located.

A database stores all its information in one flat file or table—it doesn’t have any branching structures like a directory service does. This makes it easier for users to access all pieces of information at once; for example, if you wanted to look up something about your own business on the website, you’d just type in “business” into one search box and see all of your business’s details appear right below it!

### What are the different types of directory services ? {types-of-directory-services}

![Types of Directory Services](/blog/assets/2023/types-of-directory-services.webp)

**LDAP :** Lightweight Directory Access Protocol is a protocol that enables directory services authentication for servers and clients on multiple platforms.

**Key File :** A key file is a text file that contains the user’s password, encrypted to prevent unauthorized access.

**Digest File :** Stores user and group information based on encrypted username and password.

### Imagine a unified directory service in which all information could be accessed. {#unified-directory-service}

Yes, We can use a single directory that connects with all sorts of directories—including on-premise Active Directory, user stores, and LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) directories— [Universal Directory](https://www.miniorange.com/products/directory-services). With the miniOrange solution you can access all directories at a single place.

![Directory Services](/blog/assets/2023/directory-service-banner.webp)

### Conclusion : {#conclusion}

Directory services are an important piece of enterprise databases. In order to create a centralized hub in which all employees can locate the information they need, organizations need a way to identify and communicate with different users in their business. In order to do this, they need directory services within their enterprise database solution.


A directory service is a database that stores and maintains information about users and resources.

What is a Directory service and Why do you need one?


### What is ADFS? {#what-is-adfs}

**Active Directory Federation Service (ADFS)** is a software component developed by Microsoft to provide Single Sign-On (SSO) authorization service to users on Windows Server Operating Systems. ADFS allows users across organizational boundaries to access applications on Windows Server Operating Systems using a single set of login credentials.

ADFS makes use of the claims-based Access Control Authorization model to ensure security across applications using the federated identity. Claims-based authentication is a process in which a user is identified by a set of claims related to their identity. The claims are packaged into a secure token by the identity provider.

### How does ADFS work? {#how-does-adfs-work}

The authentication process using the Active Directory Federation Service (ADFS), takes place in the following steps:

- The user navigates to a service, for example, a partner-company website (http://example.com) to obtain pricing or product details.
- The website requests an authentication token.
- User requests token from the ADFS server.
- ADFS server issues token containing user’s set of claims.
- User forwards token to the partner-company website.
- The website grants authorization access to the user.

### What are the components of ADFS? {#what-are-the-components-of-adfs}

- **Active Directory**: The Identity Information which is to be used by ADFS is stored on the Active Directory.
- **Federation Server**: It contains the tools needed to manage federated trusts between business partners. It processes authentication requests coming in from external users and hosts a security token service that issues tokens for claims based on verification of credentials from AD.
- **Federation Server Proxy**: The Proxy is deployed on the extranet of the organization, to which external clients connect when requesting a security token. It forwards these requests to the Federation Server. The Federation server is not exposed directly to the internet to prevent security risks.
- **ADFS Web Server**: It hosts the ADFS Web Agent which manages the security tokens and authentication cookies sent to it for authentication purposes.

### Why ADFS is used by organizations? {#Why-adfs-is-used-by-organizations}

Using Active Directory (AD) in the connected online world creates authentication challenges. AD cannot authenticate users who try to access integrated applications externally. In the modern workplace, users often need to access applications that are not owned or managed by their organization’s AD. ADFS is able to resolve and simplify these third-party authentication challenges.

ADFS allows users from one organization to access applications of partner organizations using the standard credentials of their organization’s Active Directory (AD). ADFS also lets users access AD-integrated applications while working remotely using their standard organizational AD credentials via a web interface. When establishing a partnership to use another organization’s web applications, ADFS provides a central place to manage and audit the employee identity information that is shared with their organization’s partners.

Over 90% of organizations use Active Directory, which means many use ADFS as well.

**ADFS can be used in the below scenarios**

- **Single Sign-On (SSO)**: ADFS can be used to provide Single Sign-On (SSO) authorization to users who want to access applications located in different networks or organizations. It provides seamless Single Sign-On (SSO) access to Internet-facing applications or services.
- **Identity Federation (Identity Management)**: Federated Identity is a concept where a user’s identity is centralized. This makes Identity Management easier. Identity Management is done to maintain security while keeping the costs associated with managing user identities, low.

**ADFS Office 365 example**

- Office 365 uses an Active Directory environment wherein a dedicated domain is created on the cloud for each user’s Office 365 subscription.
- ADFS is used here by setting up directory synchronization (DirSyc tool) that creates accounts in Microsoft’s domain matching the accounts within the user’s domain.
- A user can select accounts that should be synchronized in the AD.

### What are the limitations of ADFS? {#what-are-the-limitations-of-adfs}

- **Maintenance Costs**: ADFS generates a high cost of maintenance which consists of infrastructure maintenance, management of multiple federations, SSL certificate costs.
- **ADFS Complexity**: Adding an application or system to an ADFS service is complex and time-consuming. It doesn’t have a user-friendly management dashboard for managing users, groups, and authentication policies.
- **ADFS Security issue**: ADFS runs on Windows Server, that have more security issues like vulnerability to malware and other security related errors.
- ADFS does not allow file-sharing or printing using print servers.
- ADFS cannot access Active Directory resources.
- ADFS does not support Remote Desktop connections.

### ADFS Vs miniOrange IDP {#adfs-vs-miniorange}

| Features                           | ADFS                                                | miniOrange IDP                                        |
|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| Multi-Protocol support              | Supports limited protocol (SAML 2.0, WS-Federation & OAuth 2.0) | Fully Supports all protocols for Authentication      |
| MFA (Multi-factor Authentication)   | It supports limited MFA methods                     | It supports 15+ MFA methods                           |
| Single Sign-On into Mobile Apps     | Doesn’t support                                      | It supports SSO into Mobile Apps                     |
| Adaptive Authentication             | Doesn’t support                                      | It supports                                          |
| JWT                                | Doesn’t support                                      | It supports                                          |


### Related Articles of ADFS Integration {#related-articles-of-adfs-integration}

- [ADFS As IDP](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/configure-adfs-sso)
- [WordPress ADFS Login](https://wordpress.org/plugins/miniorange-adfs-login/)
- [What is Single Sign-On SSO?](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-single-sign-on-sso/)
- [ADFS SSO with Joomla](https://plugins.miniorange.com/guide-joomla-single-sign-sso-using-adfs-idp)


What is ADFS ? Active Directory Federation Service (ADFS) is a software component created by Microsoft to provide Windows Server operating systems Single Sign-On to users..It is a feature that allows sharing of identity information outside a company’s network. Know more about ADFS components and why it is used.

What is ADFS?



Imagine your business as a fortress, locked tight against cyber threats but open to those who belong. An Identity Provider (IdP) acts as a smart gatekeeper, recognizing faces, voices, and credentials, allowing seamless access while blocking intruders. In 2022, data breaches cost companies an average of $4.35 million, with cyberattacks up by 38%. Yet, 61% of C-suite execs feel unprepared for the cybersecurity challenges of today. Meet the Identity Provider: your digital world's hero, merging top-notch security with easy access.

But what exactly is an IDP, and why should it be at the top of every business leader's priority list? Explore identity management and see how it can transform your organization's security, boost productivity, and elevate user satisfaction.

## Understanding Identity Providers {#Understanding Identity Providers}

### What is an Identity Provider (IdP)?

An Identity Provider (IdP) is a system that creates, stores and manages digital identities. It verifies users' identities and allows them to access various applications and services by managing and verifying their digital credentials.

### What is User Identity?

User identity is the unique mix of traits and details that define someone in a digital system. This essentially includes identifiers that set one user apart from another.

- Usernames, and
- Email addresses, and also

Other identifiers such as -
- Employee IDs
- Phone numbers
- Biometric data
- Social media handles

Essentially, it's the digital persona that systems use to recognize and interact with users securely and uniquely.

### Why Does Your Security Strategy Need IdPs?

Identity Providers (IdPs) are essential for modern digital security. Here's why:

1. **Centralized Authentication**: IdPs provide a secure way for users to log into multiple applications using a single set of credentials, reducing the need for multiple passwords. This is known as single sign-on.
2. **Better Security**: They support multi-factor authentication (MFA), ensuring that only authorized users gain access.
3. **Simplified User Management**: IdPs streamline the process of adding ([provisioning](https://www.miniorange.in/products/user-provisioning)) or removing (de-provisioning) user access, making it easier to manage permissions.
4. **Improved User Experience**: By allowing single sign-on (SSO), IdPs make it convenient for users to access various services without repeatedly logging in.

In short, IdPs are important as they help secure digital identities and simplify access management.

### Security Benefits and Features of an Identity Provider

1. **Authentication and Authorization**: Verifies user identities using methods like passwords, biometrics, or multi-factor authentication (MFA), adding an extra layer of security beyond just passwords. Determines what resources a user can access based on their identity, ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive information.
2. **User Management**: Handles user creation, updates, and deletion, ensuring accurate and up-to-date user information. Centralized user management boosts security by making it easier to enforce security policies and quickly revoke access when necessary.
3. **Federation**: Enables users to access resources across different domains or organizations using a single identity.
4. **Security**: Protects user data and credentials through encryption, secure protocols, and regular security updates. By consolidating authentication processes, IdPs reduce the number of potential entry points for attackers, thereby lowering the risk of breaches.
5. **Compliance**: Ensures adherence to regulatory requirements and industry standards for [data protection](https://www.miniorange.com/compliances/dpdp-act) and privacy. IdPs provide comprehensive logs and reports, aiding in compliance and security audits.
6. **Detailed Monitoring and Reporting**: IdPs offer detailed monitoring and reporting capabilities, which aid in compliance and security audits.
7. **Improved User Experience**: While primarily focusing on user convenience, it indirectly improves security by reducing password-related issues, which can be a common vulnerability.

These features and benefits make IdPs essential for secure and efficient identity management for businesses, simplifying and strengthening the authentication process.

## How Do IdPs Work for Your Organization? {#How Do IdPs Work for Your Organization?}

### How Do Identity Providers Work?

Identity Providers (IdPs) work by managing and verifying user identities to ensure secure access to various applications and services.

![IDP Workflow](/blog/assets/2023/idp-workflow.webp)

Here are the steps on how Identity Providers (IdPs) work:

1. **User Attempts Access**: A user tries to access a resource or application.
2. **Credential Verification**: The IdP verifies the user’s credentials (e.g., username and password).
3. **Authentication Token Issuance**: Once authenticated, the IdP issues an authentication token.
4. **Single Sign-On (SSO)**: The user can use this token to access multiple applications without re-entering credentials.
5. **Access Control Enforcement**: The IdP enforces access controls based on the user’s roles and permissions.
6. **Resource Access Granted**: The user gains access to the authorized resources.

This process ensures secure and streamlined access to applications and services.

### The Role of IdPs within SSO

An **Identity Provider (IdP)** is a service that manages and authenticates user identities. Within the context of **[Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso)**, the IdP plays a significant role by:

- **Authentication**: Verifying the user’s identity when they log in.
- **Token Issuance**: Providing a secure token that grants the user access to multiple applications without needing to log in again.
- **User Management**: Maintaining user credentials and profiles, ensuring they are up-to-date and secure.


An IdP acts as a trusted gatekeeper, allowing users to access various services seamlessly and securely with just one set of login credentials.

## Types of Identity Providers {#Types of Identity Providers}

The various types of Identity Providers (IdPs) include:

1. **Enterprise Identity Providers**: Used within organizations for identity and access management (IAM). Examples include Active Directory, miniOrange and Okta.
2. **Social Identity Providers**: Manage identities related to social networks or cloud services, like Google or Facebook.
3. **Government Identity Providers**: Handle citizen identities for government services.
4. **Blockchain-based Identity Providers**: An emerging technology that uses blockchain for identity management.

These providers help manage and authenticate user identities securely and efficiently.

## Service Providers Explained {#Service Providers Explained}

### What is a Service Provider?

A Service Provider (SP) is an entity that offers services, resources, or applications to users. In the context of [Identity and Access Management (IAM)](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/), a Service Provider relies on an Identity Provider (IdP) to authenticate users and provide access to its services.

For example, when you log into an online banking app, the bank (Service Provider) uses your credentials verified by an Identity Provider to grant you access to your account.

### Identity Providers vs. Service Providers

| Aspect                 | Identity Provider (IdP)                                                | Service Provider (SP)                                     |
|------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
| **Definition**         | Manages and authenticates user identities                              | Provides services or applications to users                |
| **Role**               | Confirms user identity and passes authentication tokens                | Verifies authentication tokens and grants access to services |
| **Examples**           | miniOrange, Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace                 | Salesforce, Dropbox, Slack                                |
| **Function in SSO**    | Centralizes user authentication, enabling single sign-on (SSO)         | Relies on IdP for user authentication and grants access based on IdP’s validation |
| **Data Managed**       | Usernames, passwords, emails, permissions                              | Service-specific data and resources                       |
| **Security Responsibility** | Ensures secure handling of user credentials and authentication processes | Ensures secure access to services and resources based on IdP’s authentication |


## How to Choose an Identity Provider for Your Business? {#How to Choose an Identity Provider for Your Business?}

Choosing an Identity Provider (IdP) for your business involves evaluating security features, integration capabilities, and user experience. Prioritize IdPs that offer robust multi-factor authentication (MFA) and support for modern protocols like [SAML](https://www.miniorange.com/what-is-saml) and OAuth. Ensure the IdP integrates seamlessly with your existing systems and applications. Consider the scalability and reliability of the provider to support your business growth. In case, if you have an existing external IdP, you should be able to integrate it using a [Cloud Access Security Broker](https://www.miniorange.com/casb/solutions/) (CASB) and meet your [zero trust security](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/zero-trust-security-model/) goals. Lastly, assess the provider's compliance with industry standards and regulations to ensure data protection and privacy.


## Getting Started with Identity Providers {#Getting Started with Identity Providers}

To get started with identity providers like miniOrange, first, register for an account on their platform. Next, configure your application by providing necessary details such as redirect URLs and client IDs. Then, integrate the [miniOrange API](https://apisecurity.miniorange.com/) into your application to enable authentication. Test the integration thoroughly to ensure seamless user login and access management. Finally, monitor and maintain the integration for any updates or issues.

miniOrange IDP allows users to bring their own identities to their workspace. It enables them to sign up or log into a web service or application using an existing set of credentials in place of creating new ones for the service or application.

Ready to upgrade your application's security? Sign up with miniOrange today for a [free trial](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/free-trial) and streamline your identity management!

## Further Reading {#Further Reading}

- [How to Setup miniOrange On-premise Identity Provider?](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/on-premise-identity-server/setup-on-premise-identity-provider)
- [miniOrange Identity Brokering Service](https://www.miniorange.com/products/identity-broker-service)
- [Shopify SSO using miniOrange Identity Provider](https://plugins.miniorange.com/shopify-single-sign-on-sso-using-miniorange-as-identity-provider)
- [SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) for WordPress using miniOrange as IDP](https://plugins.miniorange.com/saml-single-sign-on-sso-wordpress-using-miniorange)


Discover the essentials of Identity Providers (IdPs), their importance, types, and features. Learn how IdPs solve business challenges and shape trends in IAM.

What is an Identity Provider (IdP)? - miniOrange


**Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)** is a security model that manages access to resources based on a combination of attributes associated with users, resources, and the environment. Unlike traditional access control models like **[Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-role-based-access-control-rbac/)**, which rely on predefined roles, ABAC access control allows for more dynamic and flexible decision-making by evaluating attributes. These attributes can include user information (such as department, clearance level, or job role), resource properties (such as sensitivity or file type), and environmental factors (such as time of day or location).

In ABAC security, access is granted or denied based on a policy that defines which attributes must be met. For example, an organization might allow access to a confidential document only if the user has a certain security clearance, is accessing the document from a specific location, and within a certain timeframe. This multi-dimensional approach makes ABAC authorization highly adaptable to today’s complex IT environments, where static role-based systems may no longer be sufficient to protect sensitive data and critical systems. As a result, ABAC cyber security has emerged as a critical component for organizations looking to bolster their defenses in increasingly diverse and cloud-based infrastructures.

## How ABAC Works {#How ABAC Works}

Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) is a dynamic and flexible [IAM (Identity and Access Management)](https://www.miniorange.com/what-is-iam-identity-and-access-management) model that grants or denies user access based on a set of predefined policies. 

At its core, ABAC operates using policies defined by attributes — characteristics associated with the user (subject), the resource they’re trying to access, the actions they intend to perform, and the surrounding environment. These policies are built as boolean functions, meaning they can change dynamically in response to evolving organizational requirements, making ABAC access control highly adaptable.

### Key Attributes in ABAC 

- **Subject**: This refers to the user requesting access. Attributes here might include the user’s role, department, clearance level, or any other relevant user-related information. This forms a critical component of ABAC authorization as it helps in identifying who can access what.
- **Resource**: This is the asset that the user is trying to access, such as a file, application, API, or server. Resource attributes might cover details like the type of data, its sensitivity level, or ownership, which are crucial in ABAC security policies.
- **Action**: This specifies what the user intends to do with the resource — for example, read, write, edit, delete, or copy. Each action has its own set of access rules that need to be evaluated under ABAC authorization.
- **Environment**: This covers the broader context in which the access request is made. It could include the time of access, geographical location, device type, network security protocol, or even the encryption standards in use. The context-aware nature of ABAC cyber security ensures that access is granted only under secure conditions.

When a user tries to access a resource, the ABAC system evaluates all these attributes against the defined policies. The policies use boolean logic to check if every attribute aligns with the established rules. Access is granted only if all the attributes meet the policy's requirements, thereby ensuring robust ABAC security.

## Benefits of Attribute Based Access Control (ABAC) {#Benefits of Attribute Based Access Control (ABAC)}

Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) offers a range of advantages that make it a preferred choice for modern security strategies. Here’s a breakdown of its key benefits:

1. **Granular Access Control**: Unlike traditional models that rely on broad roles or groups, ABAC allows administrators to define access rights based on specific attributes. This high level of detail enables organizations to control access down to the [granular level](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/granular-access-control), significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access. By applying ABAC authorization, companies can tailor permissions based on individual attributes, ensuring that only the right users have access to sensitive resources.
2. **Fast Onboarding of Users**: With ABAC, access policies are defined based on attributes rather than individual user roles. This means that when new users join, they are automatically assigned appropriate access rights based on their attributes, such as department, job role, or location. This automation eliminates the need for manually assigning permissions to each user, speeding up the onboarding process and ensuring that ABAC security is maintained effectively.
3. **Dynamic Access Decisions**: One of the standout features of ABAC is its ability to make access decisions based on real-time context. For example, ABAC authorization can restrict access to certain resources during specific times or only permit access from particular locations. This dynamic, context-aware decision-making process adds an extra layer of protection, enhancing overall ABAC cyber security by considering the environment in which access requests are made.
4. **Policy-Based Access Control**: ABAC access control enables administrators to set clear, structured policies that define who can access specific resources under certain conditions. These policies simplify the management of access rights and make it easier to audit and review access controls. By centralizing policy management, ABAC not only enhances security but also helps organizations stay compliant with internal and external regulations.
5. **Extra Security Buffer**: Beyond traditional security measures like encryption, ABAC security provides an additional buffer against potential breaches. For instance, ABAC can make it harder for users to access resources from unknown devices or unverified locations, thereby adding another layer of defense to protect critical assets and sensitive data. This extra security measure ensures that even if other security protocols are compromised, ABAC cyber security still helps safeguard the organization’s resources.

Overall, ABAC offers a flexible, dynamic, and secure way to manage access controls, making it an ideal choice for organizations looking to enhance their security posture.

## ABAC vs. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) {#ABAC vs. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)}

ABAC (Attribute-Based Access Control) and RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) are widely used access control models in cybersecurity. While both aim to manage user permissions and secure sensitive information, they differ significantly in their approach. Let us have a look at the detailed comparison:

| ABAC                                                    | RBAC                                                   |
|---------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| Entirely attribute-driven: Access decisions are made based on user, resource, action, and environmental attributes (e.g., role, department, location, time). | Based on roles: Permissions are assigned based on predefined job roles (e.g., admin, manager), which determine access rights. |
| Dynamic and context-aware: Access policies can adapt to real-time context, such as location, time, and device type. | Static and predefined: Access is granted based solely on assigned roles without considering dynamic contexts. |
| Fine-grained access control: Policies can be tailored to very specific conditions, providing granular control over who can access what. | Broad access control: Users inherit permissions based on their roles, which can lead to excessive access if roles are too broad. |
| Policy-based access control: Uses XML-based natural language policies that consider multiple attributes and context to make access decisions. | No policy construct: Access is determined by assigning users to specific roles; there are no complex policy rules. |
| Ideal for large, dispersed organizations: Suited for enterprises with numerous users and resources requiring precise access controls. | Ideal for smaller organizations: Best for businesses with a more centralized workforce and fewer external users. |

&nbsp;

**ABAC** offers a dynamic, context-aware approach with fine-grained control, making it suitable for complex environments. **RBAC**, on the other hand, provides a simpler, role-based model that works well for smaller or less dynamic organizations.


## What Are the Use Cases of Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)? {#What Are the Use Cases of Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)?}

Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) is highly versatile, providing tailored access based on user attributes, roles, locations, and more. Here are key use cases:

- **Granular Data Security**: ABAC secures sensitive data by allowing access based on specific conditions, such as user role, location, or device used. This fine-grained control reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
- **Protecting Microservices and APIs**: ABAC ensures only authorized users or services can access APIs and microservices, providing enhanced security in complex, cloud-based architectures.
- **Dynamic Firewalls and Policy Controls**: ABAC supports real-time, per-user policy adjustments based on changing attributes like network location or device, strengthening network security with dynamic access controls.

These use cases highlight ABAC's adaptability in various scenarios, especially where detailed, context-aware security is crucial.


## Disadvantages of Using ABAC {#Disadvantages of Using ABAC}

- **Increased Complexity**: Setting up ABAC requires careful planning, as administrators need to define numerous attributes and policies, making implementation time-consuming.
- **Scalability Challenges**: Managing a large number of users and attributes can be difficult, especially as organizations grow, making ABAC less efficient to scale.
- **Auditing Difficulties**: The numerous permissions in ABAC create complexity, making it harder to audit and identify potential security gaps.



## Conclusion {#Conclusion}

Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) offers a flexible and dynamic approach to managing access, using a combination of user, resource, action, and environmental attributes. Its ability to provide fine-grained, context-aware security makes it ideal for complex and evolving IT environments, particularly in cloud-based infrastructures. While ABAC has its challenges, such as complexity and scalability issues, its benefits, including granular control, dynamic policy management, and enhanced security, make it a valuable component for organizations aiming to strengthen their cybersecurity posture.

To implement ABAC effectively and seamlessly, solutions like miniOrange offer comprehensive tools to help you manage and secure access with ease.



## Frequently Asked Questions {#Frequently Asked Questions}


**1. What Does ABAC Mean?**

ABAC (Attribute-Based Access Control) is a security model that manages access to resources based on various attributes or characteristics. These attributes can include user details (like role or department), the type of resource, the action to be performed (e.g., read, write), and environmental factors (such as time, location, or device).

**2. What Is ABAC Used For?**

ABAC is used to provide fine-grained access control to sensitive data, systems, and services. Unlike traditional role-based models, ABAC uses detailed policies to decide if a user should have access based on specific attributes. This makes ABAC ideal for complex environments, such as cloud platforms, where access needs to be tailored to individual circumstances, such as restricting certain data access only during business hours or from specific locations.


ABAC grants access based on user attributes rather than roles, enabling precise control over permissions. Analyze context, identity, and more for secure access.

What is Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)? – A Complete Guide


### What is Azure Active Directory? {#what-is-azure-active-directory}

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is Microsoft’s cloud service that provides identity and access management (IAM). It is part of the Office 365 system, it is compatible with an on-premise active directory, and is useful to provide authentication to multiple cloud-based services via various cloud protocols such as SAML, OAuth2, and WS Security. It provides the ability to manage user identities and access rights. Azure AD combines core directory services, access management, and identity protection into a single solution.

Azure AD allows your users to sign in and access the resources which are in external resources such as Office 365 and thousands of other Software as a service (SaaS) applications. It also allows your users to gain access to internal resources such as applications on your company network and intranet. Azure AD uses Representational State Transfer (REST) APIs to connect with other web-based applications. In this directory, the admin has the capability to create groups and add accounts to those groups. Group access to resources can then be assigned to them. Mobile devices and Windows desktops can connect to Azure AD using Microsoft Intune.

### How does Azure Active Directory work? {#how-does-azure-active-directory-work}

The Azure Active Directory Authentication takes place in the following steps:

- The user navigates to the application and requests access.
- An authentication request is sent to the miniOrange Broker Service.
miniOrange Broker identifies the Azure AD and sends authentication requests to Azure AD.
- Azure Active Directory authenticates the user and generates the SAML token, LDAP authentication Response is sent to the broker.
- miniOrange broker posts the SAML response to the Service provider (Application) via the user’s browser.
- The service provider (Application) verifies the SAML response and access is granted to the user.

![Azure Active Directory Authentication Flow](/blog/assets/2023/azure-active-directory-authentication-flow.webp)

### Windows Active Directory vs Azure Active Directory {#windows-active-directory-vs-azure-active-directory}

Windows Active Directory, launched by Microsoft in 2000, is the predecessor to the Azure Active Directory, which has become the standard for enterprise identity management since its launch. Unlike Azure Active Directory, the Windows Active Directory uses Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) to connect with other web-based applications. It also does not manage mobile devices. Group Policies (GPOs) are usually used to govern desktops and servers connected to Windows Active Directory. Finally, Kerberos and NTLM protocols are used to validate user credentials.

Because of the limitations of Windows Active Directory in cloud contexts, Microsoft created Azure Active Directory. Users may use Azure AD to manage all of their cloud apps and servers, including Office 365, SharePoint Online, and Exchange Online.

The key distinction between the two platforms is that Azure AD uses Representational State Transfer (REST) API interfaces to provide web-based applications. As previously indicated, it accomplishes this through the use of unique protocols and code bases. You will instantly become an Azure AD Tenant after you register with one of Microsoft’s cloud apps. This means you can manage all users, permissions, passwords, and more from a single location.

### Benefits of azure active directory {#benefits-of-azure-active-directory}

**Simple Integration:**
Because Azure AD supports a wide range of identity providers, users may log in using their Microsoft, Google, Facebook, or GitHub accounts. Azure AD may also be integrated with a variety of apps, including Salesforce, Office 365, and others.

**Strong Azure AD Security:**
Microsoft, as you might assume, takes security very seriously. Multi-factor authentication, conditional access, and Privileged Identity Management (PIM) are just a few of the security features available in Azure AD.

**High Availability:**
Microsoft promises a 99.9% availability guarantee. Azure AD is highly available thanks to a distributed architecture that spans 28 data centers throughout the globe. All data is written to the Active Primary partition first, then duplicated to the Passive Primary, and finally read from the Secondary Replica partitions.

**Collaboration:**
By granting access to the internal project site or material, Azure AD aids collaboration outside the business, such as with partners. Azure AD B2B (business-to-business) and Azure AD B2C (business-to-consumer) are the two major external collaboration functions. You may invite business colleagues to your application or service using the B2B functionality, and they can sign in using their current Azure identity. The B2C functionality is similar, except your clients may sign in to your app or service using their preferred identity provider (Facebook, Google, GitHub, etc.). MFA and Conditional Access rules can be used to control access to resources in both circumstances.

**Single sign-on:**
This allows onboarding new workers, terminating access for outgoing employees, and implementing access to new cloud services easier and faster, allowing users to get up and running faster. Single sign-on also promotes commitment to security and identification rules.

**Multi-Factor Authentication:**
This adds an extra degree of protection to accounts by requiring another form of verification. Microsoft Authenticator app, OATH Hardware token, OATH Software token, SMS, Voice call, and other MFA verification methods are available in Azure AD.

### Limitations of Azure Active Directory Authentication {#limitations-of-azure-active-directory-authentication}

- **Limited MFA methods**: Azure Active Directory Authentication supports limited Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) methods.
- **No Group policy**:  It has few policy tools like conditional access, but it is more focused on granting access.
- **No support for NTLM or Kerberos**: Azure AD Authentication supports only modern authentication protocols like OAuth, SAML & OpenID Connect.
- **Limited OAuth support**: It does not have support for all OAuth grants.
- No support to extend or customize existing protocols with custom apps.
- Limited support for Device, location, and time-based access policies.

###  Azure Active Directory Authentication Components {#azure-active-directory-authentication-components}

- **Service Provider** - Service providers are responsible for communications between the user, an identity provider that maintains a user directory. In this case, Azure Active Directory is an identity provider and the application could be a Service provider.
- **Identity Provider** - Here Azure AD is an identity provider. So  As an Identity Provider, it authenticates the user and provides an authentication token (that is, information that verifies the authenticity of the user) to the service provider.

Click [here](https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/security/business/identity-access/microsoft-entra-id) to learn more about Azure Active Directory.

### Azure Active Directory VS miniOrange IdP {#azure-active-directory-vs-miniorange-idp}

| Features                  | Azure Active Directory                                    | miniOrange IdP                                      |
|---------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| Multi-Protocol support    | Supports only a few modern authentication protocols (OAuth, SAML & OpenID Connect) | Fully supports all protocols for Authentication.  |
| Multi-Factor Authentication | Supports limited Multi-Factor Authentication methods.  | Supports 15+ Multi-Factor Authentication methods.  |
| Pricing Plans             | A fixed annual subscription. (No quote-based pricing plan). | A flexible monthly & quote-based pricing plan for all size organizations. |
| Security                  | Doesn’t support.                                       | It supports fraud prevention, social login, and cloud security. |
| Adaptive Authentication   | Doesn’t support.                                       | It supports Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication.    |


### Further Reading {#further-reading}

- [Directory Services](https://www.miniorange.com/products/directory-services)
- [Single Sign-On SSO](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-single-sign-on-sso/)
- [Login Using Azure AD](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/configure-azure-ad-sso)


Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is cloud service that provides IAM & helps administrators handle multiple user logins.

What is Azure Active Directory? | Microsoft Azure AD


Deprovisioning is the process of automatically removing a user’s access from numerous SAAS app accounts and network infrastructure at the same time. Deprovisioning safeguards the security and confidentiality of the company by prohibiting departing employees from using corporate resources. The Deprovisioning action is triggered when an employee quits their job or changes roles within the company.


It is an [Identity and Access Management (IAM)](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-iam-identity-and-access-management-system/) solution that monitors and maintains a user’s identity and attributes in relation to their access to resources across one or more systems.

Consequently, whenever a person is “deprovisioned,” their identity, assets, and all associated accounts within the organization’s network of apps and services are all automatically erased. As a result, all the granted permissions and authorizations are securely revoked.

### Why is Deprovisioning important? {#why-is-deprovisioning-important}

Employees, independent contractors, suppliers, and partners constantly enter and exit businesses, acquiring access to countless tools and programs in the process. However, they must be appropriately offboarded and deprovisioned each time they are transferred to a different area of the organization or depart the business. Deprovisioning has several advantages, some of which are listed below:

**1. Protects data from misuse** 
Suppose an employee has access to some confidential information. Until their access is revoked, they can still access this information even after leaving the company. Therefore, It’s crucial to deprovision access as soon as a former employee leaves the organization since they pose great security threats if it’s not done correctly.

**2. Removes orphaned accounts**
If an employee account is not deprovisioned properly after offboarding, it leads to orphaned accounts. These accounts contain all the information about the former employee which isn’t currently assigned to anyone. Deprovisioning removes such accounts which may become hotspots for cyber attacks if not handled correctly.

**3. Easily update or offboard employees**
Maintain, update and delete employees’ user attributes, such as usernames, roles, and profiles, and automatically assign access permissions and user accounts based on changes in their designation (promotion, change in teams/role, etc.) or simply remove the employee after they leave the company throughout the system.

**4. Eliminate human error**
Because automated provisioning eliminates manual processes, it also greatly reduces the margin of error. When removing a user from the system and revoking access, there’s less of a possibility of making a mistake with the help of deprovisioning.

### How does it work? {#how-does-it-work}

Deprovisioning deletes the accounts connected to the user and eliminates their access permissions when they are offboarded or change roles. Moreover, this procedure may now simply be automated, as opposed to the traditional one that included HR staff relaying information to the IT department and then system administrators to restrict access. Through the use of Identity and Access Management (IAM) technology, automated deprovisioning is possible.

![SCIM User provisioning](/blog/assets/2023/scim-user-provisioning.webp)

The user will be deleted (if terminated) and all accounts linked with them will be immediately modified or revoked when employees move to another department or leave the business with the help of IAM and integrated directories.

### Automated Provisioning and deprovisioning {#automated-provisioning-and-deprovisioning}

Manual Deprovisioning carries significant security risks. There may be times when the person in charge of deprovisioning delays the task or, on rare occasions, forgets to do so. Old accounts with plenty of rights continue to build up in the directory as a result, and many former employees still have active accounts in your company’s domain. Data leaks by former employees shouldn’t be unexpected in this circumstance.

[Automated deprovisioning](https://blog.miniorange.com/automated-user-provisioning/) can assist in avoiding these risky mishaps and removing human error, which can be expensive for your company. A user account is automatically deprovisioned, removing it from Active Directory and revoking all user rights. The process of adding, updating, and controlling their access must also be automated as part of automated provisioning. In comparison to the time-consuming manual method, the activity just takes a few minutes, and it significantly improves network security.


### Provisioning and Deprovisioning with miniOrange {#provisioning-and-deprovisioning-with-miniOrange}

With miniOrange and our wide range of [User Provisioning & Deprovisioning solutions](https://www.miniorange.com/products/user-provisioning), you can create, manage, & delete your external and internal users’ access to on-premises, cloud, and hybrid apps.

We also have pre-integrated apps for Provisioning and Deprovisioning:

-  [Azure/Active Directory](https://www.miniorange.com/azure-ad-provisioning)
-  [G-Suite App](https://www.miniorange.com/google-workspace-provisioning)
-  [Microsoft 365](https://www.miniorange.com/office-365-provisioning)
-  [Salesforce](https://www.miniorange.com/salesforce-provisioning)

![Deprovisioning apps](/blog/assets/2023/automated-provisioning-apps.webp)

Linked is an overview of our Provisioning solutions as well as in-depth steps to implement the solution. miniOrange can set up complete automation for User Provisioning in your organization in no time! We have both cloud and on-premise solutions available based on the organization’s requirements.

Check out all of our pre-existing Provisioning & Deprovisioning integrated apps [here](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/?id=provisioning).

### Additional Resources {#additional-resources}
- [What is Provisioning?](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-provisioning/)
- [JIT Provisioning](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-just-in-time-jit-provisioning/)
- [Watch a Video to understand more about User Provisioning & Deprovisioning](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No8cg_qMrR4)

Deprovisioning ensures that the former employees do not have access to the organization’s resources right at the moment that they leave.

What is Deprovisioning & why is it important?


Cloud technology is undeniably considered paramount everywhere in the tech market. The rationale behind this is the emerging growth of Cloud technology in multiple businesses and enterprises to manage Data / Services which helps them to streamline their organizational process. G Suite is one of the most favored user-friendly Cloud technology, which is easily accessible from any device or location, irrational to organizational access parameters. G Suite continuously strives to supply additional features uniformly for the convenience of users. But still, there are a few aspects in G Suite that can’t be easily handled around access control and device management, due to the frontline feature that Google always promises of “anytime, anywhere and with any device”.

Easy cloud access to G Suite also brings up a set of challenges associated with security concerns to stop your data from being accessed by unauthorized users protecting it from various sorts of cyber threats. Maintaining the safety of such broad-driven cloud applications (Gmail, Google Drive) is one of the challenges within the modernized world. Here IP restriction for G Suite comes within the frame and is considered one of the proven solutions for handling these sorts of use cases.

To get specific inference regarding what **G suite IP restriction** is and the way it works we’d like to urge clear about a few basic aspects:-

- **What is IP restriction for G Suite?**
- **Why does your organization need IP restriction for G Suite?**
- **Why use miniOrange to protect your G Suite Data?**

### What is IP Restriction for G Suite? {#what-is-ip-restriction-for-gsuite}

IP Restriction termed as Internet Protocol Restriction allows admin or organization owners to restrict access to their business data to respective users and employees only through the specified and registered IP addresses. Allowing or restricting user access is often achieved with a separated IP as well as a variety of IP addresses. The IP restrictions are often set of different levels and combinations like defined IP ranges or individual IP addresses. Enabling IP restriction for G Suite ensures that your important data can’t be accessed at an unsecured public place or through an unregistered IP address.

Considering a real-time example, in a corporation you being an admin have whitelisted your employee’s device’s [Mobiles, PC’s] IP addresses and accordingly permitted access to your organization data. Now suppose if an employee is using the whitelisted device in an organization’s premises i.e he can easily access data and work around it accordingly. For a short time, if he tries to access data from his device being home, he won’t be allowed to access data as his device isn’t whitelisted by admin and secondly, he’s not operating the device from the required location he’s alleged to be.

IP restriction is enabled for various security purposes like reducing redundancy, bandwidth issues, and handling control of websites with efficient recovery. If a user tries to log in outside the required range, it’ll throw an error and a specific employee/ user won’t be unable to login and access the info. This feature is employed in various organizations within the Finance industry, Logistics, E-Commerce industry, Automobile segment, Manufacturing sector, IT industry, Educational sector, and Healthcare sector (KPOs).

### Why does your organization need IP restriction for G Suite? {#why-does-your-organization-need-ip-restriction-for-gsuite?}

Startups, mid-level organizations, and enormous enterprises are shifting over advanced cloud services to streamline their processing. G Suite, one of the foremost used cloud technologies, offers piles of services like Emailing, Google Calendar, Document – Presentation, file sharing, video apps, etc in a single package. As Google suite provides multiple offerings to numerous people directly, G Suite must cope up with multidimensional cloud computing security challenges. Although Google as a brand keeps no stone unturned to keep their users’ data safe with robust security protection, it still becomes difficult to cope up with distinct cyber threats within the cyber world.

Therefore, multiple cloud security companies came with the feature of IP restriction for G Suite. It enables the admin to shortlist IP addresses or a specific range of addresses, which then lets users transfer data or do further services from those registered IPs only. This IP restriction method indirectly prevents spoofing through manual defining of  IP ranges. Overall, there exist two ways of enabling IP restriction for Google Suite, One through a manual process or third-party cloud Security vendor.

### Why use miniOrange to protect your G Suite Data? {#why-use-miniOrange-to-protect-your-gsuite-data?}

Enabling IP restriction for G Suite manually demands a high-versed technical person to handle the utilization case. If the person lacks technical knowledge and performs something wrong then your G Suite cloud security risk level might increase unexpectedly. So here we need an advanced cloud security system that will overcome these issues and provide a top-notch security solution to your G suite organizational data.

Here miniOrange comes in and offers all-in-one protection measures to the businesses using G Suite. It also renders g suite security with IP restriction standards to supply high-level security to your organizational G Suite data. To implement **[IP restriction for G Suite](https://www.miniorange.com/configure-google-workspace-ip-restriction)** for your organization or business is a simple walk with miniOrange. You don’t have to put in extra effort as an enterprise to disturb the implementation of Google account security during a business.

miniOrange takes full control and visibility of organizational data, which is stored on Google. It also allows IT administrators to analyze the employee’s behavior towards enterprise data. On detection of a possible breach, it instantly sends an alert email message to notify higher business authorities. miniOrange also renders the program to enforce access control standards at the macro level on the idea of the device, IP address, time, browser, geolocation, etc.

You can follow the steps given here to set up IP restrictions and other **[Adaptive MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa)** methods for your applications. 

![G Suite IP restrictions](/blog/assets/2023/gsuite-features.webp)

**G Suite Automated Security Measures provided by miniOrange:**

Following listed are security measures provided by miniOrange,

**1. Access Control** : Access control specifies data control policies on the idea of location, device, IP address, and other means through which  G Suite content is often accessed. It imposes conditional policies on customer’s Google for business accounts and creates a virtual secure environment.

- [IP Restriction](https://www.miniorange.com/configure-google-workspace-ip-restriction): Restricts user access from unknown IP addresses to ensure corporate data is accessible only through IPs defined by the IT admin.
- [Geo (Location) Restriction](https://www.miniorange.com/configure-google-workspace-location-restriction#:~:text=On%20the%20Add%20Policy%20tab,the%20UP%20%26%20DOWN%20navigation%20keys.): Here a selected geographical area is assigned, to stop corporate data from being accessed from unauthorized remote locations.
- [Time Restriction](https://www.miniorange.com/configure-google-workspace-time-restriction): In time restriction, you as a corporation can fix specific timings, so hereafter any employee can access and work around corporate data within a specified time-frame. (e.g working hours)
- Browser Restriction: With miniOrange you’ll  register a specific browser, so hereafter an organizational employee can access corporate data as long as he’s using the required registered browser
- [Device Restriction](https://www.miniorange.com/configure-google-workspace-device-restriction): In Device Restriction user’s relatable devices like his mobile or Pc are going to be registered, if a specific user tries to log into the enterprise portal through unregistered or unknown devices he won’t be allowed to access

**2. DLP Policy**: Data loss prevention standard policy is appended by miniOrange during this consolidated Google Security software. These policies make sure that employees won’t send confidential business information outside the business network. Whenever the IP restriction for G Suite solution detects the occurrence of such an incident, it immediately blocks the user access and sends an alert mail to the business authority.
Aside from this, many other subsequent security measures are provided by miniOrange.

**Specific G-Suite security features provided by miniOrange:**

- Administrators can prefer to apply rules to specific individuals, groups, or the whole organization differently.
- Rules are often set during a hierarchy, allowing flexible management.
- Predefined IP locations white list where a user is allowed to access from.
- No firewall or installations are required.
- Easy policy settings.

### Conclusion {#conclusion}

Being a neighborhood of the high-versed cyber world, it’s an important need of enterprises to adopt a high-versed Security Solution for G Suite. To manage advanced security for the G suite with other multiple activities becomes a daunting task for an organization and IT admins. Though it’d be difficult to manage security norms it’s the necessity of the time considering trending cyber-attacks. So it’s better to approach security-as-a-service providers. There are few cloud security providers, which give top-notch security services. But before choosing any cloud Security Service provider ensure they did it confidentially, with the simplest technical support at a budgeted price. Accordingly, I feel miniOrange here fits within the best considering these points. You can schedule a free demo with them to ascertain how IP restriction for G Suite works and how it can add an extra edge to your organizational security.

### Further Reading {#further-reading}

- [What is IP Restriction?](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/ip-restriction#:~:text=IP%20Restriction%20Solution%20allows%20administrators,and%20registered%20IP%20addresses%20range.)
- [Google Workspace Multifactor Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/google-apps-two-factor-authentication-(2fa))
- [Adaptive Authentication ](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa)
- [Risk-based Authentication (RBA)](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/risk-based-authentication-rba)

IP Restriction for G Suite allows secure login and restricts unauthorized access based on IP address, geolocation, time, and the device.

What is G Suite IP Restriction? Enable IP Restriction for G Suite


### Managing Access to Legacy and Cloud Applications {# Managing Access to Legacy and Cloud Applications}
Enterprises/Organizations’ needs to preserve and grow virtual workforces while protecting digital transformation efforts have constantly fueled the IAM market. As a result, numerous standards and methodologies for ensuring access for businesses have been developed. 

With the advent of web applications in the industry in the early 1990s, companies turned to Web Access Management (WAM) systems to manage [authentication and authorization](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/authentication-authorization-difference/) to corporate resources. WAM is more commonly known as **Header Based Authentication**, as the user request is authenticated based on the header values of the request. 

The **Federated authentication standards** used today, gained prominence in the early 2000s, and SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS began to gain a foothold in the enterprise, with businesses centralizing their [Identity and Access Management (IAM)](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-iam-identity-and-access-management-system/) programs around [IDaaS (Identity-as-a-Service)](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-identity-as-a-service-idaas/).

Regardless of how new a company is, it will inevitably possess legacy resources that rely on earlier generation technologies. Because legacy apps are still used by enterprises, a comprehensive IAM architecture cannot ignore them as Enterprises need to SSO into these legacy applications for a seamless user experience. Thus the employed IAM solution must support both legacy and modern technology applications.

 

### Legacy Authentication methods (Web Access Management or WAM) {# Legacy Authentication methods (Web Access Management or WAM)}
Web Access Management is a legacy authentication mechanism for managing authentication and authorization to corporate resources. It was first utilized in the early 1990s. 

A WAM system requests authentication from the end user, then injects identity data via the HTTP headers of a user’s browser’s HTTP request, for consumption by the protected application. This is more commonly referred to as Header Based SSO. These Header values can be configured as required for the application and are sent to the application via an application proxy. 

The following are some of the advantages of employing Application Proxies’ native support for header-based authentication:

- **Provide remote access to your on-premises apps with ease**: App Proxy makes existing remote access architecture easier to manage by eliminating the need for VPN access and on-premises identity management. Users’ sign-in flows remain unchanged, and they can work from any location on any device.  
- **No need to install any extra software**: There is no need to install any extra software or make any changes to your apps because current Application Proxy connectors can be used.
- **A large number of attributes and transformations are available**: Because all header values are adjustable, there is a large number of attributes and transformations to choose from.

![Legacy authentication model](/blog/assets/2023/legacy-authentication-model.webp)

 

### Traditional WAM models are divided into two categories {# Traditional WAM models are divided into two categories}
#### **Agent/plugin-based models**  
In agent/plugin-based models, an agent/plugin is installed on each app or web server. These agents/plugins intercept HTTP requests before they’re sent to the target application (to read the HTTP header data), communicate with the centralized policy server, and enforce access rules. This solution eliminates the requirement for all traffic to be routed through a proxy, allowing for a distributed design, but it comes with the cost of needing to install, update, and administering agent software on each app server in your environment.

#### **Proxy-based models**  
In Proxy-based models, all web traffic is routed through a network traffic manager, where HTTP requests can be rejected or authorized based on policies. This paradigm presented a single point of failure, but it also provided protocol-level granular access control without the need for software installation. 

### Modern Authentication Methods (SAML/OAuth/OpenID) {# Modern Authentication Methods (SAML/OAuth/OpenID)}
Modern authentication techniques, unlike Legacy authentication methods, use a token-based approach. In this paradigm, an identity provider provides a token with information about the user to the application (service provider), such as a JSON Web Token (JWT) or SOAP payload. This token contains user claims that can be used by the application code to make access decisions.

The token paradigm exchanges information between the [identity provider (IdP)](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-an-identity-provider-idp/) and the service provider (SP), which is the app, using the end user’s encrypted browser context. Because this architecture does not require direct communication between the IdP and the SP, no networking changes are necessary, no agents are required, and traffic does not need to be routed through a proxy. These advantages have contributed to the creation and popularity of SAML and OIDC, and traditional WAM approaches are now out of favor.

![Modern authentication model](/blog/assets/2023/modern-authentication-model.webp)

 
### Unified IAM Solution for both Legacy and Modern Applications {#Unified IAM Solution for both Legacy and Modern Applications}
As previously stated, all organizations, no matter how young, inevitably have a mix of cloud and legacy resources in their environment, necessitating the use of an IAM solution that provides a seamless, single sign-on experience for end users whether they’re accessing on-premise legacy applications or SaaS solutions.

![miniOrange Unified IAM Model](/blog/assets/2023/miniorange-unified-iam-model.webp)

miniOrange’s [IAM solution](https://www.miniorange.com/) provides best-of-breed architecture by utilizing all available resources to provide a smooth [SSO experience](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso). Using miniOrange Legacy Application [SSO modules](https://www.miniorange.com/integrations/), the IAM solution integrates with the existing legacy application, providing users with a seamless, single sign-on experience, regardless of whether the application they are accessing is Legacy or Modern. 
 

### Benefit of unified approach {# Benefit of unified approach}
This solution offers secure and smooth access to any application or resource irrespective of the authentication method supported by them.

Adopt Standards— Embracing SSO standards such as SAML for application access helps maintain IT architecture flexible.
Remove Redundancy—By fully exploiting the features of IdaaS and network traffic managers, legacy WAM providers may sometimes be completely eliminated from the environment.
Scale and Performance—Traffic Managers and Reverse Proxies are designed to protect some of the world’s most complex applications.
Consumer-Grade End User Experience—Extend miniOrange’s best-in-class SSO user experience to apps that IdaaS solutions aren’t built for.
Support for all new use cases—Integration with miniOrange IdaaS positions your organization to enforce [Multi-Factor Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) and safeguard the mobile experience for all of your company’s web apps.
 

### Conclusion {# Conclusion}
By embracing the cloud, organizations can accelerate and gain significant advantages over less agile competition. Needless to say, as the shift cannot happen overnight, organizations will need to maintain their legacy systems for the time being. IT transformation will be accelerated by a modern identity management platform and a smart access management approach that bridges the gap between trusted on-premises applications and the new technologies being adopted.

 

#### **Getting Started with Your Free Trial**
Visit https://www.miniorange.com/businessfreetrial to start your 30-day free trial of our IAM services and see how simple it is to overcome identity and access management difficulties in the cloud.



Extends Modern authentication for users into enterprise Legacy applications, allowing users to login using the same username and password across both, modern and legacy applications.

Header Based Authentication

### What is Just in Time (JIT) Provisioning? {#what-is-just-in-time-jit-provisioning}
**JIT provisioning** automates the creation and updation of user accounts in web applications. It delivers information from an identity provider to web apps via the SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) protocol.

IT administrators no longer have to manually create accounts for each user in every application thanks to JIT provisioning. Rather, user accounts are created when users attempt to log in to applications for the first time, as long as they have the authorization to do so. 

Just in Time (JIT) Provisioning is used to create users the first time they log in to an application via a third-party identity provider. JIT provisioning eliminates the need to provision users or create user accounts manually. This saves effort and time. JIT Provisioning is independent of the SSO protocol used by the application but it’s vital to note that for this approach to work, the web application must support Just in Time (JIT) Provisioning. 

### How does Just in Time (JIT) provisioning work? {#how-does-just-in-time-jit-provisioning-work}
To enable JIT provisioning, administrators must first set up [Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso) between the target service provider i.e., web application and the identity provider and confirm that the user attributes required by the application are included. As a result, when new users attempt to log in to the application for the very first time, they will instantly invoke the creation of their account, rather than requiring an admin to do it. SAML assertions provide the web application with the information it requires from the identity provider.

Admins can use a centralized cloud identity provider or an SSO service built on top of their traditional directory to achieve this workflow. They must ensure that the selected service provider supports JIT provisioning during setup. Slack and Atlassian suite are some popular examples of applications that offer JIT provisioning.

For example, if your organization hires many new employees, you’ll want to set up user accounts for them as quickly and smoothly as possible. For this, you can first set up SSO and JIT provisioning in all the applications. Once it is configured, when new employees use SSO to log in to an application, the JIT provisioning approach creates their accounts automatically.

Also, when user attributes are updated in the identity provider, these attributes are automatically updated in all the various applications that the user has used.

The most efficient way to deploy Just in Time Provisioning is to use an identity provider like miniOrange since admins can then configure application privileges by role or group and remove application access from a single location.

![JIT Provisioning](/blog/assets/2023/jit-workflow.webp) 

### How is SAML SSO related to Just in Time (JIT) Provisioning? {#how-is-saml-sso-related-to-just-in-time-jit-provisioning}
**SAML SSO** can be [identity provider (IDP) initiated or service provider (SP) initiated](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/idp-initiated-sp-initiated-login/). In the IDP initiated SSO, users first login to their SSO portal where they can access all the applications in which they have configured SSO. In SP initiated SSO, the user first visits the application and is redirected to their SSO portal where they are logged in automatically by their identity provider.

[SAML protocol](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/saml-single-sign-on-sso) is safe because instead of transmitting user credentials, it sends XML-based certificates which are distinct to each application. As a result, the service provider never obtains their credentials or keeps track of them.

There isn’t much difference between SAML SSO and JIT provisioning. Users that use SAML SSO only have to provide their credentials once per session to access all of the applications they need to get their work done. Using Just in Time (JIT) Provisioning on top of SSO helps to automate the whole process of user account creation. This makes IT operations like the onboarding process much more efficient and smooth.’

### What are the benefits of Just in Time (JIT) provisioning? {#what-are-the-benefits-of-just-in-time-jit-provisioning}
**SAML SSO** can be identity provider (IDP) initiated or service provider (SP) initiated. In the IDP initiated SSO, users  
- JIT provisioning automates the process of creating accounts for users on various applications. Thus, it saves time and reduces the workload of admins.
- It reduces the IT administrative costs as instead of doing routine tasks, the IT admins can dedicate their time for more important tasks. Also, JIT provisioning prevents the need to synchronize the Identity Provider (IDP) and Service Provider (SP) user stores manually.
- With the use of JIT provisioning, the whole account creation process becomes streamlined. The users won’t need to create additional accounts for every application they want to use, thus, it reduces unnecessary account creation.
- JIT provisioning also increases the security of an organization as the users use only one identity to access all the applications. It also applies password policies for all the accounts created automatically. This helps to prevent Identity Sprawl.

### Conclusion {#conclusion}
Just in Time (JIT) Provisioning is a SAML protocol based method that is used to create users the first time they log in to an application via an identity provider. This eliminates the need to provision users or create user accounts manually. Although JIT Provisioning is independent of the SSO protocol used by the application, it is necessary that the application supports JIT Provisioning. Just in Time (JIT) Provisioning automates the whole process of user account creation. It reduces the administrative costs, increases efficiency, productivity and security of an organization.

If you are looking to implement Just in Time (JIT) Provisioning, contact miniOrange to know more about the solution and its pricing.





Just in Time Provisioning (JIT) automates the creation of user accounts in web applications. It delivers user information from the identity provider to web apps via the SAML protocol.

What is Just in Time (JIT) Provisioning | How does JIT work?


### What is JWT (JSON Web Token)? {#what-is-jwt-json-web-token}
JWT, or JSON Web Token, is an open standard used to share information between two parties securely — a client and a server. In most cases, it’s an encoded JSON containing a set of claims and a signature. It’s usually used in the context of other authentication mechanisms like OAuth, OpenID to share user-related information. It’s also a popular way to authenticate/authorize users in a microservice architecture.  

JWT authentication is a token-based stateless authentication mechanism. It is popularly used as a client-side-based stateless session, this means the server doesn’t have to completely rely on a data store (or) database to save session information.  

JWTs can be encrypted, but they are typically encoded & signed.  We will be focusing on Signed JWTs. The purpose of Signed JWT is not to hide the data but to ensure the authenticity of the data. And that is why it’s highly recommended to use HTTPS with Signed JWTs.

### Structure of JWT {#structure-of-jwt}
JWT structure is divided into three parts: header, payload, signature & is separated from each other by dot (.), and will follow the below structure:

 

![JSON Web Token(JWT) Structure](/blog/assets/2023/jwt-structure.webp)

 

- Header  
The header consists of two parts:  
1. The signing algorithm being used
2. The type of token, which is in this case mostly “JWT”  
- Payload
The payload usually contains the claims (user attributes) and additional data like issuer, expiration time, and audience.  
- Signature  
This is typically a hash of the header and payload sections of the JWT. The algorithm which is used to create the signature is the same algorithm mentioned in the header section of the JWT. Signature is used to validate that the JWT token wasn’t modified or changed during transit. It can also be used to validate the sender.  

The header and Payload section of the JWT is always Base64 encoded.


### How does JWT Authentication work? When to use JWT Authentication? {#how-does-jwt-authentication-work-when-to-use-jwt-authentication}

When it comes to API authentication and server-to-server authorization, JSON web token (JWT) is particularly a useful technology. In terms of Single Sign-On (SSO), it means that a service provider can receive trustworthy information from the authentication server. 

By sharing a secret key with the Identity Provider, the Service Provider can hash a part of a token it receives and compare it to the signature of the token. Now, if that result matches the signature, the SP knows that the information provided has come from the other entity possessing the key.

The following workflow explains the authentication flow:

![JSON Web Token(JWT) Authentication Workflow](/blog/assets/2023/jwt-workflow.webp)


1. User sign-in using username and password.
2. The authentication server verifies the credentials and issues a JWT signed using a private key.
3. Moving forward, the client will use the JWT to access protected resources by passing the JWT in the HTTP Authorization header.
4. The resource server then verifies the authenticity of the token using the public key.  

The Identity Provider generates a JWT certifying user identity, and the resource server decodes and verifies the authenticity of the token using the public key.

Since the tokens are used for authorization and authentication in future requests and API calls great care must be taken to prevent security issues. These tokens shouldn’t be stored in publicly accessible areas like the browser’s local storage or cookies. In case there are no other choices, then the payload should be encrypted.

### How JWT Single Sign-On (SSO) works for multiple web apps {#how-jwt-single-sign-on-sso-works-for-multiple-web-apps}
Single Sign-On (SSO) allows you to authenticate users in your systems and subsequently informs applications that the user has been authenticated. On successful authentication, a JWT token is generated and returned, which can be consumed by the app to create a user session. The token is automatically verified with the IDP when they sign in. The user is then allowed to access the apps without being prompted to enter separate sign-in credentials.  

This security mechanism allows applications to trust the sign-in requests it gets from the systems. Furthermore, these apps will only grant access to the users who have been authenticated by you/admin & hence Single Sign-On (SSO) relies on JSON Web Token (JWT) for securing the exchange of user authentication data. Great care must be taken in terms of how this token is stored and managed.

### miniOrange JWT Authentication for Apps that don’t Support Standard SSO Protocols {#miniorange-jwt-authentication-for-apps-that-dont-support-standard-sso-protocols}

**Usecase: Create a custom SSO between 2 existing and independent websites with their own user database**

With [miniOrange](https://www.miniorange.com/?utm_source=miniorange+Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=JWT+blog&utm_id=JWT+Blog-sso), you will be able to authenticate from existing User Stores and Identity Providers using protocols like SAML, OAuth OpenID, and SSO into websites that only support JWT Tokens. Yes, you heard it right. miniOrange provides Single Sign-On (SSO) for [JSON Web Token (JWT) apps](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/). This solution allows you to set up [Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso?utm_source=miniorange+Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=JWT+blog&utm_id=JWT+Blog-sso) into your applications (say existing or independent), which does not support SSO Standard Protocols (like SAML 2.0, etc).  

This is done using JSON Web Token (JWT) tokens, and it can be easily integrated with your application built in any framework or language. This allows you to enable SSO for any mobile app, client-side apps, static sites which don’t support any SSO standard protocols and are built on platforms like React.js, Firebase, Cordova, Angular.js, etc. 

![miniOrange integration flow with jwt token](/blog/assets/2023/mo-integration-flow-with-jwt.webp)

&nbsp;  

#### **miniOrange makes it easy to enable SSO for your application with a simple 3-step process. All you need to do is:**

1. Embed a simple script on your site/app
2. Configure your Identity Provider/user store in miniOrange (optional)
3. Add a JWT App  

&nbsp;  

That’s it!! You can choose to either manage users in miniOrange or choose an external Identity Provider/user store. You can even enable MFA on top of SSO with just a configuration change, no other script changes or coding required. 

&nbsp;  

&nbsp;

#### **Checkout miniOrange’s JWT SSO solution for Most Trending Apps:**

- [Thinkific SSO](https://www.miniorange.com/thinkific-jwt-single-signon(sso)-solution?utm_source=miniorange+Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=JWT+blog&utm_id=JWT+Blog-sso)
- [Webflow SSO](https://www.miniorange.com/webflow-single-sign-on-sso?utm_source=miniorange+Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=JWT+blog&utm_id=JWT+Blog-sso)
- [Squarespace SSO](https://www.miniorange.com/squarespace-single-sign-on-sso?utm_source=miniorange+Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=JWT+blog&utm_id=JWT+Blog-sso)
- [BigCommerce SSO](https://www.miniorange.com/bigcommerce-single-sign-on-sso?utm_source=miniorange+Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=JWT+blog&utm_id=JWT+Blog-sso)  

&nbsp;  

&nbsp;  

#### **Additional Helpful Links:**

- [Setup SSO authentication using JWT (JSON Web Token) | SSO for JWT apps | JWT Authentication| JWT SSO](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lSsEQm_J6E)
- [Setup SSO for any JWT Application](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/content-library/admin-docs/how-to-add-jwt-app)
- [Popular apps that use JWT for SSO](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/)

What is JWT (JSON Web Token)? JWT, or JSON Web Token, is an open standard used to share information between two parties securely — a client and a server.

What is JWT (JSON Web Token)? How does JWT Authentication work?


## What is Kerberos ?

Users traditionally submit a password to get access to computer systems. The problem with this authentication mechanism is that if hackers get a hold of the password, they can assume the user’s identity and access a network within an enterprise. There must be a better approach for businesses to safeguard their users and systems. Herein lies the role of the Kerberos authentication protocol.

A Kerberos authentication system acts as a gateway for users to access the internet. As a result, it aids in preventing online intruders from accessing a private network. Cybercriminals will find it considerably harder to access your network thanks to the robust cryptography and third-party ticket authorization.

Microsoft Windows presently uses Kerberos authentication as its standard authorization method. Kerberos is also supported by Apple OS, FreeBSD, UNIX, and Linux. Kerberos has drastically increased the security of the internet and its users while allowing users to perform more tasks online and in the office without risking their safety.

What makes the [Kerberos authentication protocol](https://plugins.miniorange.com/guide-to-setup-kerberos-single-sign-sso) different from others is a couple of strong security-based features.

-   Passwords are never sent across the network.
-   Encryption keys are never directly exchanged.
-   The application can mutually authenticate each other.
-   Many organizations use it as the basis for Active Directory SSO.

### Kerberos terms : {#kerberos-terms}

1. **Kerberos Realm :** Group of systems over which Kerberos has authority to authenticate the user to a service.
2. **Principal :** Unique identity(user/service/application).
3. **Clients/Users :** a process that accesses a service on the behalf of a user. Can have multiple clients or users within a realm.
4. **Service :** Something the user wants to gain access to.
5. **KDC (Kerberos Key Description Center) :** Supplies tickets and generates temporary session keys that allow a user to securely authenticate to a service. The KDC stores all the secret symmetric keys for users and services.

### How does Kerberos work ? {#how-does-kerberos-work}

Users, workstations, and services that use Kerberos rely solely on the KDC, which runs as a single process and handles both tickets granting and authentication. All parties can authenticate themselves using KDC “tickets” which enables nodes to do so safely. In order to protect the messages, the Kerberos authentication procedure uses a traditional shared secret cryptography. This prevents packets moving across the network from being read or altered.

### What are the Kerberos Authentication steps ? {#kerberos-authentication-steps}

There are 2 servers that enable Kerberos to work. An authentication server, and a ticket-granting server.

1. **Authentication Server :** Confirms that a known user is making an access request and gives a ticket-granting ticket.
2. **Ticket granting Server :** Confirms that a user is making an access request to a known service and gives service tickets.

![Key Destribution Center](/blog/assets/2023/kerberos-sso-authentication-steps.webp)

**Step 1 :** User sends a request to the authentication server mentioning they want to access a service. The Authentication service is validated if the service is coming from a known and grants a TGT: ticket-granting ticket.

**Step 2 :** The authentication server sends the TGT back to the user along with another message encrypted with the user’s secret key.

**Step 3 :** The user decrypts the message with their secret key and sends the TGT with some additional information to the Ticket Granting Server.

**Step 4 :** The ticket-granting server decrypts the TGT, performs some validations, and creates a service ticket (ST). This service ticket with some additional information is sent back to the User.

**Step 5 :** The user decrypts the message, creates some authenticator message, and sends the user authenticator and the service ticket to the service.

**Step 6 :** The service does its decryption, and validation and creates its own final authenticator message. This is sent back to the user. These messages allow the user and the server to mutually authenticate each other and securely distribute a symmetric service session key. This allows both the user and service to communicate, authentication information securely.

### Benefits of Authenticating using Kerberos {#benefits-of-authenticating-with-kerberos}

-   Passwords will never be sent across the network due to its extreme security. Only keys are permitted.
-   Mutual authentication always takes place in order for the client and server to connect simultaneously and converse with the appropriate counterpart.
-   The authentication is always valid and never expires.
-   The internet standard is the only factor that matters.
-   A large portion of the industry has embraced Kerberos since it offers security, and they are glad to employ its security protocol.


Kerberos is a cryptography-based authentication protocol that guards access to applications. This protocol is designed to provide secure authentication over an insecure network.

Kerberos NTLM Windows SSO


## How does LDAP authentication, authorization & access control work? {#how-does-ldap-authentication-authorization-&-access-control-work}

LDAP authentication is a process that validates the username and password against the directories such as Active Directory, Open LDAP. Which groups are a user in? Only users in the detective group should have access to the clues application, so when someone attempts to log in, ensure they are in the proper group before granting access, etc.

But how does one gain access to all of those records? The process is pretty straight forward from a flow perspective:

- A session begins with a client binding to an LDAP server (DSA, Directory System Agent).
- The client then sends an operation request (often a search or compare request, for example) to the server, asking for a particular set of information.
- The server then processes this query and supplies a response.
- The client receives the response and unbinds, then processes the data.


### How LDAP SSO Works? {#how-ldap-sso-works?}

LDAP SSO works by authenticating users against an LDAP directory, such as Microsoft Active Directory or OpenLDAP. When a user attempts to access an application, the SSO system verifies their credentials against the LDAP directory. If the credentials are valid, the user is granted access to the application without needing to log in again.


### SAML SSO vs LDAP {#saml-sso-vs-ldap}

| Feature | SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) | LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) |
|---------|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| Primary Use | Web-based Single Sign-On (SSO) | Directory services and authentication |
| Authentication Method |Federated authentication using identity providers (IdP) and service providers (SP) | Direct authentication against a directory service |
| Protocol Type and Use Case | XML-based, Cloud-based applications and services | Protocol for accessing and maintaining distributed directory information On-premises applications and services |
| Complexity and scalability | Higher complexity due to XML and multiple components. Highly scalable for large, distributed environments | Simpler, but requires directory management. Highly scalable for large, distributed environments |
| Security | High security with support for multi-factor authentication (MFA) | Secure, but depends on the directory service’s security measures |
| Integration | Integrates well with cloud services like Google Workspace, Salesforce | Integrates with on-premises services like Active Directory |



### Key Benefits of LDAP SSO {#key-benefits-of-ldap}
1. **Enhanced Security:** By centralizing authentication, LDAP SSO reduces the risk of password-related breaches. Users only need to remember one set of credentials, which can be more complex and secure.
2. **Improved User Experience:** Users can access multiple applications without repeatedly logging in, saving time and reducing frustration.
3. **Simplified Administration:** IT administrators can manage user access and permissions from a single directory, streamlining the process and reducing administrative overhead.
4. **Scalability:** LDAP SSO can easily scale to accommodate growing organizations, making it a future-proof solution.



### LDAP Authentication Flow {#ldap-authentication}

![LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) workflow](/blog/assets/2023/ldap-workflow.webp)

Directories, or directory information services, are network databases that store information in data trees. Each entry in the tree includes (among other, less critical components) a distinguished name, a collection of attributes, and a collection of object classes.

For example, Active Directory is the proprietary directory services provider for Windows environments. LDAP is a request-response protocol that allows you to easily interact with directory servers like Active Directory by using specific entry components in order to find, view, or edit information.

### What is Active Directory (AD)? {#what-is-active-directory-ad}

Active Directory is a directory service developed by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It is included in most Windows Server operating systems as a set of processes and services. Initially, Active Directory was only in charge of centralized domain management.

### Active Directory Authentication Flow {#active-directory-authentication-flow}

![active directory (ldap) workflow](/blog/assets/2023/active-directory-ldap-workflow.webp)

### Limitations of Active Directory (AD) {#limitations-of-active-directory-ad}

- Active Directory infrastructure requires extra effort, maintenance and products to integrate with cloud infrastructure.
- Lack of support for Mac and Linux, so it can be burdensome to integrate with these platforms.
- It is found that Active Directory is suitable for large enterprises and hence requires a large infrastructure setup.
- Active Directory has quite high maintenance costs, as you will need Windows Server licenses and you may need to upgrade the hardware on the server so it can run Windows Server.
 

### Benefits of miniOrange LDAP {#benefits-of-miniorange-ldap}

- **Intuitive Interface** : Our Interface is designed keeping in mind the ease of use and provides a consistent user experience for all.
Regular Updates: Updates are provided regularly for better user experience.
- **Easy Setup** : Adequate support and documentation for assisting with the setup.
- **Customizable** : High level of customization and add-ons to support specific requirements.
- **Active Support** : With authentication being an essential function, a fast and priority support ensures that any issues you face on a live production site can be resolved in a timely manner.
- **Custom Pricing**: Reasonably priced with various plans tailored to suit your needs.

### Further Readings {#further-readings}

- [miniOrange LDAP Gateway](https://www.miniorange.com/miniorange-ldap-gateway)
- [Directory Services](https://www.miniorange.com/products/directory-services)
- [Windows Single Sign On](https://www.miniorange.com/windows-single-sign-on)


LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is a vendor-neutral application protocol that is used to get access & maintain distributed directory information in an organized manner over Intranet or Cloud. LDAP authentication work by validating the username and password against the directories such as Active Directory.

What is LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol)?


## What is LearnDash? How does learnDash work in SSO?

### What is LearnDash? {#what-is-learndash}
LMS or Learning Management System is an e-learning technology that enables institutions or organizations to spread their courses virtually across the globe without the physical effort required in classrooms. It also allows the user to configure their content suited for their clients.

**LearnDash** is trusted to control the learning programs for significant colleges, little to average size organizations, new companies, business people, and bloggers around the world.

In comparison with other LMS such as LearnPress or LifterLMS, LearnDash provides a greater advantage in the following ways:

1. **One Price for everything:** Unlike other LMS, LearnDash does not have different plans which divide pricing in accordance with the features. All the features of LearnDash are included for a single price which becomes more feasible compared to other LMS in terms of long-run functionality.
2. **Professional nature:** LearnDash is set up to cater to big business and large global corporations, as their impressive list of current customers infers. It also provides a range of professional features, which include branding of the LearnDash eLearning platform, integration with a wide assortment of tools and services, and much more.
![LearnDash WordPress SSO Key features](/blog/assets/2023/learndash-sso-usecase.webp)

## Benefits of SSO in LearnDash 
Single Sign-On (SSO) is a Federated Identity Management (FIM) arrangement that allows users to access multiple applications using one set of credentials. It works on a trust relationship between a Service Provider (SP) (LearnDash in this case) and an Identity Provider (IDP). This trust relationship is often based upon a certificate that is exchanged between the Identity Provider and the Service Provider.

[WordPress Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-single-sign-on-sso) in any LMS adds a great number of benefits to the platform. It not only secures user data but also helps the site owner to track user performance/progress through it. The benefits of SSO can be summarized as follows:

- **Secure shared login:** Students can use a single set of credentials i.e. IDP credentials to login into the LearnDash site
- **Group Mapping:** When a student SSOs into LearnDash, he/she is automatically assigned a group on the basis of the course purchase.
- **Role-based access:** Students are given access to courses on the basis of roles and restricted access to the content they have not purchased.
- **Course Assignments:** Assignments can be given to students on the basis of the group they are a part of.

## Why Single Sign-On (SSO) in LearnDash?

### How does SSO work with LearnDash? {#how-does-sso-work-with-learndash}
Single Sign-On (SSO) in  LearnDash can be best understood by the Use Cases that we have solved for customers. Let’s see some of them below.

Selling courses online: A content provider has a LearnDash site for courses along with a WooCommerce site that sells the courses. The content provider has onboarded an organization whose employees can purchase and take the courses on his site. The organization’s users are stored in the organization’s Identity Provider, AzureAD. In such a case, when an organization employee tries to purchase a course on WooCommerce, SSO would allow the user to validate his identity by logging into Woocommerce using the organization’s AzureAD.Once the employee SSOs into the WordPress site using AzureAD, the employee attributes (like first name, last name, email, phone, address, city, etc.) from AzureAD would be mapped to his user attributes in WordPress. Hence, when the employee proceeds to checkout, details required for checkout are pre-filled in the checkout page fields by the attributes fetched from AzureAD, which allows him to complete the purchase and then access the course on LearnDash.

Live Teaching and Lesson Planning using Microsoft Teams: Using Microsoft credentials, users will be able to SSO into the LearnDash WordPress site which will allow them to attend live classes in Microsoft Teams through the LearnDash class link without logging in again. Users would be able to see the schedule on the WordPress LearnDash site. This class schedule can also be embedded in the Teams application in a tab for the students, which would be visible only to authenticated users.

Training Management Platform: A Training Management web app where clients log in to access its services. The platform is accessible to only clients who exist in the organization’s IDP. 

The Training Management Web App courses are developed on LearnDash. Employees will have access to the LearnDash site through a link on the web app  This would allow access to only authorized users and provide authentication into LearnDash without users having to re-enter their credentials.

LearnDash+Zoom: A LearnDash site with multiple courses can provide access to Zoom class links to only those students who have enrolled for that course. For this, a role is created for each course in LearnDash and each user is assigned a role in LearnDash when they enroll for a course. The students are allowed seamless access to Zoom classes by logging into Zoom using their LearnDash site credentials, and then they are provided access to the Zoom meeting if their role has the desired permissions.

[LearnDash Single Sign-On (SSO)| LearnDash WordPress SSO](https://plugins.miniorange.com/learndash-wordpress-single-sign-on-sso)

Let’s consider an example where we have a WordPress site in which LearnDash is installed to make/build courses and Woocommerce is installed to sell courses.
![LearnDash-WordPress-SSO-Integration](/blog/assets/2023/learndash-sso-key-features.webp)

We can see how SSO helps in limiting access to students and steering clear of outside intrusion, as well as introduces an easy and seamless way of accessing resources

**As displayed in the picture above:**

When a student tries to buy a course from a WooCommerce site, he/she is redirected to the Identity Provider login page for login.

When the student logs into the Identity Provider, [WordPress SSO](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-single-sign-on-sso) Plugin fetches his or her identity information and attributes from the IdP. After successful authentication, the student is redirected back to the checkout page with the checkout fields pre-filled by the information fetched from the Identity Provider. Once a student purchases a course, the student is assigned a role that allows the student to access the content of the course he purchased. 

### Why is miniOrange a great choice for LearnDash SSO? {#why-is-miniorange-a-great-choice-for-learndash-sso}
miniOrange solutions provide varied features along with Single Sign-On (SSO) which makes plenty of LearnDash use cases possible.

![LearnDash Single Sign-On (SSO)](/blog/assets/2023/learndash-sso-features-set.webp)

### Additional Resources  {#additional-resources}
1. [What is Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/single-sign-on-sso)
2. [What is SAML?](https://www.miniorange.com/what-is-saml)
3. [What is LearnDash?](https://www.learndash.com/)
4. [Zoom LearnDash SSO Use Case](https://plugins.miniorange.com/learndash-zoom-sso-integration)
5. [Map LearnDash user groups](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-learndash-integrator)
6. [Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)](https://faq.miniorange.com/kb/saml-single-sign-on/)

What is LearnDash? LMS or Learning Management System is an e-learning technology that enables institutions or organizations to spread their courses virtually across the globe without the physical effort required in classrooms. It also allows the user to configure their content suited for their clients.

What is LearnDash? How does learnDash work in SSO?


## Types of Malware {#Types of Malware}
 
| **Types** |  | 
| :--------------------- |:--------------------------------|
| Trojans | A Trojan or Trojan horse looks like a normal file and hence tricks users into downloading it. Once installed, it gives the attacker remote access to the system. The program starts writing over certain parts of your hard drive, corrupting your data. It may be used to locate password information or make the system more vulnerable to future entry or simply destroy the user’s stored software and data. A Trojan is similar to a virus, except that it does not replicate itself. |
| Virus | A computer Virus is dangerous, it isn’t a standalone program, It’s a code snippet that inserts itself into some other application, it can copy itself and spread to other devices by attaching itself with executable programs, scripts, documents, etc. When that application runs, it executes the virus code damaging or harming your system. |
| Worms | Worms are the most common type of malware. A worm is a malicious, self-replicating program that can spread throughout a network. Worms cause damage similar to viruses, exploiting vulnerabilities in security software and potentially stealing sensitive information, corrupting files, and installing a back door for remote access to the system. They harm the network by consuming bandwidth and overloading web servers. |
| Backdoors | A backdoor is a malware type that dodges the authentication process to gain remote access. It manages to bypass security restrictions to gain unauthorized access to a computer system. In simpler words, a backdoor is a piece of code that allows others to go in and out of a system without being detected.|
| Spyware | This type of malware extracts data like prime credentials, credit card numbers, and passwords from a victim’s device and sends it to the invader. It exploits the vulnerabilities in the user’s operating system. This kind of software runs discretely in the background and tracks and transmits data about the user’s computer activity. |
| Ransomware  | Ransomware is a kind of malicious software that infects the victim’s device by encrypting its data,i.e. it prevents users from accessing their system or personal files. The data can only be decrypted with a key that is provided by the attackers once you pay the ransom amount to them. Thus, it is advisable to always keep [Backup](https://wordpress.org/plugins/backup-and-restore-for-wp/) of your data. |
| Adware  | Adware is a kind of malware or malicious software that is injected into the victim’s device to exploit the device with unwanted pages or advertisement pop-ups like urgent requirements of antivirus, malware remover, etc. embedded with the malicious link. As soon as the victim clicks on the link, the malicious file is downloaded into his/her system and infects the device. adware may change your security settings in order to monitor your steps and behavior. If you believe that your device may be infected with adware, the best way out is to install an anti-malware solution like [Malware scanner](https://wordpress.org/plugins/miniorange-malware-protection/) that can scan your device and enable you to delete the threats and secure your website. |

## How to prevent malware? or Anti-malware protection {#prevent malware}

It’s vital that all users know how to recognize and protect their websites from malware in all of their forms. To stand up to today’s evolving threat landscape, effective anti-malware solutions must offer multiple layers of protection. Anti-malware software is a program that fights against malware. It protects the computer and the files against all types of malware. A robust  Malware Scanner is a primary component of technological defenses that every personal and business computer system should have in order to protect against Viruses, Worms, Trojans, OWASP attacks, Brute force, Code injections, cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injections, Spyware, etc.

### What is Malware Scanner? {#malware scanner}

Malware Scanner provides advanced threat protection and anti-malware protection by allowing you to proactively scan your entire website to find whether there has been a compromise or to check if you are vulnerable to an attack. It Secures your site by detecting security threats like Malware, Trojans, Viruses, Brute force, OWASP attacks, Worms, Backdoors, Spyware, Code injections, etc. It also provides Web Application Firewall Security and enables the cross-checking of all URLs and outbound links with known blacklists, flagging and notifying you of any such signs of compromise are found.

### How Does Malware Scanner Scan and Protects Your Website? {#malware scan and protects}

[Malware scanner](https://www.miniorange.com/) enables anti-malware protection for websites by detecting web malware, vulnerabilities, and other security threats which can harm your server. It provides comprehensive anti-malware protection & detailed security checks with malware scan reports, in just a One-click scan. Malware Scanner detects security threats in your website like Malware, Trojans, Viruses, Brute force & OWASP attacks, Worms, Backdoors, Spyware, Code injections, cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injections, Spyware Etc and provides complete security checks against such malware. In addition to the above features, it also scans posts and comments data from databases to detect malware and malicious URLs which are blacklisted by Google. Malware Scanner overall increases website Protection and provides Anti Malware securities for your websites. 

### Malware Scanner – Key Features

| **Key Features** |  |
| :--------------------- |:--------------------------------|
| Malware Protection     | Malware scanner provides Anti Malware protection from Backdoors, Trojans, viruses, worms, OWASP attacks, Brute force, etc. Malware attacks are detected using more than 5 million malware signatures which are updated on a daily basis to provide you with enhanced anti-malware protection. |
| Version check & Compare Files | Malware scanner Checks and compares the file’s version with the repository to find any outdated files. |
| Scan Post and Comment data | Malware scanner Scans posts and comments data from databases to detect malware and malicious URLs which are blacklisted by Google. |
| Blacklist URLs        | Malware scanner Detects blacklisted URLs/  malicious URLs for containing malicious or inappropriate content.|
| Actions On Malicious Files     | Malware scanner enables users to take various actions like View, Delete, Repair, or Ignore the flagged files which are detected by the scanner. |


### Benefits of using Malware Scanner {#Benefits}

**1. One-click scan:** Malware scanner has an Easy User Interface, it Scans for malware and security attacks in your website in just a single click. Now you can have anti-malware protection with just a single click.

**2. Wide Range Of Signatures Scans:** Malware scanner uses over 5 million signatures to scan the website. It offers a wide range of signatures capable of detecting malware for multiple programming languages.

**3. Web Application Security (WAF):** Web application firewall (WAF) protects web applications from a variety of application-layer attacks such as OWASP attacks like cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection attacks, and cookie poisoning, etc. It monitors, and blocks any malicious HTTP/S traffic traveling to the web application, and prevents any unauthorized data from leaving the app.

**4. Multiple Deployment Ways:** Malware scanner enables multiple deployments, as it offers Cloud as well as an On-premise service so that you can choose whichever solution that suits your needs best.  

**5. Up-to-date signatures:** The signatures for detecting malware are updated constantly making the malware scanner capable of detecting the latest malware and providing you with anti-malware protection.

**6. Fast Execution:** Malware scanner Offers fast and reliable scan results with just a one-click scan.

### Malware Scanner – Advantages {#Advantages}

Malware Scanner benefits you with a lot of features that could be helpful to you in order to protect your website, and make it anti-malware. The Malware Scanner detects any threats/possible threats to the website. The following are the checks Malware Scanner performs to ensure website security:  

&nbsp;

**CHECKS PHP FILES VULNERABLE CODE:** Malware Scanner checks if your website has a code that is kept hidden or obfuscated to harm your website.

**SQL INJECTION AND INJECTED SHELL SCRIPT CHECK:** Malware Scanner checks for injected SQL queries that can harm your database and injected shell scripts that can harm your server by executing any commands.

**REMOTE FILE INCLUSION:** The inclusion of remote files can be harmful as code return in remote files will be executed on your server.

**EXTERNAL LINKS DETECTION:** Malware Scanner checks if anyone is creating backlinks from your website. Backlinks to blacklisted sites will be added to your website to the spam websites list.

**REPOSITORY VERSION COMPARISON:** Malware Scanner checks the local files with the repository version to warn in case of any mismatches.

**ADVANCED SIGNATURES FOR DETECTING MALWARE:** Malware Scanner checks for more than a million malware signatures to find even the latest malware.

**SPAM PROTECTION:** Malware Scanner Provides protection with Brute force, Google reCaptcha, strong passwords, etc, and helps to protect your website against spam attacks.

**LOGIN SECURITY:** Malware Scanner provides Login Securities with Brute Force.

**WEB APPLICATION FIREWALL:** Malware scanner offers Web Application Firewall (WAF), which protects your website from SQL injection, Cross-site scripting, Local file inclusion, remote file inclusion attacks.

&nbsp;

miniOrange provides a perfect solution for **Malware scanning for WordPress websites**, Our WordPress Malware Scanner plugin provides scan and advanced threat protection against malware. Secure your WordPress website with our free malware scanner as well as get enhanced security with our premium Malware scanner plugin to enable anti-malware protection for your WordPress website.

&nbsp;

Do you need a complete Web Security suite to protect your WordPress website with the top 10 OWASP Protection?

Our [WordPress security plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-security-pro/) with Web Application Firewall (WAF), Malware Scanner, and Secure Login and Backup, might be all you need!

You can always Contact Us or Email us at [info@xecurify.com](mailto:info@xecurify.com) and we would be happy to help you out.

### Further Reading {#further-reading}

- [Secure VPN with Multi-Factor Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/secure-vpn-with-multi-factor-authentication/)
- [WordPress Backup](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/login-with-external-idp/configure-magento-sso)









Malware is a catch-all term for any type of malicious software designed to infiltrate or exploit any programmable device, service, or network without the owner’s informed consent. Malware can infect computers and devices in several ways and comes in a number of forms, just a few of which include Viruses, Worms, Trojans, OWASP attacks, Brute force, Code injections, cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injections, Spyware, and more.

What is Malware? How Anti Malware works?


Passwords alone won’t stop cybercriminals so what’s the solution? [miniOrange](https://www.miniorange.com/) brings you Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), an advanced security layer that ensures only the right people access your critical systems. Let’s dive into how MFA works, why it’s essential, and how it fortifies your defenses against evolving threats. 
         
## What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)? {#what-is-mfa}
[Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) enhances security by requiring users to provide multiple forms of verification before accessing critical resources like applications, online accounts, or virtual private networks (VPNs). As a crucial element of comprehensive [Identity and Access Management (IAM)](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/) frameworks, MFA goes beyond simple usernames and passwords. It introduces additional checks such as one-time passwords (OTPs), authentication apps, or biometric identifiers, significantly lowering the risk of cyber-attacks and unauthorized access.

## Why is MFA important? {#why-is-mfa-important}
Multi-factor authentication (MFA), also known as two-factor authentication or 2 factor authentication, is crucial for enhancing your organization's security. MFA goes beyond the traditional username and password by requiring additional verification factors, which significantly mitigates vulnerabilities inherent in single-factor authentication.

Usernames and passwords alone are prone to various attacks such as brute-force attacks and can be easily stolen by third parties. MFA introduces layers like OTP over email/SMS, authenticator apps, push notifications, biometric verification (such as thumbprints), and physical hardware keys, which adds an enhanced level of security. These measures ensure that even if basic credentials are compromised, the likelihood of unauthorized access remains minimal.
By integrating what is multi-factor authentication into your security protocols, you enforce a higher standard of identity verification, thus increasing confidence that your systems are protected against cyber threats. 

## How Does MFA Work? {#how-does-mfa-work}
Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) operates on a simple yet effective principle: it requires multiple layers of verification to authenticate a user's identity, dramatically improving security over traditional single-factor methods like passwords alone. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of the MFA process:


### 1. User Authentication Initiation
The user begins the process by entering their username and password, which serves as the first layer of security.


### 2. Second Factor Verification
Following the initial login attempt, the system requests a second factor of authentication. This could be a biometric input like a fingerprint scan, or a one-time passcode (OTP) sent to the user’s smartphone.


### 3. Access Granting
Access to the system is granted only after the successful verification of both the initial and additional authentication factors.  
&nbsp;  

&nbsp;  


***Pro Tip: Secure Login with miniOrange MFA***  
*miniOrange enhances security by verifying credentials through a core identity provider, using OTPs for each login attempt, and offering over a range of 15+ MFA authentication methods to choose from.*


## Three Main Types of MFA Authentication Methods {#three-main-types-of-mfa-authentication-methods}
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) significantly enhances security by integrating multiple layers of verification. Here’s a closer look at the three primary categories of MFA authentication methods:

### 1. Knowledge Factors: Something You Know {#knowledge-factors}
Knowledge factors involve information that only the user should know. This category includes passwords, PINs, and answers to personal security questions. While fundamental to user authentication, knowledge factors are vulnerable to security breaches through methods like phishing or social engineering. Thus, they are often combined with other types of authentication factors to  enhance security.  
**Example:**
- **Passwords:** A classic form of security requiring a secret word or phrase.
- **Security Questions:** Answers to predetermined personal questions.
- **One-Time Passwords (OTPs):** These can overlap with possession factors. While the user must know the OTP to enter it, they typically receive it on a device they own, blending knowledge with possession.


### 2. Possession Factors: Something You Have {#possession-factors}
Possession factors authenticate identity based on items a user physically possesses. Examples include hardware tokens that generate one-time passwords, mobile devices with authentication apps, or security badges. These devices can receive codes via SMS or email, adding a tangible layer of security that complements knowledge factors. Even if a password is compromised, the attacker would still need the physical item to access the account, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized entry.  
**Example:**
- **OTPs via Mobile Apps:** Generated on devices like smartphones through apps such as Google Authenticator or Authy.
- **OTPs via Text or Email:** Sent directly to the user’s phone or email account.
- **Physical Security Devices:** Including access badges, USB security keys, smart cards, and fobs.
- **Software Tokens and Certificates:** Digital credentials that prove the user's identity.


### 3. Inherence Factors: Something You Are {#inherence-factor}
Inherence factors use unique biometric identifiers to verify a user’s identity. This method relies on physical or behavioral traits that are nearly impossible to replicate, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans, or voice patterns. Biometrics offer a high level of security and convenience, as they cannot be forgotten like a password or lost like a physical token.  
**Example:**
- **Biometric Verification:** Utilizes unique physical characteristics of the user, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, iris or retina scans, and voice recognition.
- **Behavioral Biometrics:** Analyzes patterns of user behavior like typing speed, navigation patterns, and other interactions to confirm identity.  

After careful evaluation of financial institutions, we've found that combining possession and inherence factors provides the highest level of security. Discover more about [MFA authentication methods](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-methods) and how they enhance security.

## What is Adaptive Authentication? {#what-is-adaptive-authentication}
[Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication (Adaptive MFA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa) is a security approach that dynamically adjusts authentication requirements based on real-time risk factors. Unlike traditional MFA, which applies the same authentication process for every login, Adaptive MFA evaluates conditions such as user location, device type, login time, and recent access patterns to determine the level of authentication required. If a user logs in from a recognized device at a usual location, a basic two-factor authentication (2FA) method may be enough. However, if an access attempt comes from an unfamiliar device, an unusual location, or outside regular working hours, the system enforces additional verification layers, such as biometric authentication or a one-time passcode (OTP), to prevent unauthorized access.  
This adaptive approach enhances security by scaling authentication based on potential risks while ensuring a smooth user experience for legitimate users. For example, a senior executive with high-level access attempting to log in from a new network or after multiple failed login attempts may be prompted for additional verification steps. By continuously assessing contextual factors, Adaptive MFA ensures that security measures are both effective and efficient, making it harder for attackers to exploit stolen credentials while reducing unnecessary authentication barriers for trusted users.


## What's the difference between 2FA and MFA? {#difference-between-2fa-mfa}

![Comparison between Multi-Factor Authentication and Two-Factor Authentication](/blog/assets/2025/2fa-vs-mfa.webp)

[Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) both enhance security by requiring additional verification beyond just a password. However, the key difference lies in the number of authentication factors used. 2FA strictly requires two factors, typically combining something the user knows (password, PIN) with something they have (OTP, security token). On the other hand, MFA requires two or more factors, allowing for additional layers like biometrics (fingerprint, facial recognition), location-based authentication, or behavioral analysis. This makes MFA inherently more secure than 2FA, as it adds extra barriers against unauthorized access.  
While 2FA provides basic protection against cyber threats, it is still susceptible to phishing, credential theft, and session hijacking. MFA mitigates these risks by enforcing multiple independent authentication factors, making it significantly harder for attackers to breach security. For example, if a hacker gains access to a user’s password and OTP, an additional biometric or location-based factor in an MFA system can still prevent unauthorized access. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, organizations are increasingly adopting MFA over 2FA to strengthen security, ensure compliance, and protect sensitive data.

## What are the key considerations for Effective MFA Implementation {#key-considerations-for-effective-mfa-implementation}
Deploying Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) effectively requires a strategic approach to enhance security without disrupting user workflows. By following these essential guidelines, organizations can ensure a seamless and secure authentication experience.

### 1. Ensure Organization-Wide Implementation
MFA should not be limited to high-privilege accounts; every user in an organization is a potential target for cyber threats. Enforcing MFA across all applications, remote access points, and cloud environments ensures a consistent security posture, preventing attackers from exploiting weak entry points.

### 2. Utilize Context-Aware Authentication
A static MFA setup treats every login attempt the same, but [context-aware authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/5-reasons-to-deploy-context-based-authentication-for-your-organization/) dynamically adjusts security based on risk. Factors such as device type, location, and login behavior can determine whether a user should face additional authentication challenges. For example, logging in from a corporate network may require only a standard MFA prompt, while an attempt from an unfamiliar device triggers biometric verification or a time-sensitive OTP.

### 3. Provide a Variety of Authentication Options
Users should have access to multiple authentication methods to accommodate different needs. Combining hardware tokens, mobile-based authenticators, SMS/email OTPs, and biometric authentication ensures that users can always complete verification, even if one method becomes unavailable. A flexible approach improves security while enhancing user adoption.

### 4. Educate Employees and Encourage Adoption
Security measures are only effective if users follow them correctly. Organizations should educate employees on [why MFA is necessary](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/why-your-business-needs-multifactor-authentication-mfa/), how it works, and what to do if they lose access to an authentication factor. Providing [self-service password reset (SSPR)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/self-service-password-reset-sspr) recovery options and backup authentication methods reduces frustration and potential security gaps.

### 5. Integrate with Zero-Trust and Access Control Policies
MFA works best when combined with [zero-trust security](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/tag/Zero%20Trust/) and least-privilege access controls. Instead of granting broad access once authentication is successful, organizations should enforce granular permissions based on user roles and real-time risk assessments. Any unusual access request should prompt additional verification before granting access to sensitive resources.

### 6. Streamline Authentication with Secure Single Sign-On (SSO)
Pairing MFA with [Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso) enhances both security and usability. SSO reduces the number of login prompts by allowing users to authenticate once and access multiple systems securely. When combined with MFA, this minimizes login fatigue while maintaining strong identity verification across all platforms.

### 7. Follow Industry Standards for Security and Compatibility
MFA solutions should align with industry standards such as [RADIUS](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/radius-mfa), [SAML](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/saml-mfa), and OAuth to ensure seamless integration with enterprise security frameworks. Adopting encrypted authentication protocols and secure API integrations prevents vulnerabilities and enhances interoperability with existing security tools.

### 8. Regularly Monitor and Optimize Security Policies
Threat landscapes evolve, and MFA configurations must adapt accordingly. Organizations should conduct periodic security audits, review authentication logs for suspicious activity, and update MFA policies based on emerging threats. Transitioning from basic MFA to adaptive authentication — which analyzes risk levels in real-time—can further strengthen defenses against unauthorized access.


## Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Use Cases {#mfa-use-cases}

### 1. MFA for Secure VPN Access
For organizations with a globally distributed workforce, securing remote access is crucial. Implementing [MFA for VPN access](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/vpn-mfa-multi-factor-authentication) adds an extra layer of protection, ensuring that only authorized users can connect to the corporate network. This not only strengthens security but also helps with regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.

***Pro Tip: Strengthen remote access security with miniOrange MFA for VPNs!***  
*It works seamlessly with Cisco, Palo Alto, Fortinet, SonicWall, OpenVPN, and more adding an extra layer of authentication beyond passwords to block unauthorized access and keep your network secure.*


### 2. MFA for Windows Logins & RDP Security
Securing Windows logins and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) sessions, [windows MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/windows-multi-factor-authentication-mfa-login) prevents unauthorized access to sensitive systems. The process includes:
- **Configuring RADIUS authentication with miniOrange**
- **Setting up Windows VPN client**
- **Enabling 2FA** using Google Authenticator, soft tokens, or backup codes

This solution seamlessly integrates with Active Directory/LDAP and supports role-based MFA policies, allowing businesses to enforce different authentication requirements based on user roles. Additionally, offline MFA ensures that security remains intact even without an internet connection.

### 3. MFA for Web Applications
Protecting web applications whether [cloud-based](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/cloud-mfa), on-premise, or hybrid—is critical for modern businesses. miniOrange MFA secures applications by supporting multiple authentication protocols, including SAML, RADIUS, OpenID, and JWT, allowing easy integration with in-house applications. This ensures seamless, secure access while maintaining user convenience.

### 4. MFA for Network Devices & IT Infrastructure
Beyond securing VPNs, MFA can be extended to network devices such as firewalls, switches, and routers, preventing unauthorized access to critical IT infrastructure. miniOrange supports RADIUS and [TACACS+ authentication](https://www.miniorange.in/iam/solutions/tacacs-authentication) protocols, ensuring encrypted authentication without requiring an external proxy. By implementing MFA at the network level, organizations can further enhance security and prevent potential breaches.


## Enhancing Office 365 Security with MFA {#enhancing-office-365-security-with-mfa}
Microsoft's default MFA options are limited, requiring expensive licenses for additional authentication methods. miniOrange [2FA/MFA for Office 365](https://www.miniorange.com/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)-for-office-365) enables seamless integration with Office 365 and other Microsoft apps, offering 15+ MFA methods, including Yubikey, for enhanced authentication flexibility.


## Conclusion {#conclusion}
Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) is essential in today's cybersecurity landscape, offering robust protection against cyber threats. By implementing MFA, businesses can safeguard sensitive data, enhance regulatory compliance, and improve user authentication security. miniOrange provides seamless MFA solutions tailored to various use cases, ensuring flexible and reliable security. [Connect with us](https://www.miniorange.com/contact) to know more about securing your business with MFA. Also, explore our [miniOrange Blog](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/) for more insights. Additionally, check out our blog on [OTP spammers](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/how-to-stop-otp-spam-with-miniorange/) to stay informed about emerging security threats.  

&nbsp;  

## FAQs {#faqs}
### **1. What are two examples of multi-factor authentication?**
Examples include using a password plus an OTP sent via SMS and biometric authentication combined with a security key.

### **2. Can multi-factor authentication be hacked?**
While MFA greatly enhances security, it can still be bypassed using phishing, malware, or social engineering attacks if not properly implemented.

### **3. What is the best example for multi-factor authentication?**
A strong example is logging in with a password and verifying identity using a fingerprint or an authentication app like Google Authenticator.

### **4. How to enable multi-factor authentication?**
MFA can be enabled via security settings in applications, using built-in options or third-party providers like miniOrange for enhanced security.


<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "mainEntity": [{
    "@type": "Question",
    "name": "What are two examples of multi-factor authentication?",
    "acceptedAnswer": {
      "@type": "Answer",
      "text": "Examples include using a password plus an OTP sent via SMS and biometric authentication combined with a security key."
    }
  },{
    "@type": "Question",
    "name": "Can multi-factor authentication be hacked?",
    "acceptedAnswer": {
      "@type": "Answer",
      "text": "While MFA greatly enhances security, it can still be bypassed using phishing, malware, or social engineering attacks if not properly implemented."
    }
  },{
    "@type": "Question",
    "name": "What is the best example for multi-factor authentication?",
    "acceptedAnswer": {
      "@type": "Answer",
      "text": "A strong example is logging in with a password and verifying identity using a fingerprint or an authentication app like Google Authenticator."
    }
  },{
    "@type": "Question",
    "name": "How to enable multi-factor authentication?",
    "acceptedAnswer": {
      "@type": "Answer",
      "text": "MFA can be enabled via security settings in applications, using built-in options or third-party providers like miniOrange for enhanced security."
    }
  }]
}
</script>


Secure your business with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Learn what MFA is, how it works, and how miniOrange protects your workforce and customers with layered access security.

What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and How Does it Work?


**Out Of Band Authentication (OOBA)** is a type of two-factor authentication (2FA) that demands a secondary verification method delivered over a different communication channel (call or text) in addition to the typical user ID and password. The possibility of compromising the transaction/account decreases by splitting the process into two channels, employing both the user’s internet and mobile wireless connection. An attacker is unlikely to be able to compromise both channels in the short amount of time required for an online transaction to take place.

Financial firms and other companies with high-security requirements employ out-of-band (OOB) authentication to prevent unwanted access. OOBA improves cybersecurity by making it more difficult to hack an account because it requires two different and unrelated authentication channels to be compromised at the same time for an attacker to get access.

### How Does Out-of-Band Authentication (OOBA) Work? {# How Does Out-of-Band Authentication (OOBA) Work?}

The channel used to authenticate a customer in an out-of-band authentication (OOBA) system is completely independent of the channel used by the customer to log in or make a transaction. Out-of-band authentication, as opposed to multi-factor authentication, is a sort of 2FA (something you know, like a password, and something you have, like your mobile device).  

Let’s imagine a customer wishes to do a banking transaction on their computer. They use their username and password to access the online banking system. The system then sends a one-time password (OTP) to their mobile device by text message or push notification. The user’s internet and wireless network are both involved in this scenario.  

Malicious actors may have access to compromised credentials and use a laptop to make a transaction, but they rarely have access to the user’s smartphone to obtain the one-time password required for authorization unless additional means like call forwarding, cloning, phone theft, or other ways are used. The transaction cannot be completed without the OTP. Other Out-of-Band Authentication techniques, such as a fingerprint scan or QR code, could be used instead of an OTP by the company.

![Out Of Band Authentication Working](/blog/assets/2023/how-ooba-works.webp)  

### How is OOBA more beneficial than other authentication methods? {#How is OOBA more beneficial than other authentication methods?}

Using [Two-factor authentication (2FA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)) for Out-of-Band Authentication may appear to be a hassle to you; as you have to go through an extra step to log on to your accounts and access resources. Traditional authentication does not work in this fast-paced digital environment when cyber criminals are seeking critical consumer data. You might be leaving yourself open to thieves who want to steal your data and personal information if you don’t use 2FA Security.  

Out-of-band authentication is critical in [identity and access management](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-iam-identity-and-access-management-system/) because it significantly minimizes the risk of a “man-in-the-middle” attack. Hackers can intercept data transferring channels by taking over the communication channel between the sender and the recipient in an MITM attack.  

In access management, using two different channels to authenticate lowers the risk of MITM attacks and keeps the transmitted information safe.

### Key benefits of using Out Of Band Authentication (OOBA) {#Key benefits of using Out Of Band Authentication (OOBA)}

#### **Fraud Prevention**
Before allowing you to proceed, [Multi-Factor Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) confirms that you are who you say you are. It adds another degree of protection to your website, preventing unwanted access. 

#### **Improved Customer Trust**
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security to your business and your customers’ accounts. It safeguards customer information against identity theft.  

#### **Enhanced Security**
MFA reduces the likelihood that an attacker will be able to impersonate a user and obtain access to the system. The miniOrange MFA solution allows users to log in using only their Username and OTP, eliminating the need for a password.  

#### **Adaptability for different use cases**
When dealing with sensitive data, more caution is necessary. The adaptive MFA evaluates risk based on factors including geo location, IP address, and time since the previous login.  

&nbsp;  

As a result, out-of-band authentication (OOBA) is utilized to secure your devices, accounts, and data from security breaches, phishing, and brute-force password attempts. Knowing the password alone isn’t enough for cyber attackers to pass the security check if you’ve set 2FA protection.  


### How can miniOrange help you? {#How can miniOrange help you?}

miniOrange Authentication Service verifies that you are who you claim to be before letting you move forward. We ensure that however varied your user base may be, we have the right authentication method for each one of them.  

&nbsp;  

**OOBA**: OTP/Link over SMS/EmailOTP over text/call using SMS/Email: miniOrange offers OTP via SMS/Email via the default gateway, which users can access. The templates for sending OTP to your users by SMS and email are entirely customizable as well.  

&nbsp;  

**Link over SMS/Email**: When this option is enabled, you will receive an SMS/email containing an Accept Link and a Deny Link at the moment of verification. If you click the Accept button, your transaction will be completed; otherwise, it will not.  

&nbsp;  

**OOBA Push NotificationPush notifications**: When the push notification mechanism is enabled, you will receive a push notification from miniOrange on your Authenticator App, which you either accept or deny. You can successfully finish the second-factor challenge after clicking Accept.  

&nbsp;  

**Authenticator apps**: Receive a time-based OTP token (TOTP) by an external authenticator app such as Google/Microsoft authenticator for secure login.  

&nbsp;  

**Hardware Token**: Use of a physical USB token in your computer, which generates the required information to gain access.  

&nbsp;  

For any firm or organization trying to increase security, using multiple authentication methods is a clear choice. It secures client information and protects against security breaches. It benefits everyone: customers are less likely to have their data stolen, and organizations are less likely to suffer a significant data breach.  

&nbsp;  

&nbsp;  

#### **Further Reading:**
1. [Multi-Factor Authentication](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa/)
2. [The necessity of Banking Cybersecurity](https://blog.miniorange.com/necessity-of-banking-cybersecurity/)
3. [What is Risk-Based Authentication?](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-risk-based-authentication/)

Out Of Band Authentication (OOBA) is a type of 2FA that uses a secondary verification method delivered over a different communication channel.

What is Out-Of-Band Authentication (OOBA)?

Discover securing privileged accounts with Privilege Access Management (PAM). Get PAM solutions like PEDM, PASM, EPM, JIT, password vault, and rotation.

What is Privileged Access Management (PAM)?


### What is Privileged Account Management? {#what-is-privileged-account-management}

**Privileged Account Management (PAM)** is a process that focuses on managing and securing [privileged accounts](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-are-privileged-accounts/) that get access to sensitive servers within an organization's IT environment. It consists of various roles such as granting permissions, making modifications to sensitive data, in simple words who can unlock a system, get access to the system and also take a look at what is inside the IT ecosystem. 

**Privileged accounts** are accounts that have elevated access rights, allowing users to perform critical and sensitive tasks, such as system administration, configuration changes, and access to sensitive data. The privileged account management solution aims to control, monitor, and audit these privileged accounts to ensure that access is granted only to authorized users and for approved activities. Through Privileged Account Management, organizations can reduce the risk of unauthorized access, insider threats, and potential data breaches, while also meeting compliance requirements and enhancing overall cybersecurity.

Privileged Account Management is essential for organizations to protect against cyberattacks that target privileged accounts. If these accounts are compromised, attackers can freely move within the network, conducting harmful actions like downloading malicious files, taking control of servers, and causing financial loss and damage to the organization's reputation. PAM helps prevent such risks and ensures the security of the privileged account. 

![PAM Features](/blog/assets/2023/pam-features.webp)


### What is a Privileged Account? {#what-is-a-privileged-account} 

A Privileged Account, also known as an elevated account, is a powerful and essential type of account in an IT environment. It serves as the foundation for managing organizational resources, including hardware and software. Privileged accounts encompass various types, such as Linux/Unix root accounts, Windows Administrator, Database Administrator (DBA), and various application accounts. These accounts hold significant permissions, allowing IT teams to perform critical tasks like setting up architecture, running essential applications and services, installing software, and overseeing software maintenance tasks. Essentially, privileged accounts act as master keys, providing access to critical IT assets and sensitive information within an organization.

Due to their elevated privileges, privileged accounts are high-value targets for cyber attackers, emphasizing the importance of robust security and management practices, such as [granular access control](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/granular-access-control) and [zero trust](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/zero-trust-security-model/), to protect the organization's IT environment.

#### Types of Privileged Accounts

- **Linux/Unix Root Accounts**: These pam accounts have the highest level of access in Unix-like systems.
- **Windows Administrator Accounts**: These accounts have complete control over the Windows environment.
- **Database Administrator (DBA) Accounts**: These privileged accounts manage and maintain database systems.
- **Application Accounts**: These accounts are used by applications to access databases and other services.

The management of these privileged accounts is crucial to ensuring the security and integrity of the IT infrastructure. PAM account solutions play an important role in controlling and monitoring access, ensuring that only authorized personnel can perform critical operations.

### How to manage Privileged Accounts? {#how-to-manage-privileged-accounts} 

Usually, organizations use various password management software to help employees maintain their credentials for their applications. This approach requires a bit of attention while employees choose and manage their passwords effectively. 
In today’s times, companies are moving forward with their password management and security practices. To accomplish this, robust privileged account and access management solutions must be deployed efficiently. Therefore, privileged account management tools enable your company to improve password protection and strengthen privileged account security overall.

To effectively manage privileged accounts, follow these steps for the PAM Lifecycle:


1. **Define and Classify Privileged Accounts**: Begin by defining and classifying privileged accounts. Your business functions rely on data, systems, and access, and dependence on these entities varies from one organization to another. Consult your disaster recovery plan, which typically classifies your critical systems, and align your privileged accounts to your business risk and operations. Develop IT security policies that explicitly cover privileged accounts, detailing acceptable use and responsibilities.
2. **Discover Privileged Accounts**: Use an automated privileged account discovery tool to identify and locate all these accounts in your IT environment. This will give you a comprehensive understanding of how many such accounts you have and where they are located. Continuous discovery helps curb privileged account sprawl, identify potential insider abuse, and reveal external threats. This step is crucial in the PAM Lifecycle.
3. **Manage and Protect Privileged Accounts**: Protect your pam account passwords by proactively managing, monitoring, and controlling its access with password protection software. Ensure your password management solution can automatically discover and store credentials; schedule password rotation; audit, analyze, and manage individual privileged account session activity; and monitor password accounts to detect and respond to malicious activity proactively. Develop a least privilege policy to limit IT admin access to systems, granting privileges only when required and approved. Effective PAM implementation includes robust management and protection strategies.
4. **Monitor and Record Privileged Account Activity**: Your Privileged Access Management solution should monitor and record privileged account activity. This helps enforce proper behavior and avoid user mistakes because users know their activities are being monitored. Monitoring also aids digital forensics in identifying the root cause of breaches and critical controls that can be improved to reduce future cybersecurity threats. Monitoring is a key component of the PAM Lifecycle.
5. **Detect Abnormal Usage**: Track and alert on user behavior. Up to 80% of breaches involve a compromised user or privileged account. Gain insights into privileged account access and user behavior in real-time to catch suspected account compromises and potential user abuse. Behavioral analytics establish individual user baselines, including user activity, password access, similar user behavior, and time of access, to identify and alert on suspicious activity.
6. **Respond to Incidents**: Prepare an incident response plan in case a pam account is compromised. Simply changing privileged account passwords or disabling them is not adequate when a privileged account is breached. Assume that if a domain administrator account is compromised, your entire Active Directory is also compromised. Follow a comprehensive incident response plan to address such breaches effectively. Incident response is a critical stage in the PAM Lifecycle.
7. **Review and Audit Privileged Account Activity**: Continuously monitor privileged account usage via audits and reports to identify unusual behaviors, which may indicate a breach or misuse. Automated reports help track the cause of security incidents and demonstrate compliance with policies and regulations. Privileged account audits provide essential cybersecurity metrics and vital information for executive decision-making. Regular reviews and audits are integral to successful PAM implementation.


By following these steps and embracing the PAM Lifecycle approach, you can strengthen the security of your privileged accounts and ensure effective management of these critical assets. 



### Privileged Account Management vs Privileged Access Management {#privileged-account-management-vs-privileged-access-management} 

The difference between Privileged Account Management (PAM) and Privileged Access Management (PAM) lies in their scope and focus:

**1. Privileged Account Management (PAM):**

Privileged Account Management specifically deals with the management and security of privileged accounts within an organization's IT environment. It focuses on managing and controlling the access rights and permissions of accounts that have elevated privileges, such as administrative accounts, root Linux/Unix accounts, and database administrator accounts. The main objective of it is to ensure that privileged accounts are properly protected, monitored, and audited to prevent unauthorized access and reduce the risk of security breaches.

**2. Privileged Access Management (PAM):**

Privileged Access Management, on the other hand, encompasses a broader approach that goes beyond just managing privileged accounts. It involves managing and securing all aspects of privileged access within an organization, including not only privileged accounts but also privileged access to applications, systems, databases, and other critical resources. PAM focuses on implementing comprehensive strategies and technologies to control and monitor elevated access and permissions, minimizing the attack surface and enhancing overall security.

While Privileged Account Management (PAM) focuses specifically on managing privileged accounts, Privileged Access Management (PAM) takes a more comprehensive approach, addressing all aspects of privileged access within an organization's IT environment.


### Why is Privileged Account Management important? {#why-is-privileged-account-management-important} 

The Importance of Privileged Access Management:

Privileged Account Management (PAM) is essential for several reasons:

- **Protection from cyberattacks** : Privileged accounts are prime targets for hackers seeking to gain full access to sensitive data and systems. PAM helps secure these accounts and prevents unauthorized access.
- **Mitigating insider threats** : Internal users with elevated privileges can pose significant risks. PAM helps detect and prevent misuse of privileged accounts by insiders, reducing the potential for data breaches.
- **Safeguarding against negligence** : Careless employees may unknowingly expose critical credentials, creating security vulnerabilities. PAM ensures proper controls and minimizes the risk of accidental data exposure.
- **Managing third-party access** : Vendors and ex-employees with privileged access can also pose threats. PAM ensures proper oversight of third-party access to internal infrastructure.
- **Enforcing least privilege** : Many users have more privileges than necessary for their job roles. PAM enforces the principle of least privilege, granting only essential permissions for specific tasks.
- **Proper privilege management** : Over time, unused privileges may be forgotten, leading to security gaps. PAM helps track and revoke privileges when they are no longer needed, reducing the risk of unauthorized actions.

Overall, PAM plays a crucial role in enhancing cybersecurity, protecting sensitive data, and ensuring the overall integrity of an organization's IT environment.

### FAQs {#faq}

**1. What is a privileged account management tool?**
A privileged account management tool is a software solution designed to manage and secure privileged accounts within an organization's IT environment. These tools help organizations ensure that individuals have only the necessary levels of access to perform their jobs, thereby minimizing the risk of unauthorized access and potential security breaches.

**Privileged account management tools offer several key features:**

1. Discovery and Inventory: Automatically discover and catalog all privileged accounts within the network.
2. Access Control: Enforce policies to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive systems and data.
3. Password Management: Securely manage and rotate passwords for privileged accounts to reduce the risk of compromise.
4. Session Monitoring and Recording: Track and record user activities during privileged sessions to detect and respond to suspicious behaviors.
5. Audit and Compliance: Provide detailed reports and audit trails to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies.

By implementing a **privileged account management tool**, organizations can enhance their cybersecurity posture, reduce the risk of insider threats, and ensure that access to critical IT resources is appropriately managed and monitored.


&nbsp;

**2. What is privileged account management software?**

Privileged account management software is a specialized subset of Identity and Access Management (IAM) that enables organizations to control and monitor the activities of privileged users. These users have access levels above and beyond those of standard users, granting them the ability to perform critical tasks such as system administration, configuration changes, and access to sensitive data.

Privileged account management software offers several essential features:

- **Access Control**: Ensures that only authorized users can access and perform tasks with privileged accounts.
- **Activity Monitoring**: Continuously monitors and records the actions of privileged users once they are logged into the system, providing visibility into their activities.
- **Password Management**: Secures and manages passwords for privileged accounts, including automatic rotation and secure storage.
- **Audit and Compliance**: Generates detailed reports and audit trails to help organizations meet regulatory requirements and internal security policies.
- **Risk Mitigation**: Reduces the risk of unauthorized access and potential security breaches by enforcing strict access controls and monitoring.


By using privileged account software, organizations can enhance their security posture by ensuring that privileged users have only the necessary access to perform their duties while closely monitoring their activities to detect and respond to any suspicious behavior. This helps safeguard critical IT resources and sensitive information from potential threats.

Privileged Account Management restricts access to sensitive servers and ensures that only authorized users can access privileged accounts.

What is Privileged Account Management?

### What is Provisioning? {#what-is-provisioning}
Provisioning in its very essence has a very simple meaning – supplying with / making something available.  

As we expand and try to understand this word from an Information Technology business perspective, the definition gets more nuanced. It refers to an IT process involving some infrastructure enabling data and asset transfer.  

As we go on even further and look at it from an [Identity and Access Management (IAM)](https://www.miniorange.com/what-is-iam-identity-and-access-management) perspective for business, it takes up the meaning of an identity management process that overlooks the changes in data of identities and assets in **identity stores.**  

User provisioning **creates, updates, deletes, handles** all identities (user accounts) across all connected IT Infrastructure, applications, data and assets for business.  

- If all employers were to sit down to manage every employee / user account across every business application or network and service manually / individually, they would quickly go **out of business**. Provisioning, or “User Provisioning” enables **seamless and automated** control over all information updates and data that is required to be made when there is some change in data of a group of users – there might be **address updates, account disables, new enrollments/creations, permission management**, the list is endless for user management.
- It is estimated that in a business, an average-efficient IT department will take ~30 minutes to set up an employee account for every new hire, which is an enormous amount of time when scaled to hundreds of joinees. Not to mention the existing employees requiring security and attention on their accounts. This time can be **greatly reduced** by using User Provisioning processes.
- If an organization or business has ~15 business applications and assets across which it has accounts created for its employees / users, even if 5 employees / users leave, the IT department will need to delete ~50 user accounts across all these applications **manually**, which is clearly a big problem waiting to be solved. **The solution is User Provisioning**. It can be set up in a way that **triggers necessary actions on data** when particular changes are made. Like most good automation solutions today, it takes care of the most chaotic problem we face – human error. A problem without a pattern is very dangerous and any solution to it is instantly adopted.
- User Provisioning also greatly helps in improving the **security and onboarding experience** of new employees / users – nobody wants to sit and create **multiple user accounts** on the first day of work.
 

### How does Provisioning work? {#how-does-provisioning-work}
Now that we’ve understood that user provisioning is a simple but necessary identity management automation process that takes care of individual digital identities along with their access rights, permissions, and data changes for a business, let’s take a look at how it works.  

When we look at an automated user provisioning information flow for a business, we see that users are added to applications and services based on specific, predefined user roles for security purposes. Whenever a user is assigned a role, that user is automatically created in the associated application/service and granted required access permissions.  

Consequently, when any user is “deprovisioned”, that user’s identity, assets and all of its related accounts across the organization’s applications/services ecosystem are deleted without needing manual intervention. All granted permissions and authorizations are securely revoked, as a result.  

Example –

![User Lifecycle Management | Automated Provisioning](/blog/assets/2023/user-lifecycle-management.webp)
 

 

### What are the different variations of Provisioning? {#what-are-the-different-variations-of-provisioning}
As with most IT processes, provisioning comes in various shapes and forms. Not all of these are categorically different from one another, some are subsets or supersets of each other, but let’s briefly look at what these mean –  

1. **User Provisioning** can be defined as the broad process which involves all of the individual sub functionalities, namely account creation – deletion – updation, permissions and access management, data modification, identity storage and handling, etc.
2. **Group Provisioning** involves a simpler way of dealing with individual users and provisioning processes of those users –  by identifying identities under groups and then handling the process for those groups as a whole. It can be understood as further optimization of the automation that is provisioning.
3. **[SCIM Provisioning](https://www.miniorange.com/products/scim-provisioning-gateway)** is an abbreviation for “System for Cross-Domain Identity Management”. SCIM is, simply put, an open standard that communicates user identity data between Identity Providers and Service Providers.
4. **Account Provisioning** involves all the processes that act on user accounts, which includes account creation, deletion, changing, permission management, securing data, disabling, etc.
3. **Identity Synchronization** refers to a secure real-time and automatic syncing of data across different identity stores (cloud or on-premise) that are connected. An example of this would be – changing of source e-mail address should change the email address everywhere it is used.
 

### Automated Provisioning & Deprovisioning {#automated-provisioning-and-deprovisioning}
The automated provisioning means adding, updating, and deleting users, and managing user access in a network. In addition to eliminating the challenges and delays of manually managing profiles and account rights, it reduces human mistakes, improves operational efficiency, data privacy and eliminates network and other security breaches.  

In the same way that [Automated Provisioning](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/automated-user-provisioning/) can enable users to deploy and activate services, it can also disable their access to data, systems, and applications. This is known as Automated Deprovisioning.

 

### Benefits of Automated Provisioning {#benefits-of-automated-provisioning}

**Streamlined onboarding:**  
By automating provisioning, you can take the user onboarding burden off of HR or IT departments. Through this process, organizations can provide their new employees, contractors, consultants, etc. with access to specific applications (cloud or on-premise), network, data and resources they need to perform their jobs.  

**Increased Productivity:**  
This improves productivity by giving them access to the cloud services they need from day one. Users are empowered to start working immediately without having to wait for access.  

**Cost savings:**  
When you reduce the amount of time and resources spent on manual provisioning, you can focus on other tasks. You also eliminate user downtime when they don’t have access to what they need, resulting in more productivity, lower operational expenses, and improved operational efficiency.   

**Error reduction:**  
It eliminates manual operations, the margin of error is considerably reduced. When adding a user to the system and providing access to programs, there’s less of a possibility of making a mistake.  

**Security:**  
Furthermore, automating reduces the risk of security risks, network or data breaches because access to these cloud applications is only granted through the roles and permissions established by the business.  

**Get deeper insights & analysis:**  
Optimization of the network based on a detailed overview of the data, network and policy-based network setup. This is in contrast to the current practice of making ad hoc operational decisions based on a fragmented view of the network.

 

### Provisioning with miniOrange {#provisioning-with-miniorange}
With miniOrange and our wide range of User Provisioning solutions, you can create, manage, & delete your external and internal users’ access to on-premises, cloud, and hybrid apps.  

We also have pre-integrated apps for Provisioning and Deprovisioning:  

- [Azure/Active Directory](https://www.miniorange.com/azure-ad-provisioning)
- [G-Suite App](https://www.miniorange.com/google-workspace-provisioning)
- [Microsoft 365](https://www.miniorange.com/office-365-provisioning)
- [Salesforce](https://www.miniorange.com/salesforce-provisioning)
 

![Pre-Integrated Apps for Provisioning that miniOrange supports](/blog/assets/2023/automated-provisioning-apps.webp)


Linked is an overview of our [Provisioning solutions](https://www.miniorange.com/user-provisioning) as well as in-depth steps to implement the solution. miniOrange can set up a complete automation for User Provisioning in your organization in no time! We have both cloud and on premise solutions available based on the organization’s requirements.  

Check out all of our pre-existing Provisioning integrated apps [here](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/?id=provisioning).  

&nbsp;  

&nbsp;  

#### **Further Reading:**  

- [Passwordless Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/passwordless-authentication/)
- [Adaptive Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa)
- [What is Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM)?](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-ciam-customer-identity-and-access-management/)

Provisioning manages access of all identities across all connected IT Infrastructure in business for apps, servers and data. Provisioning means providing.

What is Provisioning and how does it work?


### What is SCIM? {#What-is-SCIM?}

[SCIM – The System for Cross-domain Identity Management](https://plugins.miniorange.com/shopify-scim-user-provisioning), is an open standard that involves the process of creating, updating, and deleting user accounts in multiple applications and systems. It is an Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution that includes management and maintenance of an end user’s identity and user attributes in relation to accessing resources available in one or more systems. Real-time user syncing can be easily achieved using SCIM.

### How does Shopify SCIM Provisioning / Deprovisioning Works? {#How-does-Shopify-SCIM-Works?}

Shopify SCIM integration enables automating the process of [**provisioning / de-provisioning of user identities**](https://www.miniorange.com/products/user-provisioning). Shopify SCIM User Provisioning allows you to sync users’ creation, updating, and deletion with other websites of your business. **SCIM Provisioning** works with existing web model standards like REST and JSON-based protocol that defines a client and server role making it easy to implement. A client is usually an Identity provider (IDP), which contains user identities. A Service Provider (SP) is usually a SaaS app, like Shopify, that needs a subset of information from those identities. When changes to identities are made in the IdP (Identity Provider), including create, update, and delete, they are automatically synced to the SP according to the SCIM protocol. In addition, the IdP can detect identities in the service provider and add them to its database.

### Why choose SCIM for Shopify? {#Why-choose-SCIM-for-Shopify?}

Shopify SCIM integration allows to [communicate user’s data between Shopify and several other Identity Providers](https://plugins.miniorange.com/configure-scim-provisioning-and-user-sync-in-shopify) **(Okta, Azure)**, this enables IT departments to automate the **provisioning / deprovisioning** process while also having a single system to manage permissions and groups. It mitigates the risks associated with employees using the same password across different **Shopify stores** and applications. It simplifies the user experience by automating the user identity lifecycle management process. **Shopify SCIM Provisioning and De-Provisioning** application gives you the ability to automate user creation, updating, and disabling tasks in Shopify by directly interacting with the Identity Provider Admin Dashboard (Okta, OneLogin, Azure, etc.)

![shopify-automated-user-provisioning-deprovisioning](/blog/assets/2023/shopify-automated-user-provisioning-deprovisioning.webp)

### How will SCIM Protocol help to overcome the challenges faced by non-SCIM users? {#How-will-SCIM-Protocol-help-to-overcome-the-challenges-faced-by-non-SCIM-users?}

Shopify SCIM provisioning **creates, updates, disable, handles** all identities (user accounts) across different Shopify stores and all other connected IT Infrastructure and applications.

- Suppose an IT department sells their products on their Shopify store. For every new hire suppose the IT department takes approximately 5-10 minutes to set up an employee account in both the department and the Shopify store which is an enormous amount of time when scale to hundreds of new joiners. This time can be reduced by using the SCIM provisioning process. If the IT company application support SCIM protocol then using the Shopify SCIM application, whenever an employee is added to their identity providers, then the same employee is created as a customer in their Shopify store and vice versa.

- Organizations would have to cease trading if they manually manage every employee/user account detail across several business applications and Shopify stores. SCIM Provisioning allows seamless and automated control of all information updates that must be made when a group of users’ data changes – for example, address updates, account disables, new enrollments/creations, permission management, and so on.

- SCIM provisioning also significantly improves new employee onboarding — no one wants to sit and create multiple user accounts on their first day of work.

- SCIM has a number of security advantages. When an employee is fired or leaves a company, the offboarding process is usually inconsistent. Consider a scenario where the administrators forget to de-provision the user’s account on an application that contains sensitive data which can cause data breaches and can affect the company drastically. One of the leading causes of data breaches is due to unprovisioned account access.

### Let’s take an example of SCIM Process between Okta and Shopify {#Let’s take an example of SCIM Process between Okta and Shopify}

[Okta SCIM provisioning with Shopify](https://plugins.miniorange.com/shopify-okta-scim-provisioning-guide) can be achieved by using our [**miniOrange SCIM Provisioning De-provisioning**](https://www.miniorange.com/products/user-provisioning) application. Our SCIM application is compatible with almost all the Identity Providers that support SCIM protocol and can enable secure **User Syncing from Okta into multiple Shopify stores** and vice versa.

Consider an organization with multiple Shopify stores, that uses Okta as its IDP (Identity Provider), and SCIM Application is configured across both of the platforms. Now suppose, if a new employee joins the organization, an Okta account will be created for him. If you use the **miniOrange SCIM User Syncing application**, his account will be created automatically in all of the Shopify stores, and they can be assigned a specific group/tag in the store to provide them access to specific areas of Shopify Storefront. This eliminates the need for IT Department to manually update the employee’s access rights. If an employee leaves the organization then his okta account is deleted, then the user sync functionality will restrict the employee from accessing all of the Shopify accounts. As a result, the organization’s applications are more secure, and administrative expenses and time are reduced.

In this way, with SCIM Provisioning Deprovisioning Application you get the benefit of user provisioning and deprovisioning functionality.

![shopify-scim-provisioning-manage-cloud-apps](/blog/assets/2023/shopify-scim-provisioning-manage-cloud-apps.webp)

### Key features of using SCIM with Shopify {#Key-features-of-using-SCIM-with-Shopify}

- **Automate user Deprovisioning / Deactivation:** Automatically [restrict the customer from accessing the Shopify Store](https://plugins.miniorange.com/content-restriction-for-shopify) whenever the same user is removed/deleted from your other existing Website or Application.

- **Automate real-time provisioning:** Real-time user syncing can be achieved using the SCIM protocol. You can connect with your other website / existing Application and auto-create a user in Shopify when the user signup in your other website or Application.

- **Assign Tags to Customer:** You can assign tags to each user at the time of user creation in Shopify.
  Attribute Mapping: Map and update Shopify user attributes automatically from your IDP.

- **Two-way User Profile in Sync:** Two-way User Syncing can be achieved using SCIM protocol. Update user in Shopify whenever a user is updated in your other website and vice versa.

- **Connect multiple stores with a single application:** [manage your multiple Shopify stores](https://plugins.miniorange.com/sso-into-multiple-shopify-stores) users from a single application (like okta, wordpress, etc.)

### Additional Benefits of Enabling SCIM in Shopify {#Additional-Benefits-of-Enabling-SCIM-in-Shopify}

- Lower repetitive and manual work
- Get deeper insights on user behavior and data
- Simplify user onboarding experience
- Save time, resources, and costs
- Automate account creation and handling
- Much higher security, much lower human error
- Reduce complexity, increase efficiency
- Automatic real-time User syncing

### Further Reading

- [Shopify SCIM Provisioning/de-provisioning features and benefits](https://plugins.miniorange.com/shopify-scim-user-provisioning)
- [Shopify Okta SCIM Provisioning and de-provisioning](https://plugins.miniorange.com/shopify-okta-scim-provisioning-guide)
- [Download and read more about the Shopify SCIM application](https://apps.shopify.com/scim-user-sync-provisioning-deprovisioning)
- [Other Security Solution for Shopify](https://plugins.miniorange.com/shopify)


Shopify SCIM provisioning enables real-time provisioning and deprovisioning of users and automates user syncing between your application and Shopify.

What is SCIM Provisioning? SCIM Provisioning in Shopify


### What is SSO? {#what-is-sso}

**Single Sign-On (SSO)** is an authentication process in which a user is provided access to multiple applications and/or websites by using only a single set of login credentials (such as username and password). This prevents the need for the user to log separately into the different applications.

The user credentials and other identifying information are stored and managed by a centralized system called Identity Provider (IdP). The Identity Provider is a trusted system that provides access to other websites and applications.

Single Sign-On (SSO) based authentication systems are commonly used in enterprise environments where employees require access to multiple applications/websites of their organizations. In this scenario, the Single Sign-On service provider uses the organization’s directory, such as Microsoft Active Directory, [Azure Active Directory](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-azure-active-directory/), or a directory provided by the Single Sign-On solution itself for authenticating users and providing access to the various applications/websites.

### How does Single Sign-On (SSO) work? {#how-does-single-sign-on-sso-work}

![Single Sign On Workflow](/blog/assets/2023/sso-workflow.webp)

The authentication process using miniOrange Single Sign-On (SSO) takes place as described in the following steps:

- The user requests a resource from their desired application/website.
- The application/website redirects the user to miniOrange (Identity Provider) for authentication.
- The user signs in with their miniOrange credentials if no external IdP is configured. If you have an existing Identity Provider (SAML, OAuth/OpenID Connect, etc), miniOrange redirects the user to the existing Identity Provider for authentication.
- The IdP sends a Single Sign-On response to miniOrange.
- miniOrange returns a Single Sign-On response back to the client application/website and
- The application/website grants access to the user.

Now, the user can access all other applications/websites which are configured for SSO. If the user wants to access a resource from another application/website, the application/website checks whether the user has an active session with miniOrange.

### Single Sign-On (SSO) Components {#single-sign-on-sso-components}

- **Identity provider** - User Identity information is stored and managed by a centralized system called Identity Provider (IdP). The Identity Provider authenticates the user and provides access to the service provider. The identity provider can directly authenticate the user by validating a username and password or by validating an assertion about the user’s identity as presented by a separate identity provider.
The identity provider handles the management of user identities in order to free the service provider from this responsibility.
- **Service Provider** - A service provider provides services to the end-user. They rely on identity providers to assert the identity of a user, and typically certain attributes about the user are managed by the identity provider. Service providers may also maintain a local account for the user along with attributes that are unique to their service.
- **Identity Broker** - An identity broker acts as an intermediary that connects multiple service providers with various different identity providers. Using Identity Broker, you can perform single sign-on over any applications without the hassle about the protocol it follows. No need to understand or implement complex SSO protocols like SAML, OpenID, OAuth, CAS or any other. Instead, you can just call the HTTP endpoints and access any identities. The important reason why we should use Identity Broker is that it supports Cross Protocol i.e. configuring Service Provider following a particular protocol with an Identity Provider following some different protocol.

### Key factors to know before implementing SSO {#key-factors-to-know-before-implementing-sso}

Single Sign-On solution is implemented according to the requirements of the client. The implementation will differ from user to user regarding their objectives & needs. That being the case, there are some key factors you should keep in mind before implementing SSO for your system.

- Types of users: If they are permanent/temporary, the number of users should be kept in mind.
- Access: Proper authorization should be given to users according to their designation and or requirements.
- Platform: According to your needs choose whether you want On premises solution or a Cloud Based solution.
- Features: What features are you looking for to ensure only trusted users are logging in? MFA, Adaptive Authentication, Device Trust, IP Address Whitelisting, etc. should be considered. 
- What systems do you need to integrate with?
- Keep educating your employees about password best practices. Let them know what SSO is and how you make the best use of it.

### Benefits of Single Sign-On (SSO) {#benefits-of-single-sign-On-sso}

**How SSO can benefit users?**

- Ease of use: Users only need to remember one set username & password. Eliminating the inconvenience of managing, remembering, and resetting multiple passwords, thus improving productivity with higher conversion rates.
- Transparency: Users know what’s being shared from one system to another. They have all the access to their sensitive information and whom to share it with.
- Ease of access: With Single Sign-On, users don’t have to go through lengthy sign-up and authorization processes.

**How SSO can benefit business?**

- Increased productivity: Employees need access to many apps throughout their workday. They have to spend some time logging in to all those apps with the added difficulty of remembering all the passwords. With Single Sign-On, users can enter just one password to access all of their apps, skip all that extra time spent logging in and use that time more productively.
- Reduced IT cost: Enabling SSO allows users to manage individual dashboards and self-reset passwords, which eliminates the necessity of IT support, saves admin time on password resets and supports tickets to focus on more important tasks. This indirectly helps in reducing IT costs.
- Security and compliance: Security and Compliance factors enforce organizations to prove that they have taken adequate security measures to protect sensitive data. Single Sign-On helps with regulatory compliance to meet data access and security risk protection requirements.
- More user sign-ups: SSO provides a lower barrier to entry, so new customers can sign up easily and securely, by relying on a known brand. Trust is increased, which increases conversions.
- Improves security capabilities: SSO authentication ensures that only authorized users get access to sensitive data. With Single Sign-On you can Implement password policies like Password length, complexity, restrictions on password reuse, session timeout and self-service password reset policy to strengthen security without holding up your users access.
- Efficient Collaboration: Large organizations and enterprises develop their own Single Sign-On solutions so that it is easy to share data, files, and other information across multiple applications. This makes the sharing and collaboration process faster and less expensive.

In short, implementing an SSO solution can make life easier for your users as well as benefits your business.

### What are the limitations of SSO? {#What are the limitations of SSO?}

**1. Single Password Vulnerability**: If your SSO password gets compromised, the security for all the supported apps/websites gets compromised. For example, if a user’s Google Apps password gets stolen by a hacker, the entire range of Google apps like Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive, etc will be accessible to the hacker.

**2. Slow Process**: The authentication process using Single Sign-On is slower than traditional authentication where each app/website maintains its own database containing user data. This happens because, for every authentication attempt by the user, the application/website has to request the Single Sign-On provider for the user’s verification data.

### Is SSO Secure? {#is-sso-secure}

When single sign-on best practices are followed, a reliable SSO solution can hugely improve security. It ensures that:

- IT teams can leverage SSO to protect users with consistent security policies that adapt to their behavior while simplifying the management of usernames and passwords.
- Built-in security tools automatically identify and block malicious login attempts, improving the safety of business networks.
- Organizations can deploy security tools like [MFA](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa/) in tandem with SSO, and can quickly oversee user access rights and privileges.

In addition, an SSO solution from a proven provider should give companies peace of mind through verified security protocols and service at scale.

### Why is Single Sign-On used by Organizations? {#why-is-single-sign-on-used-by-organizations}

Using **Single Sign-On services for authentication** allows organizations to delegate storage and management of user credentials to a centralized system. This prevents the hassle of managing user data and passwords.

Enterprise SSO products provide authentication to a large number of third-party applications without the need to modify the applications in any way. This turn-key feature makes it easy for organizations to migrate to SSO based authentication.

**Single Sign-On can be used in the below scenarios**

- **Authentication Using Federated Identity**: If an enterprise makes use of a third-party identity provider, federated identity (SAML) is preferred for user authentication in cloud-based as well as on-premise applications. In this case, a user attempting access to an application is redirected to an SSO based service provider which requests the identity provider for verification of the user’s identity.
- **Authentication for On-Premise Enterprise Applications**: Enterprises make use of multiple applications for various tasks. SSO can be used as a central point of authentication using a single set of login credentials for providing access to all the different enterprise applications.

**Enterprise Single Sign-On**

Enterprise Single Sign-On products basically store user credentials like username and password and automatically replay them each time a user attempts to access an enterprise application. This allows the SSO product to be used with a vast range of third party applications as the application itself does not need to be modified in any way to work with the SSO system.

**Social Single Sign-On**

Popular social networking applications like Twitter, Facebook, Google offer SSO services that allow users to log in to third-party applications with their respective social network credentials. This is very convenient for the users since they already have their information in their social media accounts and they are also logged in most of the time. But using social media SSO services also presents security risks since hackers around the world are always targeting user accounts on social networking websites.

### What is an SSO token? {#what-is-an-sso-token}

An **SSO** token is a collection of data or information that is passed from one system to another during the Single Sign On process. The data can simply be a user’s email address and information about which system is sending the token. Tokens must be digitally signed for the token receiver to verify that the token is coming from a trusted source. The certificate that is used for this digital signature is exchanged during the initial configuration process.

### Types of Single Sign-On (SSO) Protocols {#types-of-single-sign-On-sso-protocols}

**SAML**
Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) is an open standard which contains user identity and attributes information in the form of an XML document. This XML document is digitally signed by the Identity provider and shared with the Service provider during the user authentication process.

**OAuth 2.0**
OAuth2 allows third party applications to authorize users by providing an access token. The access token prevents external applications from getting the user’s password and other data. The application can only access limited user information which is permitted by the user themselves.

**OpenID Connect**
OpenID Connect is an identity layer that operates on top of OAuth 2.0. It provides basic profile information about the end-user by specifying RESTful APIs that use JSON as a data format.

**LDAP**
LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is a protocol that enables anyone to locate organizations, individuals and other resources such as files and devices in a network. The network can be the Internet or a corporate intranet.

**RADIUS**
RADIUS stands for Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service. It is a client/server protocol that enables remote access servers to communicate with a central server to authenticate dial-in users and authorize their access to the requested system or service.

**WS-Federation**
WS-Federation (Web Services Federation) is an SSO protocol that is commonly used for authentication with Microsoft services like Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) and Azure Active Directory. It defines mechanisms that are used to enable sharing of identity and account attributes, user authentication and authorization across applications.

**CAS**
The Central Authentication Service (CAS) is a single sign-on protocol for web applications. Its purpose is to allow a user to access multiple websites by using a single set of credentials only once.

### Related Articles {#related-articles}

- [Single Sign-On (SSO) Solution](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso)
- [Cloud Single Sign-On (SSO) Solution](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/cloud-sso)
- [Single Sign-On Integration](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/)
- [WordPress SAML Single Sign-On](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-single-sign-on-sso)
- [WordPress OAuth Single Sign-On](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-sso)

What is single sign-on (sso) and how it works? also learn types of sso,its benefits, and challenges for securing your apps with it.

What is Single Sign-On (SSO) and How does SSO Work?


Single sign-on authentication (SSO authentication) has revolutionized the digital landscape by replacing the traditional login process. Gone are the days of asking users to remember passwords of multiple applications; SSO authentication simplifies the login experience. Additionally, it also enhances security and eliminates the frustration associated with password-based logins. 

Whether you run websites, develop apps, or run a business, user authentication is essential for both logistical and security reasons. We at miniOrange, understand the limitations of passwords and have come up with an ultra-secure  SSO authentication that can streamline user access, bolster security, and offer a better digital experience.

### What is the Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication method? {# What is the Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication method?}

SSO authentication revolutionizes the login experience by allowing users to access multiple applications, services, and accounts with a single login. A notable example is Salesforce's suite of applications, where logging into one grants access to all. This eliminates the hassle of repeatedly entering passwords when switching between applications like Salesforce Sales Cloud and Salesforce Service Cloud.  

The advantages of SSO authentication are many such as, users getting a hassle-free login experience while accessing multiple applications, administrators enjoying improved internal security through centralized monitoring of user accounts, and dealing with fewer password management-related responsibilities. SSO authentication also fosters collaboration and efficiency, such as the ease of sharing documents with other user accounts in the same ecosystem.


### How does SSO authentication work? {# How does SSO authentication work?}

To initiate the access process for a desired application or website, the user follows these steps within the SSO framework:

1. The user attempts to access a specific application or website provided by the Service Provider.
2. The application or website (Service Provider) directs the SSO request to the Identity Provider (IDP) for authentication.
3. The user provides their credentials associated with the Identity Provider to sign in.
4. Upon successful authentication by the IDP, a Single Sign-On response is sent back to the Service Provider.
5. With the received SSO response, the user is granted access to log in and securely utilize the desired resource or application.
6. Within the Service Provider's ecosystem, the user gains the ability to seamlessly access other pre-configured applications or websites through the SSO functionality.

### Is SSO authentication secure? {# Is SSO authentication secure?}

SSO systems are secure when implemented properly and used alongside other cybersecurity measures. They enhance internet security by reducing the reliance on weak passwords and centralizing systems for easier management and protection. However, centralization also presents some risks, as a breach in the central system could grant unauthorized access to all connected apps and tools.

And hence to overcome this issue and for enhance security, adding a two-factor login, such as miniOrange’s 2FA solution, provides an added layer of identity verification without significantly impacting the user experience. Two-factor login is becoming increasingly common, and users generally don't mind the added step for the benefits of prolonged secure access.

### Advantages of Single Sign-On (SSO) Authentication {# Advantages of Single Sign-On (SSO) Authentication}

**A. Enhanced user experience and convenience:**

- Simplifies access to multiple applications and services through a single login.
- Eliminates the need to remember and manage multiple passwords.
- Streamlines user experience, thus saving time and effort.

**B. Improved security and reduced password fatigue:**

- Reduces reliance on weak or reused passwords.
- Enables stronger password policies 
- Minimizes the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.

**C. Centralized user management and access control:**

- Simplifies administration and maintenance of user accounts.
- Allows for easy provisioning and deprovisioning of user access.
- Enhances control over user access privileges and security policies.


### Single Sign On Authentication methods {# Single Sign On Authentication methods}

Let us have a look at some of the advanced and indispensable Single Sign-on authentication methods for your organization. 

**1. SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language):**  
SAML is a widely adopted standard for implementing Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication, offering several advantages. With SAML-based SSO, users are relieved from manually entering credentials and the burden of remembering and changing passwords. Weak passwords become less of a concern as SAML leverages existing identity information. It seamlessly integrates with existing identity systems like Active Directory, enabling a smoother authentication process. SAML-based SSO provides a secure and convenient method for accessing applications, leveraging existing identity information for an improved user experience and enhanced security.

**2. API Authentication:**  
In today's digital landscape, APIs have gained immense popularity due to their ability to manage and process vast amounts of data efficiently. APIs have introduced a new realm of possibilities in the realm of online security. Among the numerous API authentication methods available, some of the most widely used are HTTP Basic Auth, API keys, and OAuth. 

**3. OAuth:**  
OAuth, a widely used API authentication method, provides a comprehensive solution for both authentication and authorization processes. By defining the scope, OAuth enables the API to authenticate and gain access to the requested system or resource.

**4. OpenID Connect:**  
Its an authentication method that builds upon the OAuth 2.0 framework. It serves as an identity layer and enables applications or websites to authenticate its users and verify their identity. This is done by leveraging an authorization server, which performs the authentication process. Overall, OpenID Connect enables applications to verify the identity of users by relying on an authorization server's authentication.

**5. Smartcard Based:**  
Smartcard SSO authentication uses smartcards as secure authentication token. Each user has a smart card with a digital certificate and private key. Users insert the smartcard into a reader, authenticate with a PIN or biometric, and gain access to authorized resources without further authentication. It enables users to access multiple resources, simplifying the authentication process and enhancing user convenience. This method offers strong security, eliminates the need for multiple passwords, and simplifies the authentication process. 


### Conclusion {# Conclusion}

In the rapidly evolving technology landscape, prioritizing security is essential to differentiate yourself from competitors and deliver a seamless experience to end-users.

Compromising security exposes your company to various risks, including phishing attacks and data breaches. To mitigate such risks, it's crucial to select an authentication system that aligns with your budget and ensures a seamless user experience. As a trusted provider of Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions, miniOrange can help you identify the most dependable authentication solution for your organizational needs. We also provide solutions for WordPress to perform [WordPress SAML SSO](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-single-sign-on-sso) or [OAuth SSO](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-sso) using SAML and OAuth protocols. If you have any inquiries regarding the SSO authentication process, feel free to reach out to us at idpsupport@xecurify.com.

### FAQs {# FAQs}  

**1. What is the difference between SSO and SSO authentication?**  
In Single Sign-On, users can access multiple systems or applications using a single set of login credentials. It eliminates the need for users to remember and manage separate usernames and passwords for each system. It enables users to authenticate once and give access to various systems seamlessly.  

Whereas SSO authentication emphasizes the authentication aspect of SSO, where user's identity is verified using a single set of credentials across multiple systems. SSO authentication ensures that the user's login information is securely validated and grants them access to the authorized systems.  

In summary, SSO is the overarching concept of using a single login across multiple systems, while SSO authentication focuses on the authentication mechanism that allows for this seamless access.

**2. What does SSO authentication stand for?**  
SSO authentication stands for Single Sign-On authentication, which is a method that allows users to log in once with a single set of credentials to access multiple applications or services.  

**3. What is the difference between single sign-on and MFA?**  
The difference between single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) is that SSO is a method where users can access multiple applications with a single set of login credentials, while MFA is an additional security layer that requires users to provide multiple forms of authentication, such as a password and a verification code.

Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication enables users to securely log in with a single ID across multiple independent software systems.

What is Single Sign On Authentication | How does it work?


### What is SAML? {#what-is-saml}

SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) is an open standard that enables Identity Providers (IdPs) to send **authorization** credentials to service providers (SP).

For standardized interactions between the identity provider and service providers, transactions through this protocol use **Extensible Markup Language (XML)**. It is the link between a user’s identity authentication and their authorization to use a service.

SAML permits [Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-single-sign-on-sso/). You may enable seamless access to resources and minimize unsafe password proliferation by making a variety of sites available with only one set of login credentials.

SAML 2.0 was adopted by the OASIS Consortium in 2005. The standard has evolved dramatically since 1.1, to the point that the versions are incompatible. Adoption of this protocol helps IT businesses to deploy SaaS solutions while still maintaining a secure federated identity management system.

### How does SAML work? {#how-does-saml-work}

The identity provider and service providers exchange information about users, logins, and characteristics via [SAML](https://www.miniorange.com/what-is-saml). When a user seeks to access services using Single Sign-On, the identity provider can provide SAML characteristics to the service provider. The service provider asks the identity provider for authorization and authentication. The user just has to log in once because both systems use the same language, SAML.

Each identity provider and service provider need to agree upon the configuration for SAML. Both IdP and SP need to have the exact configuration for a successful authentication flow.

![SAML Workflow](/blog/assets/2023/saml-flow.webp)

### What is OAuth?  {#what-is-oauth}

OAuth which stands for “Open Authorization” is a technological standard for granting user permissions. It’s a method of transmitting **authorization** from one service to another without revealing the user’s actual credentials, such as username and password. A user can sign in on one platform and then be granted permission to execute activities and see data on another using OAuth. For authentication tokens, it utilizes its own XML documentation, although it can alternatively use **JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)**.

It is a popular mechanism for passing authorization from a single sign-on (SSO) provider to another cloud application, although it may be used between any two apps. Even if this is one of the most actively used protocols, other protocols can also accomplish this purpose. 

OAuth 2.0 is a significantly redesigned version of OAuth 1.0, using a different methodology. In the newer version, the consumer, service provider, and user roles of the older version are replaced by a client, authorization server, resource server, and resource owner roles.

### How does OAuth work? {#how-does-oauth-work}

An OAuth Access Token transaction requires three players: the end-user, the application (API), and the resource (service provider that has your login credentials). The transaction starts when the user specifies that he or she wants to utilize the API.

**Application asks permission**: By submitting the user’s confirmed identity as proof, the application or API (application program interface) requests authorization from the resource.

**Application requests Access Token**: Without having to provide usernames or passwords, the resource grants an Access Token to the API when the authorization has been validated.

**Application accesses resource**: Tokens come with API access permissions.  Permissions are called scopes, and each token has an approved scope for each API. The application can only access the resource to the degree that the scope permits.

![OAuth Workflow](/blog/assets/2023/oauth-flow.webp)

### SAML vs OAuth {#saml-vs-oauth} 

**Similarities:**

Both of these authentication approaches allow SSO to eliminate unwanted usernames and passwords and also are based on open standards for verifying identities and granting access to protected resources via centralized administration. Easy enrollment and delegated user management help IT admins. The standards may even be mutually beneficial and promote interoperability. Authentication servers, for example, can acquire authorization grants from SAML-trusted IdPs via the OAuth assertion flow.

**Differences:**

While considering SAML vs OAuth, following two tools are used for distinct tasks:

- Authentication: The identity of the user is involved in this procedure. SAML works similarly to a home key. It allows you to use the facility.
- Authorization: The privileges of a user are involved in this procedure. OAuth is similar to the home rules that govern what a person can and cannot do while they are inside.

**SAML Use Case:**

SAML is commonly used for Single Sign-On in government and corporate applications (identity management), in which XML processing is widespread. Many government citizen ID programs use SAML (for example, UK Verify).

This protocol is used to manage users from a central location. You use this when you connect to your office computer and network. To get access to the network, users only need to input their credentials once.

**OAuth Use Case:**

Both in authorization and authentication roles, OAuth 2.0 is extensively utilized in user and corporate applications. It’s most commonly used to authorize access to RESTful APIs, where the usage of access tokens makes it simple and easy.

This protocol is also used to allow you to access one service from another without having to re-enter your login credentials. It is done by allowing you to use your credentials from one service to another.

The most prevalent use case for OAuth in the corporate world is in combination with Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions. It may be used to authorize users to use an application.
 
When we compare SAML vs OAuth, both are mutually beneficial. By using SAML to offer **access to an application** while utilizing OAuth to grant **access to a protected resource**, you may utilize both protocols at the same time. With either protocol or a mix of the two, you may use an identity provider or single sign-on (SSO) service accordingly.

### FAQ {#faq} 

**Is SAML based on OAuth?**

In contrast to JWT, SAML is not dependent on OAuth and instead relies on an exchange of messages to validate in XML format. It’s more typically used to allow business users to log in to various apps with a single password. Security Assertion Markup Language is used for the authorization while OAuth is used for the authentication process.


**Is OAuth more secure than SAML?**

Open Authentication, or OAuth, is another AuthN/AuthZ mechanism for safe authentication. In comparison to SAML, it is more focused on access scoping. Once an identity has been validated, access scoping is the practice of granting just the bare minimum of access to the resource/app that the identity requires.

SAML is meant to focus on corporate security, but OAuth is often not a viable solution for securing a company of hundreds or thousands of employees since it lacks encryption and relies on secure sockets layer/transport layer security (SSL/TLS) protocols for security.


**Where is SSO used? SAML or OAuth?**

Single Sign-On is possible with both SAML and OAuth, although their applications are vastly different.  However, SAML is more user-specific, whereas OAuth is more application-specific. Both protocols approach it from different angles. The goal of SAML is to federate identities and eliminate the complexity of authentication. OAuth, on the other hand, allows a user who has previously been authenticated to delegate authority to another user. Each technique can be used as part of a larger authentication and authorization process, either in combination or in collaboration with other technologies.


### Further Reading {#further-reading} 

- [What is SAML?](https://www.miniorange.com/what-is-saml)
- [What is OAuth (Open Authorization)?](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-oauth-2/)
- [What is an Identity Provider (IDP)?](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-an-identity-provider-idp/)
- [Single Sign-On (SSO)?](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-single-sign-on-sso/)
- [WordPress SAML Single Sign-On](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-single-sign-on-sso)
- [WordPress OAuth Single sign-On](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-sso)

Learn about what are the differences between SAML and OAuth? SAML vs OAuth definition, workflow, similarities, differences, use cases.

What is the difference between SAML and OAuth?


According to Security Magazine, the typical business user oversees 191 passwords for work-related purposes and dozens more for personal ones. Up to 5 million passwords may be used by staff members of a company with 25,000 employees. Given the prevalence of passwords, password vulnerabilities are a major contributor to security breaches that result from cyber-attacks.  
Passwords that are too simple, easily figurable, used on multiple systems, and not frequently enough present hazards. Avoiding using the same password across many systems is one of the finest security measures. The majority of experts are familiar with this principle. However, 61 percent of typical corporate users acknowledge using the same password across the board.  
Employees waste a lot of time inputting passwords, which is another issue with this password bloat. Eliminating the need for multiple passwords is one approach to the password management issue. It is feasible to use a centralized authentication technique provided by a “web-based single sign-on” (Web SSO) system in place of using a collection of passwords to access various online services.


### What is Web SSO? {# What is Web SSO?}
Web SSO is a technique for managing browser-based sessions that keeps the user logged in across all of your applications by using sessionStorage, localStorage, and cookies. On-demand authentication is provided by a centralized domain, which also shares the session with authorized applications. Therefore, regardless of the platform or domain, the user is utilizing, once a customer logs in to any one application, they can instantly log into another.


### How does web single sign-on work? {# How does web single sign-on work?}
A trust connection between online systems and websites is necessary for a web single sign-on system. When a user accesses an online service or a website that requires a password, web SSO systems follow these steps for authentication:  

**Verify Sign-In:** Checking to determine if the user is already logged into the central authentication system is the first step. Access is immediately given if the user is logged in. If not, the user is told to sign in.  

**User Sign-In:** The user must first sign into the authentication system with a special username and password before beginning any session. The session token used by the authentication system is valid until the user logs out.  

**Confirmation of Authentication:** Following the completion of the authentication procedure, the authentication data is sent to the web service or website requesting user verification.


### Web App SSO: Is It Still In Use? {# Web App SSO: Is It Still In Use?}
The market is moving away from providing this as a more conventional point solution in conjunction with a separate directory service, even if the web application SSO is still widely used across many enterprises.  

Alternatively, the interest and adoption of broader, more comprehensive identity and access management (IAM) platforms are expanding, with the web app SSO as a major component.
Among many other features that allow IT more control over identities and access, a comprehensive IAM platform has extensive single sign-on capabilities.  

Organizations no longer need to worry about adding a web application SSO solution on top of their own directory/IdP because all essential IAM functionalities are available in a single platform.  

The transition away from web app SSO point solutions is happening for a few reasons:

- An interest in vendor consolidation.
- A desire to avoid hidden costs.
- A widespread need for improved identity and access management.
 
 
### Common Web App SSO Use Cases {# Common Web App SSO Use Cases}
There are a variety of use cases that drive web app SSO adoption:

1. Small organizations that use a variety of web applications.
2. Mid-market and enterprise-sized organizations that implemented web app SSO back when it was more relevant as a standalone solution within the IT environment.
3. Organizations with Active Directory (AD) in place already.
4. Organizations trying to adopt an IAM strategy.
5. Organizations that are unaware of the modern cloud-based replacement for AD and web app SSO that is a far more seamless, cost-effective, and integrated platform.
 

### Password vaulting vs. Web SSO {# Password vaulting vs. Web SSO}
A secured vault containing several passwords for various online services is different from a web SSO. By using a single username and password, password vaulting secures numerous passwords. However, each time a user visits a new online service this necessitates a signing into the service. There must still be a sign-in process even if the form fields are automatically filled out using information from the password vault. Once a person has been authenticated via Web SSO, they are no longer required to sign in to any web services that make use of that authentication method. This is called a “sign in once/use all” authentication approach.
 

### Why Web SSO Is Necessary for Your Business {# Why Web SSO Is Necessary for Your Business}
By securely collecting a plethora of customer data and credentials in one location for usage by your services, teams, and applications, single sign-on immediately helps your organization. Customers will view you negatively as they attempt to use your apps and services if you don’t use SSO. The numerous advantages that single sign-on offers your company, on the other hand, make product managers who implement an SSO solution stand out:

1. **Boosts IT staff members’ productivity**  
In general, a single point of access reduces the number of time users must spend resolving password-related problems and concerns. Single sign-on allows you to:  

**Reduce support calls:** Users who only need one password to access all of their apps won’t need it as frequently.  

**Enhancing the consumer experience:** Customers minimize the time between 10 and 15 seconds on each sign-in since there is no need to go between numerous login URLs or change passwords.  

**Reduce security risks:** Employees can use SSO capabilities to log in with a single set of credentials on any device and in any web browser without jeopardizing security.  

As we can see, one of the most important advantages of single Sign-On is the capacity to improve consumer productivity.

2. **Strengthened security capabilities**  
There are certain myths surrounding the deployment of the SSO solution, such as the idea that it reduces security because if the master password is stolen, all connected accounts will be at risk. This seems to be the case in theory, but by using SSO and common-sense procedures, we can lessen password theft. Customers are more likely to construct a stronger (harder to guess) passphrase and reduce risk by limiting bad password practices since they only need to remember one password for various applications.

3. **Integrates SSO with Risk-Based Authentication (RBA)**  
As was already noted, SSO provides your customer with a single “key” that allows them to sign in to various online pages, mobile apps, and third-party systems with a single identity. Combining SSO with risk-based authentication (RBA), which allows businesses and their security team to track consumer behavior, would increase security even further.  
In this manner, a company can request additional identity verification if it notices any strange customer activity, such as the use of an incorrect IP address or repeated login failures; if the customer fails at this stage, the company can ban or suspend their access to the account. Organizations may protect their websites and apps against assaults by utilizing this powerful combo. They can feel secure knowing that data thieves and IT hogs won’t take their information.

4. **Makes the consumer experience more efficient**  
Customers can enjoy a cutting-edge digital experience since SSO eliminates the need for multiple logins. Customer happiness, a boost in loyalty, and improved conversion rates are advantages for businesses.

 

### Conclusion {# Conclusion}
In this post, we discussed Web Single-Sign-ON capability and potential to increase company ROI. We discovered how it improves responsiveness, security, comfort, and efficiency for both customers and businesses. Web SSO is incredibly practical and popular.  

Get a Demo and Try miniOrange’s SSO Solution for Free.
Explore miniOrange’s modern IAM SSO solution and see if it helps out to streamline your Organizational process in addition to security. Create a miniOrange Free Account and get access to all features for free, for up to 30 Days with 24*7 free support to help you out with the setup.



A web SSO system allows a user to access many other web apps and password-protected websites with a single set of credentials for authentication.

Web SSO: What is it and How does it Work?


In today’s world of constant cyber threats, securing your business is no longer an option,  it’s a necessity. [miniOrange](https://www.miniorange.com/) helps organizations of all sizes strengthen their security posture. Small businesses are just as much a target as large enterprises, making it critical to strengthen defenses beyond passwords. That's where the Benefits of Multi-Factor Authentication come into play. By adding extra layers of verification, you can safeguard your systems, protect sensitive data, and keep operations running smoothly.

The [miniOrange Authentication Solution](https://www.miniorange.com/products/authentication) empowers small businesses to implement robust security without complicating user access. Understanding how multi-factor authentication works is key to appreciating the importance of MFA it ensures that even if a password is compromised, attackers can’t easily break in. Learn why use MFA, why MFA is important, and how miniOrange can help you build a safer, smarter business environment.

## What is Multi-Factor Authentication? {#What is Multi-Factor Authentication?}

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a security method that requires users to verify their identity through two or more distinct factors before accessing an account or system. Even if one credential is compromised, the additional verification steps make it extremely difficult for attackers to break in. The [miniOrange MFA Product](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) offers businesses an easy and reliable way to implement advanced authentication, enhancing security without affecting user experience. Understanding the Benefits of Multi-Factor Authentication is key to protecting your sensitive data, whether on devices, networks, or cloud platforms. MFA typically combines:

- **Something you know** – like a password or PIN
- **Something you have** – like a mobile device, smart card, or hardware token
- **Something you are** – like a fingerprint, facial scan, or other biometric data


## Why Use MFA? Understanding Its Growing Importance {#Why Use MFA? Understanding Its Growing Importance}

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, relying on passwords alone is no longer enough to protect sensitive business data. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds critical layers of security, making it significantly harder for attackers to gain access. 

### Protection Against Credential Theft   
Credential theft remains one of the most common tactics used by cybercriminals. MFA prevents attackers from gaining access even if they steal a password, by requiring additional verification factors like a mobile device or biometric scan. This layered defense is crucial for blocking unauthorized entry and safeguarding business-critical systems.

### Reducing Reliance on Passwords  
Passwords alone are weak, often reused, easy to guess, or stolen through phishing attacks. MFA minimizes the risks associated with compromised passwords by enforcing a second or third verification step before granting access. As a result, businesses can greatly lower their exposure to credential-based attacks without burdening users with complex password policies. 

### Meeting Compliance and Regulatory Standards  
Many industries now mandate MFA to strengthen security. Frameworks like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and PSD2 require multi-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive systems and data. Implementing MFA not only improves protection but also helps businesses meet critical regulatory requirements, avoiding hefty fines and reinforcing customer confidence in their security practices. This highlights why MFA is important from a compliance perspective.

### Customizable Security Solutions  
One of the key Benefits of Multi-Factor Authentication is its flexibility. MFA can be tailored to meet different security needs, from simple two-factor authentication setups to more advanced configurations using biometrics or hardware tokens. The miniOrange Authentication Solution allows businesses to choose the right authentication factors based on their user environment, balancing security with ease of use.

### Compatibility with Single Sign-On (SSO)  
MFA works seamlessly alongside Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions, offering secure access without complicating the login process. By combining MFA with SSO, businesses can streamline authentication across multiple applications, minimize password fatigue, and improve productivity, all while maintaining strong security across the network.

### Scalable for Changing User Bases  
As businesses grow, so does the number of users, devices, and access points. [MFA solutions](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-solutions) are highly scalable, allowing organizations to extend security measures to employees, customers, and partners with ease. Whether onboarding new users or integrating new systems, multi-factor authentication adapts quickly, providing consistent, reliable protection across expanding infrastructures.

## Benefits of Multi-Factor Authentication {#Benefits of Multi-Factor Authentication}

The Benefits of Multi-Factor Authentication go beyond just stronger security. Let us take a look at some of them.

![Benefits of Multi-Factor Authentication](/blog/assets/2025/benefits-of-mfa.webp)

### Improved Login Security 
Traditional password-only systems are no longer enough in today’s threat landscape. By requiring multiple factors for identity verification, MFA drastically reduces the risks associated with stolen, guessed, or weak passwords. The miniOrange MFA Product helps secure critical business accounts with a layered authentication process, ensuring that even if one credential is compromised, unauthorized access is still prevented. 

### Enhanced User Trust and Confidence 
Customers and employees expect strong security measures that protect their data without causing frustration. Implementing MFA reassures users that their sensitive information is safeguarded, building lasting trust and loyalty. The importance of MFA lies in its ability to deliver high security while maintaining a smooth login experience, boosting confidence in the business’s commitment to cybersecurity.

### Versatile Protection Across Apps and Devices 
The workplace is no longer tied to a single device or location. Employees access business resources from smartphones, laptops, tablets, and remote environments. MFA offers consistent protection across all platforms, ensuring secure access to cloud applications, internal systems, and mobile devices. With the miniOrange Authentication Solution, businesses can extend robust two-step security verification across all apps and devices, easily adapting to the modern, flexible workplace.

## MFA for Businesses: Why it’s a Must-Have {#MFA for Businesses: Why it’s a Must-Have}
Every modern business needs to prioritize MFA to stay resilient, compliant, and competitive. Here’s why it’s a must have for your business. 

### Preventing Data Breaches 
Data breaches happen due to compromised passwords. MFA significantly strengthens security by adding multiple verification steps, making it extremely difficult for attackers to exploit stolen credentials. 

### Supporting Remote Work Securely 
With employees logging in from different locations introduces new security challenges. MFA adds a strong layer of protection by validating user identity based on location, device, and behavior patterns. 

### Securing Cloud Applications and VPN Access 
As businesses shift to cloud services and remote VPN access, securing entry points becomes critical. MFA safeguards access to cloud applications, company portals, and VPNs by requiring multiple forms of verification.

## Why is MFA Important in Today’s Cybersecurity Landscape? {#Why is MFA Important in Today’s Cybersecurity Landscape?}
MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) adds layered protection by requiring users to verify their identity through multiple methods, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access. 

### Rising Phishing and Social Engineering Attacks
Phishing emails and fake login pages trick users into revealing passwords, which are then used to breach systems. MFA stops this chain by requiring a second factor like a mobile app prompt or fingerprint, that can’t be phished, effectively neutralizing these attacks even if the password is exposed.

### Increasing Sophistication of Cybercriminals
Attackers now use tools like credential stuffing, AI-driven bots, and dark web-sourced data to automate breaches. MFA counters these methods by making access dependent not just on what you know, but also what you have or who you are. 

### Real-World Examples of MFA Preventing Threats
Global tech companies like [Microsoft](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2019/08/20/one-simple-action-you-can-take-to-prevent-99-9-percent-of-account-attacks/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) and Google report that enabling MFA blocks over 99% of automated account attacks. In 2023, a healthcare provider avoided a massive ransomware attack when MFA prevented an attacker armed with stolen credentials from accessing their internal systems. These cases show that MFA isn't just theory, it works in practice. 

## How miniOrange Helps with Multi-Factor Authentication {#How miniOrange Helps with Multi-Factor Authentication}

miniOrange offers a robust and flexible MFA solution that integrates easily across cloud applications, on-premise systems, VPNs, and even legacy platforms. With support for over 5,000 pre-integrated apps and seamless APIs, businesses can deploy MFA with minimal configuration and no disruptions to users or existing workflows. Start your [30-day free trial today](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/free-trial) and experience secure, hassle-free authentication.

What sets miniOrange apart is its advanced feature set: ranging from [Context-based Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/5-reasons-to-deploy-context-based-authentication-for-your-organization/), which dynamically adjusts access policies based on location, device, or time, to modern methods like [WebAuthn](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-webauthn/), enabling secure, [passwordless authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/passwordless-mfa/) using biometrics or security keys. These features ensure strong protection while maintaining a frictionless user experience.

**Read More →**  [Learn more about MFA Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa/)

## FAQs {#FAQs}

#### **What are the benefits of having an MFA?**
MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring multiple forms of verification, reducing the risk of unauthorized access, credential theft, and data breaches.

#### **What is multifactor authentication and why is it important?**
Multifactor authentication (MFA) is a security method that requires users to verify their identity using two or more factors: like a password and a mobile prompt. It’s important because it significantly strengthens access control and protects sensitive data.

#### **Why do I need an MFA?**
You need MFA to protect your accounts from being compromised even if your password is stolen. It ensures only authorized users can access your systems

#### **What is the point of getting an MFA?**
The point of using MFA is to enhance security. It blocks most automated attacks and adds a second layer of defense against phishing, stolen credentials, and other threats. 



Understand why Multi-Factor Authentication matters for modern businesses. Learn how MFA works, its benefits, and how it secures apps, data, and identity.

Why Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is Important for Small Businesses


**Are you thinking of building an e-commerce website (or already have one) but are not sure whether to go with Shopify or WooCommerce?**

Both WooCommerce and Shopify are excellent e-commerce platforms, each with its own unique advantages.
However, before making your decision, it's crucial to familiarize yourself with the various pros and cons associated with these two platforms to make sure you select the right platform that is most suitable for your online store.

&nbsp;

In this blog post, we will check out an in-depth comparison between WooCommerce and Shopify and closely examine their features, user experiences, customer support, pricing, and other critical factors. We’ll further look at ways to migrate/sync your existing ecommerce store to these platforms.

&nbsp;

**As a bonus, we will also provide you with links to the best WooCommerce and Shopify solutions that can greatly elevate your e-commerce journey, Let's Begin!**

## Shopify vs WooCommerce {#sidebar-link-shopify-vs-woocommerce}

Before we compare Shopify and WooCommerce, it's crucial to first establish a basic understanding of what these two platforms are.

### What is WooCommerce?

![what-is-woocommerce](/blog/assets/2023/what-is-woocommerce.webp)

WooCommerce is a widely used e-commerce plug-in that enables you to transform your WordPress website into a fully operational online shop. The platform provides an array of tools to enhance the visual appeal of your ecommerce store, **but it does not include web hosting or comprehensive site design services.**

### What is Shopify?

![what-is-shopify](/blog/assets/2023/what-is-shopify.webp)

Shopify is the latest contender in the e-commerce space and is popular for its scalability and ease of use. It's an excellent choice for businesses that are looking to quickly establish an online presence.

&nbsp;

It is a one-stop platform that has more than 2.1 million daily active users and **offers integrated hosting, tools for designing websites and online stores, inventory management capabilities, and payment processing solutions**. It also provides seamless integration options for connecting your Shopify store with social media channels and platforms like Amazon, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, eBay, Pinterest, and more.

## Woocommerce Pros and Cons {#sidebar-link-woocommerce-pros-and-cons}

![woocommerce-pros-cons](/blog/assets/2023/woocommerce-pros-cons.webp)

### Pros

**1. Free to use**  
WooCommerce is an open-source platform and is free to use. With complete access to the code, you have the **flexibility to design your online store** according to your particular requirements.

&nbsp;

**2. Extensive Add-Ons & Plugins**  
WooCommerce **provides a wide range of both free and premium extensions and plugins.** This enables you to incorporate features like payment gateways, shipping options, and more, thereby enhancing its adaptability and customization capabilities.

&nbsp;

**3. Flexible Product Management**  
The platform offers the flexibility to sell both digital and physical items, efficiently handle inventory, define product variations like sizes and colors, and effortlessly include product attributes.

&nbsp;

**4. Customization Options**  
Numerous themes and templates are at your disposal with WooCommerce, allowing you to tailor the design to align perfectly with your brand identity.

### Cons

**1. Requires Technical Proficiency**  
Although WordPress is known for its user-friendly nature, the setup and configuration of WooCommerce may demand a certain level of technical know-how, particularly when dealing with intricate online stores.

&nbsp;

**2. Performance**  
Inefficiently optimized WooCommerce setups have the potential to decrease your website's speed, impacting the user experience and SEO.

&nbsp;

**3. Extension Costs**  
Although the core WooCommerce plugin is free, certain extensions and themes can come with a substantial cost, particularly if you require advanced features.

&nbsp;

**4. Ongoing Maintenance**  
Ensuring security and compatibility necessitates keeping WooCommerce, WordPress, and all plugins up to date, which can be a time-intensive task.

&nbsp;

**5. Security considerations**  
Security is a major issue, as it is with any e-commerce platform. You must take precautions to safeguard both customer data and the integrity of your online store from potential threats.

&nbsp;

**6. Limited Support**  
While there exists a community and documentation for assistance, the free version of WooCommerce does not provide official customer support. Premium support options may be available through third-party developers

## Shopify Pros and Cons {#sidebar-link-shopify-pros-and-cons}

![shopify-pros-cons](/blog/assets/2023/shopify-pros-cons.webp)

### Pros

**1. User-Friendly Interface**
Shopify is renowned for its intuitive user interface and straightforward setup process, making it accessible even to beginners without advanced technical skills.

&nbsp;

**2. Fully Managed Hosting**
Shopify operates as a fully hosted platform, alleviating the need for you to handle web hosting, server maintenance, or security updates. This streamlines the technical responsibilities associated with running an online store.

&nbsp;

**3. Extensive App Marketplace**
Shopify boasts an extensive library of apps and integrations that empower you to enhance your store's functionality. These apps cover various aspects, including marketing, SEO, analytics, shipping, and more.

&nbsp;

**4. Diverse Payment Support**
Shopify accommodates numerous payment gateways, simplifying the process of accepting payments from customers worldwide. Additionally, it offers its proprietary payment gateway known as Shopify Payments.

&nbsp;

**5. Robust Security Measures**
Shopify places a strong emphasis on security, incorporating SSL encryption, regular security updates, and adherence to PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) to safeguard customer data.

&nbsp;

**6. 24/7 Customer Support**
Shopify provides 24/7 customer support through a range of communication channels, including live chat, email, and phone support, available for most subscription plans.

&nbsp;

**7. Optimized for Search Engines**
Shopify equips you with tools and features designed to optimize your store for search engines, enhancing your online visibility.

### Cons

**1. Subscription Fees**
Shopify is a paid e-commerce platform that requires users to pay a recurring monthly subscription fee.

&nbsp;

**2. Cost for Advanced Functionality**
Accessing certain advanced features and functionalities may necessitate the adoption of third-party apps, potentially increasing your monthly expenditures.

&nbsp;

**3. Theme Expenditure**
Acquiring premium themes and templates can prove costly, particularly if you desire an extensively tailored design.

&nbsp;

## WooCommerce vs Shopify: A Quick Comparison {#woocommerce-vs-shopify}

| Features                 | WooCommerce                                                                                                               | Shopify                                                                                                                                                                  |
| :----------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Ease of Use**          | Not user-friendly. Requires some coding knowledge                                                                         | Simply to use. You don’t need any coding knowledge to build a brilliant ecommerce store.                                                                                 |
| **Time & Productivity**  | WooCommerce is slower than Shopify as you have to decide every detail of your online store.                               | Shopify is much quicker than WooCommerce as it has all the features at the ready.                                                                                        |
| **Plugins & Extensions** | WooCommere’s Plugin Directory boasts over 55,000 apps.                                                                    | Shopify has over 8,000 apps, which is less compared to WooCommerce, but it has quality apps that can add value to ecommerce stores.                                      |
| **Sales Features**       | Requires paid plugins and extensions to add sales features                                                                | Has built-in sales features like abandoned cart recovery, unlimited products, discount codes, blog capabilities, and more                                                |
| **Marketing Tools**      | Requires choosing plugins for marketing tools which can be a little overwhelming                                          | Provides integrated multichannel connectivity, enabling you to expand your sales presence on platforms such as Amazon, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, eBay, and Pinterest. |
| **Themes & Designs**     | WooCommerce themes are more simplistic but offer plenty of customization                                                  | While Shopify allows for customization, it may not be as flexible as WooCommerce                                                                                         |
| **Pricing**              | WooCommerce is free to install, and offers reasonably priced plugins. However, you’ll have to bear the site hosting costs | Shopify is costly compared to WooCommerce but might be cheaper in certain areas like no need for security payments or hosting costs                                      |
| **Security**             | You need to acquire all the relevant sales certificates yourself.                                                         | Shopify is SSL Certificate and PCI-DSS Compliant by default.                                                                                                             |

&nbsp;

By now, you might have decided whether to go with Shopify or WooCommerce for your ecommerce store. Each platform possesses its own set of strengths and weaknesses, and your ultimate decision should be based on your unique requirements and personal preferences.

## WooCommerce Vs Shopify: Add-ons & Plug-ins {#Add-ons-and-plugins}

### For Shopify

**1. Shopify Inventory Sync - Automatic User provisioning in Shopify**

[Shopify Inventory-Sync](https://plugins.miniorange.com/crm-and-inventory-sync-for-shopify), or Shopify Stock Sync, allows two-way synchronization of orders, products, and user data between Shopify stores and other ecommerce websites. Our Shopify SCIM User Provisioning application automates the process of creating, updating, and deleting user information from the Identity Provider (IDP) in real time on your Shopify Store. With this, you can efficiently update inventory details across all your interconnected Shopify stores in one go.

&nbsp;

**2. Single Sign-On for Shopify**

The Shopify Single Sign-On application by miniOrange ensures a convenient, secure, and smooth login experience for your Shopify store, all with just one set of credentials. You can easily [configure Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://plugins.miniorange.com/shopify-single-sign-on) using various integration protocols, including SAML 2.0, OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, JWT, LDAP, API authentication, and more.

This allows your users to log in using various Identity Providers (IDPs) such as Okta, ADFS, Azure AD, Azure B2C, OneLogin, AWS Cognito, GSuite/Google Apps, or even a custom identity provider while incorporating Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) capabilities for added security.

&nbsp;

**3. Store Migrations**

Seamlessly [switch to Shopify from other e-commerce](https://plugins.miniorange.com/shopify-ecommerce-store-migration) platforms like WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, Prestashop, OpenCart, Shopware, and more. Alternatively, migrate your Shopify store to another e-commerce platform. The process requires you to follow just three straightforward steps and takes only a few minutes to securely transfer your entire store data, including products, pages, customers, categories, and more.

&nbsp;

**4. Content Restriction for Shopify Store**

As numerous businesses host on Shopify these days, they require the ability to regulate which users can reach particular pages and products on their Shopify store. The miniOrange Content Restriction application empowers businesses to secure their Shopify store and [manage access to specific pages](https://plugins.miniorange.com/content-restriction-for-shopify), products, and collections. The tool enables them to limit customer access to Shopify-restricted products based on their Shopify tags.

&nbsp;

**5. Theme customization**

Effective theme customization is crucial for creating a distinctive brand identity in your online store. While Shopify offers built-in theme editing capabilities through its theme editor, many merchants require more advanced customization options. For those seeking enhanced control over their storefront's appearance, a dedicated Shopify page builder app like [Instant](https://instant.so/) can help. This approach gives you the creative freedom to differentiate your store while maintaining the performance benefits of Shopify's infrastructure.

&nbsp;

### For WooCommerce

**1. WooCommerce Inventory Sync**

Import products from Supplier Inventory / External APIs automatically using the miniOrange [WooCommerce API Product Sync](https://plugins.miniorange.com/woocommerce-api-product-sync-with-woocommerce-rest-apis) Plug-in. This solution automates the process of synchronizing and updating WooCommerce products within your ecommerce store. You can map product attributes to various WooCommerce elements, such as product fields, custom fields, categories, and tags. Additionally, this plugin facilitates the seamless importation of images into your WooCommerce platform.

&nbsp;

**2. WordPress WooCommerce SSO Integrator**

The WooCommerce WordPress Integrator by miniOrange empowers you to link user attributes transmitted by your SAML/OAuth Identity Provider (IdP) in order to automatically populate the fields on the checkout page. Furthermore, it simplifies the process of associating users utilizing [WooCommerce WordPress Single Sign-On (SSO) Login](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-woocommerce-integrator) with specific roles in your WooCommerce WordPress Integration, determined by their corresponding groups within the Identity Provider (IdP).

&nbsp;

**3. WooCommerce Checkout Manager + OTP Verification**

miniOrange WooCommerce Checkout Manager provides the flexibility to tailor the checkout experience as per your preferences. The solution encompasses all the essential steps required for order placement. It also supports the OTP Verification feature, which enhances security by verifying users' phone numbers/email addresses through OTP verification codes before they submit the Billing Address Form.

&nbsp;

**4. WooCommerce Hubspot Integrator**

The WooCommerce HubSpot Integrator offers a straightforward and highly effective solution for seamlessly connecting your WooCommerce store with HubSpot's robust suite of marketing, sales, and customer service tools. By harnessing the capabilities of HubSpot's complimentary CRM as its foundation, your WooCommerce store can tap into the potential of data analysis, automated workflows, and API integration, ultimately enhancing efficiency and maximizing performance.

## Frequently Asked Questions {#faqs}

**1. What is the difference between Shopify and WooCommerce?**

WooCommerce functions as a WordPress plugin, enabling the conversion of your WordPress website into a full-fledged eCommerce store and granting you a broader spectrum of customization possibilities. In contrast, Shopify operates as an independent platform, delivering a comprehensive eCommerce solution that encompasses hosting and an array of essential tools.

&nbsp;

**2. Which platform is better for beginners with limited technical skills?**

Many find Shopify to be more accessible for beginners thanks to its user-friendly interface and inclusive hosting solution. In contrast, WooCommerce could demand a higher level of technical proficiency due to its integration with WordPress and the utilization of multiple plugins and themes.

&nbsp;

**3. What is the cost difference between Shopify and WooCommerce?**

WooCommerce is an open-source platform offered free of charge, but expenses are associated with hosting, domain registration, and premium extensions/themes. Shopify, on the other hand, requires monthly subscription fees that commence with a basic plan and encompass hosting and support services.

&nbsp;

**4. Can I customize my online store more with WooCommerce or Shopify?**

WooCommerce provides heightened flexibility and a wide range of customization possibilities, leveraging its foundation in WordPress to enable extensive design and functionality alterations. Shopify also permits customization, but primarily within the confines of its own platform's capabilities.

&nbsp;

**5. Which platform is better for scaling my eCommerce business?**

Both platforms are capable of scaling, yet the decision should align with your specific requirements. Shopify is renowned for its scalability and adept management of technical aspects, rendering it an ideal choice for swift expansion. WooCommerce, while also scalable, might necessitate heightened technical oversight as your business expands.

## Conclusion {#conclusion}

The decision between WooCommerce and Shopify depends on your unique eCommerce requirements and preferences. WooCommerce, functioning as a WordPress plugin, provides unrivaled customization and adaptability, catering well to those who desire extensive control over their online store's aesthetics and functionalities. Shopify's user-friendly interface and comprehensive, all-in-one package, encompassing hosting and support, make it a prime selection, particularly for beginners and those in search of a streamlined and scalable solution.


We will check out an in-depth comparison between WooCommerce and Shopify and closely examine their features, user experiences, customer support, pricing, and other critical factors.

WooCommerce vs Shopify: Which E-Commerce Platform is Best for You?


### What’s two-factor authentication? {#What’s two-factor authentication}

Two-factor authentication, aka 2FA or two-step verification, keeps your WordPress website protected by applying an additional layer of security apart from your username and password.
There can be the following categories of [Two-factor authentications](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/business/security-101/what-is-two-factor-authentication-2fa):-
 
1. Knowledge-based authentication – something that you know like password and security questions, PIN, etc.
2. Possession-based authentication – something you have like your phone, secure USB key, etc.
3. Inheritance-based authentication – something that you are like a fingerprint, retinas, and other forms of biometric factors, etc.

  Check out [WordPress Two-Factor Authentication plugin](https://plugins.miniorange.com/2-factor-authentication-for-wordpress-wp-2fa) for total proteection.
### How does two-factor authentication work? {#How does two-factor authentication work?}

When you are logging into your WordPress site, you are required to enter your login credentials, traditionally, it is “username and password” to authenticate yourself. But, if you have two-factor authentication enabled on your WordPress site then you will be doubly authenticated. After you have entered your login credentials you will be required to provide a 2FA passcode to gain access.

### Why is two-factor authentication important for website security? {#Why is two-factor authentication important for website security?}

Securing your WordPress account, only with a username and password is less than reassuring in today’s scenario, where automated password guessing, brute force attacks, dictionary attacks, and endless other threats are quite commonplace. In a world where the most used passwords still are 123456 and QWERTY, we need no further study and data to admit that remembering passwords is a headache for most users. This password fatigue leads them to use the same passwords across multiple accounts which can jeopardize the security of all websites due to a single password hack. Even if users are aware and responsible enough to use strong passwords, social engineering attacks like phishing and spear phishing are employed which dupe users into divulging their login credentials. Users can end up entering their username and password into manipulated URLs that look like genuine websites or installing keystroke recorders and other similar kinds of spyware leave not even a strong password hard to crack.
These security threats will have far-reaching ramifications if not tackled properly. These will potentially compromise your digital security.

Against this backdrop of existing security threats a foolproof solution, [miniOrange’s Google Authenticator – WordPress Two Factor Authentication(2FA, Two Factor, OTP SMS, and Email) | passwordless login was developed](https://wordpress.org/plugins/miniorange-2-factor-authentication/).

Two Factor authentication neutralizes the security risk associated with your WordPress website even if the attacker has your password because it is no longer enough to allow access to your account. If you have two-factor authentication enabled at your site, a compromised password is not something you will have to think about twice.

### How to use WordPress two-factor authentication to protect your website? {#How to use WordPress two-factor authentication to protect your website?}

The simplest way to get started with using two-factor authentication is to install a plugin. The miniOrange’s Google Authenticator – [A two-factor authentication](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6je2iARqrcs) plugin is quite quick and easy to set up. After installation of the plugin, the miniOrange 2-factor authentication setup wizard makes this process of setting up 2FA for you and your users a child’s play. Setup wizard guides you to setup 2FA policies within seconds. Administrator can easily make all the users setup 2FA within seconds. You actually get the option to make users set up 2FA during the first login or directly from the plugin dashboard. You can choose whether to require your users to configure 2FA on their first login or to give them a grace period after which they will be automatically logged out.

## What are the various two-factor methods provided in the two-factor authentication plugin?

Google Authenticator – Two Factor Authentication Plugin provides more than 15 authentication methods. All the methods can be broadly categorized as follows:-
  - TOTP based-authentication methods
  - OTP Over Email/2FA code over Email
  - OTP Over SMS/2FA code over SMS
  - Push Notification
  - Security Questions

### What is TOTP authentication? What is the process of TOTP? {#What is TOTP authentication? What is the process of TOTP?}

TOTP is the acronym for the time-based one-time password. This is a common two-factor authentication method used for user authentication when logging into WordPress.This is also known as app-based authentication.

## Which two-factor authentication is the best?

Amongst all the available 2FA methods, TOTP and app-based authentication are the most preferred by users. It is rightly so, as it has the highest usability score, as proved by the study [conducted on the usability of 2FA methods](https://www.usenix.org/system/files/soups2019-reese.pdf).

miniOrange’s Google Authenticator plugin supports all app-based TOTP authentication methods.

   - Google Authenticator
   - Microsoft Authenticator
   - Authy Authenticator
   - LastPass Authenticator
   - Duo Authenticator

### How to configure Google Authenticator as a Two Factor Authentication method? {#How to configure Google Authenticator as a Two Factor Authentication method?}

You need to download the Google Authenticator app on your mobile phone. During login, your app will display a dynamically generated passcode for authentication. Prior to this, you must scan the given QR code to get registered. For detailed information on how to configure Google Authenticator for two-factor authentication refer to this [guide](https://developers.miniorange.com/docs/security/wordpress/wp-security/google-authenticator).

![Two-Factor-Authentication](/blog/assets/2024/two-fa-authentication-methods-availabble.webp)

## What are the benefits of using TOTP authentication methods?

It is far more reliable proof of possession than OTP over email and OTP over SMS. Your mail can be accessed in many ways and an email account getting hacked is not something that is very unheard of. It is safe from SIM-swap attacks, unlike OTP over SMS.

## What is OTP Over SMS and OTP Over Email?

These are also examples of possession-based 2FA methods provided by the WordPress Google Authenticator plugin. Depending on the requirements, you can configure one of these options to authenticate your users.

## How do OTP Over SMS and OTP Over Email work?

You receive a 2FA passcode/OTP on your mobile phone via SMS or Email after entering your username and password to log in securely.
[A study conducted by Google](https://security.googleblog.com/2019/05/new-research-how-effective-is-basic.html) concluded that SMS-based authentication “can block up to 100% of automated bots, 99% of bulk phishing attacks, and 66% of targeted attacks.”

## How do Push notifications work?

You need to download the push notification app, where you will receive a message asking to allow or deny the login attempt being made to the WordPress website. 

## Security Questions

It is a knowledge-based authentication system that requires you to answer some questions that only you know.

## What happens when you get locked out?
A set of five backup codes is provided in case you get logged out of your account. You can use them to gain entry into your account.
Regardless of the 2FA method you are using, you must keep these codes safe with you to use in case of any untoward situation.

### What are the benefits of using the miniOrange 2-factor authentication plugin? {#What are the benefits of using the miniOrange 2-factor authentication plugin?}

   - Easy to use
   
   The plugin can be deployed in no time, and with its easy-to-follow setup wizard, even a person with non-technical background finds it to be a cakewalk.

   - Amazing Support
   
   Though plugin setup is quite easy, support is always ready to help you with any difficulties that you might encounter, on a screen share call.

   - Exhaustive feature list
   
   This is the single most feature-rich plugin available in the market, Which provides more than fifteen plus authentication methods to choose from.

   - Free version available to use
   
   This plugin is entirely free to use and regularly updated with very many useful features. 
You can [upgrade it as well to enhance your WordPress security.](https://plugins.miniorange.com/2-factor-authentication-for-wordpress-wp-2fa#pricing)

   - Compatible with other login and registration form plugins
   
   It is compatible with almost all the custom login and registration forms like Ultimate member, Admin custom login, Buddypress, Buddyboss, etc.

   - Reliability

   We have 20,000 plus active installations and a list of thousands of satisfied premium customers which is ever-growing.

To get detailed information about this refer to this [link](https://plugins.miniorange.com/2-factor-authentication-for-wordpress-wp-2fa).


Protect your WordPress membership site with WordPress Two-factor Authentication plugin. Choose 2FA for membership today!

WordPress Two Factor Authentication Plugin: Best WordPress Login Security Solution


### What is External API in WordPress? {#what-is-external-api-in-wordpress}


External APIs are designed in such a way that they can be used within an organization or by any person outside the organization who wants the interface access. These External APIs are accessible to External, Third-Party Partners. If a person wants to access these APIs they will require API Keys and security Tokens. When it comes to using External APIs in WordPress the most basic functionality is in which we need to fetch data from an external, third-party API provider and use this data to display on the WordPress website and process it further. This can be easily done by using our [Custom API for WordPress](https://plugins.miniorange.com/custom-api-for-wordpress) plugin in which hooks are provided, using which calls to External APIs can be made whenever required. these hooks can be integrated easily with the third-party plugins in WordPress like – Woocommerce, Wpforms, Gravity forms, Fluent forms, Elementor, Payment gateways, etc.


![external-api-integration](/blog/assets/2023/external-api-integration.webp)

### Multiple ways by which you can Integrate External APIs into your WordPress Website. {#integrate-external-apis-into-your-wordpress-website}

**1. Directly Fetch data from a REST API endpoint provided by a third-party/external provider**

![external-provider](/blog/assets/2023/external-provider.webp)

To Directly fetch the data from an external API provider, you need to have a REST API Endpoint which will be provided by the third-party provider. Here a direct API call is made to the external API endpoint and if the request is validated then you get the required data in form of a response. Once this data is fetched, it can be used to display on your WordPress website. This is one of the easiest ways to fetch your data from a third-party application into WordPress using External APIs.


**2. Use External APIs to perform form submission events**
![submission-external-api](/blog/assets/2023/submission-external-api.webp)

Using External APIs in WordPress is useful when you want to perform certain operations like Register, SignIn, Delete users in WordPress and these changes must reflect in the third-party application/platform. These operations are possible by making an external API call to the third-party provider once an event is triggered or a form is submitted in WordPress. Events can be triggered when a form is submitted in WPforms, Gravity Forms, Elementor, Contact-form7 or any other forms.


**3. Integrate External REST APIs on Payment gateways**
![payment-gateway-apis](/blog/assets/2023/payment-gateway-apis.webp)

External APIs in WordPress can also be used to trigger API calls when a payment is captured by Third-Party payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, Woocommerce etc. By using these API calls it is possible to update the user status, user’s membership level etc on the WordPress or third-party API provider based on the payment status and amount.


**4. Directly fetch and update product data in WooCommerce from a third-party inventory store in real-time**
![inventory-store-apis](/blog/assets/2023/inventory-store-apis.webp)

Using External APIs in your WordPress website you can easily fetch real-time data from an external, third-party API provider into Woocommerce to display data or products, External APIs can be called in the backend using the developer hooks to sync the real-time data with Woocommerce products/items feeds and can be displayed on your site.


### Benefits of using External APIs with payment gateways in WordPress: {#benefits-of-using-external-apis-with-payment-in-wordpress}

- It becomes possible for your customers to Directly pay and make transactions on your WordPress website itself. This means that your payment is just an API call away.

- It becomes possible for you to accept payments from multiple payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe. This is important because most customers prefer their personal choice of payment method and will appreciate it if they see one. So, once you have the payment status as completed, then you can update user’s data on the WordPress/third-party side like user membership levels, permission levels etc.


- API which these payment gateways provide flexibility to handle all types of transactions while still providing the security and resilience that your CFO business needs.


In miniOrange’s WP Custom REST API Plugin hook is provided for this external REST API endpoints integration and this hook can be embedded directly into the gateways and run only based on the transaction status.


### Try Out Our miniOrange Custom API Plugin for WordPress? {#miniorange-custom-api-plugin-for-wordpress}
![miniorange-custom-api](/blog/assets/2023/miniorange-custom-api.webp)

The best way to see how External APIs work with your WP website is to try it out yourself.

## Key Plugin Features:

## Unlimited External API Connections

Unlimited external APIs(endpoints) connections can be created using easy to use User Interface and then with the use of developer hooks, these connections can be connected to the backend to execute the corresponding external API.

## Support for HTTP Methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)

The plugin supports all the external APIs which supports GET, POST, PUT, DELETE and accepts data in application/JSON or x-www-form-urlencoded.

## Compatibility with third-party plugins in WordPress.

The plugin provides a developer hook to execute external API from WordPress backend and this developer hook is compatible with the third-party plugin as well like Woocommerce, WPforms, gravity forms, payment gateway plugins, membership plugins etc. and hence can be integrated with any events of these plugins.


You can simply download our [Custom API for WordPress](https://wordpress.org/plugins/custom-api-for-wp/) plugin in WordPress, after activation of our plugin you can follow Our [Step-By-Step Guide to Configure Custom REST API.](https://plugins.miniorange.com/keycloak-single-sign-on-wordpress-sso-saml)


Contact us at oauthsupport@xecurify.com and we’ll help you set up the Custom API plugin in no time.


## Conclusion

Using External API’s in WordPress makes fetching data into your WordPress website from a Third-party API provider a very easy task. Using hooks provided in the Custom API for WordPress Plugin you can make calls to External APIs whenever required. These hooks can be integrated easily with the third-party plugins in WordPress like – Woocommerce, Wpforms, Gravity forms, Fluent forms, Elementor, Payment gateways etc.

## Further Reading

- [Integrate External REST API into WordPress | Custom Rest API](https://plugins.miniorange.com/integrate-external-third-party-rest-api-endpoints-into-wordpress)
- [Custom REST API for WordPress | WordPress Custom REST API](https://plugins.miniorange.com/custom-api-for-wordpress)
- [Custom API For WP – WordPress plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/custom-api-for-wp/)
- [WordPress REST API Authentication | WordPress Plugin](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-rest-api-authentication)

What is External API for WordPress And How To Get Started Using It?


## What is Azure Active Directory and SSO? {#Azure AD SSO}

Microsoft’s Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is a cloud-based identity and access management (IAM) solution for businesses. With the help of Azure AD SSO, employees can sign up to multiple services and access them with a single set of login credentials. Single Sign-On (SSO) is an authentication scheme that allows a user to log in with a single ID and password to any of several related, yet independent, software systems. In this case, SSO with WordPress enables your users to log into your WordPress site by authenticating through their Azure AD identity provider. You can follow [this](https://plugins.miniorange.com/azure-ad-single-sign-on-wordpress-sso-oauth-openid-connect) setup guide to integrate Azure AD SSO with WordPress.

### What is OAuth SSO? {#OAuth SSO}

Open Authorization (OAuth) is an open standard for token-based authentication and authorization that is used to facilitate single sign-on (SSO).

OAuth allows third-party services, such as Facebook, to access an end user’s account information without exposing the user’s password. It serves as a mediator on behalf of the end-user, delivering an access token to the service that allows the sharing of certain account information. That is, third-party applications can access content owned by the user, but these applications do not know the authentication credentials.

### Let’s understand this with our Azure AD example: {#Azure AD example}

Consider you have a WordPress website and users are stored in the Azure active directory, now you want a solution where the users can login into your WordPress website using the Azure AD credentials and that’s where Single Sign-On comes into play. Using SSO you are delegating authentication, you hand off the responsibility of verifying a user’s credentials (such as username and password) to Azure AD so you can get users logged in to your website without worrying about the authentication process. Furthermore, how the OAuth SSO works can be understood by the following OAuth SSO flow.

### OAuth – Single Sign-On (SSO) Flow: {#OAuth SSO Flow}

![OAuth – Single Sign-On Flow](/blog/assets/2023/oauth-sso-flow.webp)

&nbsp;

**1. Register Your App:**
Register your app with the OAuth identity provider like Azure AD. This involves creating an app and entering app-related data. On successful registration of the app, you receive a Client ID and a Client Secret. These keys are used for identifying your app to the OAuth provider and are required when requesting a token.

**2. Client application request OAuth provider for Access Token:**
Your registered app can now send an Authorization request to the OAuth provider in this case Azure AD asking for an Access Token. Users need to authenticate with the OAuth provider and be presented with an authorization page consent asking them to give permissions to your application to access specific user data. Once the user approves the consent, the access token is generated for the user and passed to the client application.

**3. Exchange the one-time request token with the OAuth access token:**
After the user grants permissions to your application, your application can exchange the request token with an access token. The access token is used by your application for requesting the specific resources from the OAuth provider to which the user granted permission to access.

## Additional Benefits of Enabling OAuth SSO for WordPress: {#Benefits OAuth SSO}

![Benefits of OAuth SSO for WordPress](/blog/assets/2023/wp-azure-ad-oauth-sso.webp)

&nbsp;

Provides Unlimited User Authentications with SSO login on WordPress site with Azure AD credentials.

**Seamless Azure AD user creation:**

On a WordPress site, the registration form is usually created with one of the form plugins such as gravity forms, elementor, or WP forms. The registration form has all the necessary input fields for the use case. Users when register using that form, will be effortlessly added to your Azure Active Directory.

**On the fly user provisioning:**

In this instance, the WordPress site’s Administrator is in control of user operations. As a result, whenever the administrator creates a user in the WordPress backend, the user is also generated in Azure AD.

**Multisite Multinetwork Support:**

Share single installation with multi-sites. Login to your WordPress multi-sites with a third party OAuth/OpenID server. Configure IDP for all your networks. Allows multiple subdomains/subdirectories to share a single installation.

**Sync existing WordPress users to Azure AD:**

You can easily sync your WordPress users to Azure with our WordPress Azure Integrator. Here, we establish users in Azure with a random password and deliver that password to the corresponding users’ email addresses. Users will be compelled to change their passwords the first time they log into Azure using those random credentials. As a result, they can have their own Azure passwords.

## Try Out OAuth WordPress SSO with Azure AD {#wordpress with Azure SSO}

The best way to see how OAuth WordPress SSO works with Azure AD is to try it out yourself.

miniOrange provides you with the OAuth Single Sign-On (SSO) plugin which would enable you to configure Single Sign-On (SSO) in WordPress using your Azure AD credentials.

You can simply download our plugin in WordPress, after activation of our plugin you can follow Our Step-By-Step Guide to Configure Single Sign-On (SSO) in WordPress using Azure AD as an OAuth Provider. Our plugin will enable you to add a Single Sign-On (SSO) Login Links/widgets / Button, which redirects you to the Azure AD login page, where you can simply sign in with your Azure AD login credentials.

Contact us at [oauthsupport@xecurify.com](mailto:oauthsupport@xecurify.com) and we’ll help you set up SSO with Azure AD in no time.

### Further Reading {#Further Reading}

- [Azure AD OAuth SSO in WordPress](https://plugins.miniorange.com/azure-ad-single-sign-on-wordpress-sso-oauth-openid-connect)
- [Office 365 OAuth SSO in WordPress](https://plugins.miniorange.com/office-365-single-sign-on-wordpress-sso-oauth-openid-connect)
- [WordPress Azure Integration](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-azure-integration)
- [Azure B2C OAuth / OpenID Connect](https://plugins.miniorange.com/setup-guide-azure-b2c-oauth-openid-connect-app)

Microsoft’s Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is a cloud-based identity and access management (IAM) solution for businesses. With the help of Azure AD, employees can sign up to multiple services and can access them with a single set of login credentials.

What is OAuth Azure SSO and How to Single Sign-On into WordPress using Azure AD Credentials?


### What is Page and Post Restriction ? {#what-is-page-and-post-restriction}
Page and Post Restriction plugin for WordPress is a perpetual, and stable plugin that helps you limit and secure admittance to your WordPress site in various manners.  
Page restrictions allow you to control who can view and/or edit individual pages. You can add restrictions for individual pages or for WordPress groups. Multiple roles could be assigned to users simultaneously. You can add new capabilities and remove unnecessary capabilities which could be left from uninstalled plugins.  
Restrictions are inherited like View restrictions, which means a restriction applied to one page will cascade down to any child pages. Edit restrictions are not inherited, which means pages need to be restricted individually.  

### Why Page and Post Restriction Plugin? {#why-page-and-post-restriction-plugin}
Dealing with a site is simpler than at any other time these days, however, everybody can see your site by influencing the parent pages and your private content. Limitations don’t take the place of a space authorization.  
[Page restrictions and Post restrictions](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-page-restriction#pagerestriction) grant you to control who can see just as change limitations on individual pages in a space. Along these lines, A solution for Extranet (the controlled private network that allows access to partners, vendors, and suppliers or an authorized set of customers) openly facilitated Intranets, or for getting sorted out local sites (in case you’re dealing with a page that shouldn’t be seen by anybody).  
We actively propose researching your webpages needs and give you the [miniOrange Page and Post Restriction module](https://wordpress.org/plugins/page-and-post-restriction/) uniquely intended for incorporating with WordPress Sites to guard your site with easy to user-friendly insight at a moderate cost.  
![Page Restriction Workflow](/blog/assets/2023/page-protection-plugin.webp)  

Content Control access based upon User Roles. You can set consents for single organizational clients on WordPress destinations dependent on their title roles. Here a client role has consented to authorization to a page; the approval enables admittance to that client.  
It additionally permits giving access specifically to Logged In Users to pages and posts. Logged out clients see a customizable error message telling them that they have access to look into the content on the particular page.  
Other than Page Restrictions, we likewise give Post Restrictions (Content limitation) which includes assists with confined access for posts on logged-in/out status. Our WordPress Post limitations include likewise cause you to Restrict access in categories to logged in/out clients. We Display a custom message to clients who don’t have the authorization to see the webpage or divert them to a predetermined URL. In our Page restriction, Post restriction Plugin our Individual Posts highlight will empower assurance for default posts just as custom post types.  

### Features of Page Restriction: {#features-of-page-restriction}

- Control content access by page restriction to logged in/out users/clients or explicit user roles.  
- Content access is done to Restrict access for individual posts to logged in/out users or specific user roles.  
- Give one, two, or considerably more roles to any pages. Different roles could be assigned to pages/posts at once.  
- Our plugin helps your WordPress site and its feed make it totally private with greater adaptability to limit to private pages.  
- Making your webpage a multi-roles site for individuals to confine access for pages/posts.  
- Displaying information when an exceptional blunder happens i.e; limiting clients who don’t have authorization to see the content present on the login page (diverting to page/post after login), site landing page, or custom URL by showing static/default error messages.  
- Control the visibility of content for posts without the issue of altering each post on your site and defining the limitations separately to sign in/out clients or specific clients.  
![Page and Post Restriction Features](/blog/assets/2023/features-of-page-protection-plugin.webp)  
- Restrict content based on client’s roles or logged-in status and control the visibility of pages and presents on various user roles like Administrator, Contributor, Editor, Author, Subscriber or Custom on to your WordPress site with Required Fields Selection Ability for showing content.  
- Offering admittance to certain clients like – Admin for the administration of roles; Editor in making posts and we additionally give some unauthorized messages you need to show.  
- We offer Restriction Access to the custom Meta Box dependent on user roles. This shows all the site’s client jobs dependent on which page restriction and post restriction can be made. The meta box likewise inquires as to whether login is needed to get to the page/post. This gives authority over content accessing while making/altering/seeing the pages and posts.  
- Restriction for page Visitors that permits redirection to the login page. A basic and effective approach to advise your user that authorization is restricted.  
- Our module causes you to make content limitations as simple as workable by considering changes down to inherited pages when a limitation is applied to the parent one.  
- Restricting content based on a user’s logged in/out the status and after successful confirmation, redirect back to the restricted page.  
- Users attempting to get to a restricted page will be diverted to a chosen page URL. This post limitation/page limitation choice allows you to adjust the conduct of confined pages and posts.  

**Integration with SAML/OAuth SSO. This page restriction and post restriction feature allows content access to only logged-in users or the users who have been authenticated by the configured IdP. Allows redirecting not logged-in users to IdP/OAuth Server login page.**  

### Conclusion {#conclusion}

In this article, we have given a brief synopsis of our page restriction plugin and the different features we do provide with various customizations. A solution on how we can restrict access to pages, posts by protecting ourselves from exposing sensitive data using WordPress Page Post Protection.  
You may be curious about how you or your development team can implement this on your website. You can always Contact Us/, or Email us at [info@xecurify.com](mailto:info@xecurify.com) and we would be happy to help you out.  

### Additional Resources {#additional-resources}
- [WordPress Page & Post Restriction Plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/page-and-post-restriction/)  
- [Page Restriction](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-page-restriction#pagerestriction)  
- [What is Single Sign-On ?](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-single-sign-on-sso/)
- [WordPress Single Sign-On login](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-single-sign-on-sso)  

Page and Post Restriction plugin for WordPress is a perpetual, and stable plugin that helps you limit and secure admittance to your WordPress site in various manners.  Page restrictions allow you to control who can view and/or edit individual pages. You can add restrictions for individual pages or for WordPress groups.

What is Page and Post Restriction ?

**Every 39 seconds, a cyberattack occurs. Let that sink in.** If you’re running your business on WordPress—a platform powering over 43% of the web—your site is already in the crosshairs of hackers. They’re relentless, exploiting weak passwords, vulnerable plugins, and any crack in your defences. But here’s the good news: you have the power to stop them in their tracks.

This blog dives into a critical yet often overlooked security measure: [WordPress Two-Factor Authentication](https://wordpress.org/plugins/miniorange-2-factor-authentication/). Cyber threats are growing at an alarming rate, and for big businesses managing WordPress sites, 2FA isn’t just a recommendation—it’s a necessity. By the end of this post, you’ll understand why implementing 2FA is your first line of defense against modern cyberattacks and how [WordPress 2FA](https://plugins.miniorange.com/2-factor-authentication-for-wordpress-wp-2fa) can provide a feature-rich solution tailored to your needs.

### What is Two-Factor Authentication and its benefits? {#What is Two-Factor Authentication and it's benefits?}

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is the implementation of an additional layer of security that requires a second form of verification apart from a traditional username and password.

This second-factor authentication can be SMS authentication, authentication via email, app authentication etc. Basically, you receive a 2FA code which is valid for a limited period to authenticate yourself to gain access to your account.

By investing in Two-Factor Authentication, you as a big businesses can:

 - Ensure privacy of customers' data.
 - Maintain operational continuity.
 - Safeguard their reputation in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.
 - Comply with various laws and standards, including GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS, which mandate MFA use.
 
### Why big businesses are prime targets for cyberattacks? {#Why big businesses are prime targets?}

**Picture this:** Your WordPress site is a digital fortress—a stronghold of your brand, content, and customer data. But without 2FA, it’s like leaving the gates wide open while hoping no one walks in. Hackers love big businesses because of:

**1. Loads of lucrative data:** A plethora of sensitive data, including customer information and financial details.

**2. Complex access point:**  A larger number of employees within the organization with several admin access.

**3. Changing working model:** Mix of work from home and office as well as remote working enviorment.

**4. High-Visibility:** The bigger the brand, the more tempting the target.

Cybercriminals don’t take breaks, and with automated bots, they can attempt thousands of password combinations per second. In this environment, relying on passwords alone is akin to locking your front door but leaving the key under the mat.

### Shocking Real-Life Stories of Major Businesses Hit by Data Breaches

In 2023, an estimated 4.3% of WordPress sites were hacked. That’s a staggering 13,000 compromised sites every single day. Major enterprises falling victim to unseen attackers.

The numbers are more than just statistics; they are a wake-up call. These breaches highlight the chilling reality: without robust security measures, no website is safe. Regular updates, strong password policies, and vigilant plugin management are critical. But even those can fall short against determined attackers.

**The GoDaddy Breach: A Lesson in Vigilance**

In 2021, a breach rocked the web-hosting world when **GoDaddy** suffered a massive compromise of its managed WordPress hosting environment. Over 1 million WordPress customers were affected. Email addresses, customer numbers, and SSL private keys—critical information that should have been untouchable—fell into the wrong hands.

The fallout was devastating: shaken customer trust, financial losses, and a severe blow to GoDaddy's reputation. It was a stark reminder that even the most prominent players are not immune.

**Popular but vulnerable plugin: Really Simple Security**

Fast forward to 2024, where a vulnerability in a popular WordPress plugin: **Really Simple Security plugin,**    exposed over 4 million websites to potential administrative takeover. A flaw called authentication bypass allowed attackers to exploit scripts and launch large-scale automated attacks. In mere moments, millions of sites became ticking time bombs.

For business, this wasn’t just a technical issue—it was a crisis of confidence. Websites that held customer data, payment information, and sensitive records suddenly became liabilities.

Therefore, sometimes it is a regulatory requirement for big businesses to implement 2FA as an additional layer of security to protect sensitive information and prevent unauthorized access. 

### How to choose 2FA providers for your business? {#How to choose 2FA providers for your business?}
 
Here are some important consideration that should be taken into account while choosing a right WordPress 2FA providers for your business enterprise.

-  **Security and Encryption:** Plugin that you are choosing should be free from any vulnerabilities.
-  **Integration and Compatibility:** It should be compatible with existing systems and can be scaled up easily to cover future needs.
-  **Multiple Authentication Methods:** There should be multiple authentication methods to choose from.
-  **Regulation Compliance:** Provider should comply with relevant industry regulations and standards, such as GDPR. 
-  **User-friendly and reliable:** Plugin configuration should be easy, intuitive and straightforward so that anyone can configure it.
-  **Good Customer Support and Thorough Documentation:** Customer support to reach in case you require any help in setting up the plugin or in resolving any other site-specific issues.

You must deliberate over all these factors before choosing the right provider for your WordPress Two-Factor Authentication implementation.

### WordPress 2FA for big businesses {#WordPress 2FA for big businesses}
  
WordPress Two-Factor Authentication isn’t just another plugin; it’s a security powerhouse designed to protect what matters most. There are many features which covers the need for big businesses and enterprises.

**1. All Login form Support** 

WordPress Two-Factor Authentication plugin provides support for all kinds of Login forms. A few quick and easy steps let you set 2FA on any login form. We have thousands of satisfied customers already using this feature without any glitches. You can refer to the [detailed documentation](https://plugins.miniorange.com/how-to-set-up-2fa-on-custom-login-form-wordpress) and [video guide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTCGrgIAD7A) for more details.


**2. Role-Based 2FA**

One of the key benefits of using miniOrange’s WordPress Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) plugin is the ability to configure it for specific user roles. For example, you might want to require only your administrators to use 2FA, while allowing your members to log in with just a password.

This can secure your website without inconveniencing your users. For detailed information on how to configure this feature, you can refer to the [guide](https://plugins.miniorange.com/how-to-enable-role-based-2fa-for-wordpress-two-factor-authentication).


**3. Custom Redirection URL**

This feature allows you to redirect your users to the desired URL after logging in. You can redirect your group of users of a specific role to a particular site.

You can refer to this [guide](https://plugins.miniorange.com/prevent-account-sharing-restrict-concurrent-sessions-wordpress-session-restriction) for detailed information on the configuration process.

**4. Session restriction**

This ultimate feature restricts multiple simultaneous sessions and also the sessions’ time. Refer to this [document](https://plugins.miniorange.com/prevent-account-sharing-restrict-concurrent-sessions-wordpress-session-restriction) for reference on how to configure this feature.

**5. Remember Device**

This feature allows you to skip 2FA in case of a trusted device. You can provide users with an option to remember the device or enable the option “silently remember device.” For details on configuring the Remember device feature, refer to this [documentation](https://plugins.miniorange.com/how-to-set-remember-device-with-two-factor-authentication-2fa).


**6. White labelling** 

White-label 2FA popups and branding options ensures a consistent, professional image, aligning with the enterprise’s identity
This feature if enabled saves your IP address from getting blocked even after multiple unsuccessful login attempts by entering the wrong password. 

**7. Multiple 2FA Method Available** 

To implement 2FA for a WordPress website, there are various methods available.

2FA Code over Email,  2FA Code over SMS, TOTP Authentication Methods, like Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Authy Authenticator, Last Pass Authenticator Duo Authenticator, FreeOTP Authenticator, Okta Verify etc., 2FA Code Over Telegram and 2FA Code Over WhatsApp etc.

**8. Backup Login Methods**

These are a set of 5 backup codes you are provided that you must keep safe with you so that you can use them to login in case of emergencies like when you have lost your phone or it’s not with you.


**9. Personalization:**

Pesonalize the pulgin according to your preference and align with your brand theme. With options to customize security questions, login UI popups, and email templates for OTPs, email verification, and 2FA reconfiguration.

These allow you to ensure a consistent theme. Additionally, you can replace the default ‘powered by’ logo with your own branding for a fully personalized touch.


**Customization options are available for big businesses.**

The exhaustive list of features in the WordPress Plugin generally has proved more than sufficient for the security needs of business enterprises of all scales.
However we have seen no dearth of unique use case requests from our customers if you are somebody who requires something special and unique done specifically for your WordPress websites. We are just a click away. Get in touch with us. We offer special customizations of features and settings as per your request.


## Conclusion: Don’t Wait for a Breach—Act Now {#Conclusion: Don’t Wait for a Breach—Act Now}

Cyberattacks are inevitable, but their impact is not. By implementing 2FA, you’re not just protecting your WordPress site; you’re safeguarding your reputation and your customers' trust.
WordPress 2FA is the reliable, feature-rich solution you need to stay one step ahead of hackers. Don’t wait until it’s too late. 

Download [WordPress 2FA](https://wordpress.org/plugins/miniorange-2-factor-authentication/) Now and secure your digital future.

Secure your WordPress website today with WordPress Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) designed specifically for big businesses.

WordPress Two-Factor Authentication: 2FA For Big Business


## WordPress vs SharePoint: Empowering Employees and Organizations

In today's digital-first environment, the right content management platform can significantly enhance an organization's efficiency and employee productivity. This comparison between WordPress and SharePoint is crafted from the perspective of how each platform benefits employees and organizations, focusing on ease of use, collaboration, and security.

### Enhancing Organizational Efficiency: A Closer Look at SharePoint vs WordPress {#enhancing-organizational-efficiency}

| Aspect                                         | WordPress                                                                 | SharePoint                                                               |
|------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Ease of Use for Employees**                  | Renowned for its intuitive interface, enabling quick content updates without extensive training. | Has a steeper learning curve, potentially hindering immediate productivity. |
| **Content Management Solutions**               | Acts as a versatile CMS, facilitating seamless content creation and management. | Strong document management capabilities, beneficial for robust collaboration and document control. |
| **Public Display of Content**                  | Content can be easily made public, catering to a wider audience without requiring user login. | Content display generally requires user login, limiting public accessibility. |
| **Privilege Management**                       | Simplified privilege management allows for easy control over user roles and permissions. | More complex and geared towards enterprise-level management, potentially offering more granular control but with added complexity. |
| **SEO and Digital Presence**                   | Extensive SEO plugins enhance online visibility. | Limited SEO capabilities, requiring additional customization. |
| **Cost-Effectiveness**                         | Cost-effective for organizations of all sizes, offering scalability and flexibility. | Might involve higher costs, especially for enterprise-level solutions but offers extensive features. |
| **Design and Customization**                   | Offers flexibility with a vast theme library and customization options. | Less flexibility in design, which may limit brand projection online. |
| **Blog and Content Marketing**                 | Unparalleled blogging capabilities, enhancing content marketing strategies. | Less focused on blogging, potentially requiring additional tools for comprehensive content marketing. |
| **Plugin Ecosystem for Marketing and Efficiency** | Diverse range of plugins enhances marketing efforts and operational efficiency. | Focused more on internal collaboration and document management, with limited marketing plugins. |
| **Updates and Maintenance**                    | Committed to regular updates for optimal performance and security. | Reliable updates focusing on enterprise and collaboration features. |
| **Community and Support**                      | Benefits from a vast, active community offering resources and support. | Reliable support network but may not offer as extensive resources focused on marketing and web presence. |
| **Flexibility and Scalability for Businesses**  | Ideal for businesses of any size, offering growth and adaptability. | Designed for larger enterprises, providing a comprehensive suite of collaboration and document management tools. |

### The Strategic Advantage of WordPress and SharePoint Integration for Organizations {#advantages-sharepoint-integration}

Elevate your organization's marketing and operational strategies through our seamless  [WordPress SharePoint Integration](https://plugins.miniorange.com/microsoft-sharepoint-wordpress-integration). This powerful integration not only leverages the distinct advantages of each platform but also fortifies your digital landscape with enhanced security measures.By  Embracing best practices and robust security protocols to guarantee a secure, efficient digital experience for your business.

In addition, [**Custom WordPress Development Services**](https://www.mavlers.com/wordpress-development-services/) ensure a tailored solution that meets your unique business needs, providing a robust, scalable, and secure digital presence.

&nbsp;


- **Unified Workflow:** Integrating WordPress with SharePoint allows organizations to leverage WordPress for its superior content management and marketing capabilities while utilizing SharePoint for document management and internal collaboration, streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity.

&nbsp;

- **Security at the Forefront:** With the integration of WordPress and SharePoint, organizations benefit from robust security features, ensuring the protection of digital assets against threats while facilitating a secure collaborative environment.

&nbsp;

- **Optimized Content Management:** This integration simplifies content management processes, allowing for a unified approach to managing digital assets, enhancing brand consistency, and improving operational efficiency across the organization.

&nbsp;

- **Comprehensive Data Protection:** By leveraging both platforms, organizations can implement stringent access controls, encryption, and auditing mechanisms, ensuring the integrity and security of sensitive information and compliance with regulatory standards.

### SharePoint Migration {#sharepoint-migration}
SharePoint migration plays a crucial role in enhancing organizational efficiency and streamlining workflows, especially when integrated seamlessly with WordPress. By leveraging SharePoint's strong document management capabilities alongside WordPress's unparalleled blogging and content marketing features, organizations can achieve a unified workflow that optimizes content management and boosts productivity. Moreover, the integration ensures robust security measures, protecting digital assets and fostering a secure collaborative environment. With comprehensive data protection mechanisms in place, including access controls and encryption, organizations can uphold the integrity of sensitive information while complying with regulatory standards. Thus, SharePoint migration, coupled with WordPress integration, empowers organizations to thrive in today's digital landscape, ensuring they have the right tools for success.

### Conclusion: Empowering Your Organization with the Right Tools {#conclusion}

For organizations aiming to empower their employees and enhance operational efficiency, WordPress presents itself as a user-friendly, flexible, and cost-effective platform for managing web content and engaging with audiences. SharePoint complements this by offering robust document management and collaboration tools essential for larger enterprises or those with specific collaboration needs.

Selecting WordPress and embracing SharePoint integration can significantly benefit your organization, providing the tools necessary for success in today's digital landscape and ensuring your team has the resources to thrive.

For detailed instructions on how to integrate and maximize the potential of this plugin, visit our [miniOrange Embed SharePoint/OneDrive plugin page](https://wordpress.org/plugins/embed-sharepoint-onedrive-documents/).

Discover the SharePoint vs WordPress comparison and how each can boost your business. Explore their unique benefits separately and combined

WordPress vs SharePoint: Empowering Employees and Organizations


## YourMembership Single Sign-On (SSO) {#SSO}

miniOrange [YourMembership](https://plugins.miniorange.com/setup-single-sign-on-sso-for-wordpress-using-yourmembership) Single Sign-On (SSO) helps the clients to authenticate login using YourMembership credentials which helps them to explore online community engagement and gain visibility growth forward.

Our YourMembership Single Sign-On (SSO) plugin helps to secure authentication of users into WordPress sites by creating trust between YourMembership and WordPress sites.

Our miniOrange [Cloud IdP](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/) allows your users to sign in to yourmembership using credentials from external apps like Google, Facebook, and many other identity providers. After the user has successfully authenticated, they are returned to your app, and their social profile information is pulled. The process is designed to simplify sign-in and registration experiences, providing a convenient alternative to mandatory login to your accounts providing you with a variety of information about the members.

### Overview

1. Creation of Communication professional target groups in YourMembership is easy.
2. YourMembership helps in Automated and on-demand syncing of target groups.
3. Through YourMembership Single sign-on capability, there is seamless login to communications professionals.

## How YourMembership Single Sign-On (SSO) Works? {#sso works}

We may be asking ourselves how we can make a WordPress site Single Sign-On experience that saves somebody from making an entirely different username and secret key.

With miniOrange SSO functionality, end users are redirected to Yourmembership login when the SSO is initiated and users are authenticated at YourMembership. Hence, you can install our SSO plugin to make your site integrate with YourMembership.

![YourMembership Single Sign-On](/blog/assets/2023/yourmembership-sso-single-sign-on.webp)

*We came out with New API Support – Configure our plugin using the NEW REST APIs.*

### How miniOrange YourMembership SSO is Different? {#YM Different}

**1. Single Sign-On:** WordPress [Single Sign-On](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-single-sign-on-sso) through YourMembership, easy and flawless integration with YourMembership.

**2. Role Mapping:** Helps you to map the membership type from YourMembership to roles in WordPress site.

**3. Auto Redirect to YourMembership:** Enables the WordPress site to restrict only logged-in users by redirecting the user to the YourMembership login page.

**4. Attribute Mapping:** Allows mapping of user-profiles values fetched from YourMembership to user attributes like EMail, Username, first and last name in your WordPress site

**5. API-based Integration:** To enable SSO to enter the API Key of YourMembership, API acts as an interface between YM and WordPress.

**6. Shortcode to add YourMembership Login:** To allow the user to authenticate via YourMembership add a shortcode anywhere on your WordPress site.

**7. [WordPress Multi-site Support:](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/create-a-network/)** If you manage multiple WordPress sites and want a centralized authentication system, [WordPress Multisite](https://cyberpanel.net/blog/wordpress-multisite) SSO can help streamline user access. With miniOrange YourMembership SSO plugin, you can set up Single Sign-On across all networked sites, ensuring a smooth login experience for users. 

**8. All YourMembership (YM) add-ons included like :**
- [Page Restriction](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-page-restriction) – Control content access / Protect content access by applying page restriction on all or specific pages of your site.
- [SCIM Automated User Provisioning](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-user-provisioning) - WordPress SCIM User Provisioning allows you to sync user’s creation, updating and deletion from your IDP to WordPress site.
- [BuddyPress Integration](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-buddypress-integrator) – Integrator allows you to map the attributes received from the IDP to the BuddyPress user profile attributes.
- [LearnDash Integration](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-learndash-integrator) – map the SSO users to LearnDash groups as per the attributes sent by your Identity Provider i.e, Yourmembership (YM).
- [SSO Login Audit](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-sso-login-audit) – SSO Login Audit captures all the YourMembership SSO users and generates detailed session reports.
- [Attribute-Based Redirection](https://plugins.miniorange.com/wordpress-attribute-based-redirection-restriction) – ABR add-on helps you to redirect your users to different pages after they authenticate via YourMembership SSO into your site, based on the attributes sent by YourMembership (YM).

### Why people prefer miniOrange YM SSO? {#why people prefer miniorange sso}

**- Existing User store integrations (SSO):** Provides real-time Single Sign-On(SSO) access for users without having to move users from their existing user stores.

**- Auto-create users:** From YourMembership users will be auto-generated on WordPress after SSO.

**- Login Widgets:** One can use Yourmembership login widgets to easily integrate the YourMembership SSO link with your WordPress site.

**- Step-by-step Guides:** Our step-by-step instructions guide you further in achieving your use case successfully. For any queries, please contact us at samlsupport@xecurify.com

**- Protect Site:** Users trying to access WordPress will be redirected to YourMembership (YM) login page for SSO.

**- Cost-effective:** Get access to SSO for YM with saving cost and time avoiding password fatigue by streamlining the user experience and adoption rates more.

**- 24/7 Active Support:** We provide world-class support and customers vouch for our support, ensuring you the best services all the time. 

### Conclusion {#Conclusion}

[YourMembership’s Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/login-with-yourmembership/) provides a seamless Web experience across YourMembership and other third-party systems. It allows users to log on to your Web site once and gain secure, ready access to all related Websites.

Contact us at [samlsupport@xecurify.com](mailto:samlsupport@xecurify.com) and we’ll help you set up SSO with YourMembership in no time.


YourMembership is a composed suite of online membership management applications which was used by associations and other organizations to keep members busy, helps to track financial data, and supports administrative processes with smooth workflow management.

YourMembership Single Sign-On (SSO)


Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP) is a proactive security strategy that focuses on restricting access to sensitive data by removing permanent access rights. This approach ensures that access privileges are granted on a Just-in-Time basis, significantly reducing the risk of data breaches and compliance issues. 

&nbsp;

In this blog, we will dive into the concept of zero-standing privileges,

- Examine how standing privileges arise
- Discuss the implementation of Just-in-Time (JIT) access, and 
- Know more about the ZSP model.

&nbsp;

We will also highlight the potential risks associated with standing privileges, outline the advantages of adopting a zero standing privilege philosophy, and overview of the best practices for integrating ZSP into your security framework. 

## What is Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP)? {#What is Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP)?}

The term Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP) was coined by [Gartner](https://www.gartner.com/en) that define the ideal state for managing privileged access in an organization to reduce the risks of credential theft, misuse of privileges, security breaches, and data loss.

&nbsp;

Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP) is a security concept where no persistent or always-on privileged access rights are granted to any identities or accounts, be it a human or a machine. This approach aims to eliminate standing privileges, operating under the principle that privileges should only be granted on a [Just-in-Time (JIT)](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/just-in-time-privileged-access) basis. 

&nbsp;

ZSP represents the ideal outcome in a [Privileged Access Management (PAM)](https://www.miniorange.in/products/privileged-access-management-pam) model, where continuous authentication and the application of the least privilege are essential. The framework aligns closely with [Zero Trust](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/zero-trust-security-model/) strategies, which advocate for the removal of default, and uninterrupted access privileges and emphasize that no access should be given based on assumed trust.

&nbsp;

Implementing ZSP means that administrative or authorized access is never pre-assigned but is automatically allocated for specific tasks and only for the necessary duration. This method significantly reduces the cyberattack surface by limiting the opportunities for privilege abuse. By ensuring that privileges are securely tailored and short-lived, ZSP helps prevent the collection of access rights that could lead to data breaches, unauthorized data access, and other security violations. This approach enhances security protocols and supports compliance by implementing strict access control standards.


## What is a Just-in-Time Access Model? {#what-is-a-just-in-time-access-model}

The [Just-in-Time (JIT)](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/just-in-time-privileged-access) Access Model is a strategic approach to privilege management that drastically reduces the active window during which privileges are available. Unlike traditional models that grant standing privileges indefinitely, JIT access limits privilege activation to the precise moments they are needed. This targeted allocation minimizes the attack window, significantly enhancing the organization's security structure. By controlling the duration of access, JIT effectively closes the gaps that could potentially be exploited by malicious user activities.

![just in time (jit) access model](/blog/assets/2024/what-is-just-in-time-access.webp)

Implementing a JIT model transforms how administrative privileges are handled. For example, in a standard environment, an administrator might have continuous access throughout the week, 24*7, 7 days a week,  totaling 168 hours. 

&nbsp;

However, with JIT, this access could be restricted to as little as a few hours, or even minutes per week, based on specific tasks and operational requirements. This reduction ensures that access rights are provided dynamically and only as needed. 

## Why are Zero Standing Privileges Important? {#Why are Zero Standing Privileges Important?}

Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP) are increasingly recognized as an essential aspect of modern cybersecurity frameworks, particularly in environments where access rights need to be revised frequently. By adopting ZSP, organizations implement [granular access control](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/granular-access-control), policy-based security controls that provide users with short-term access on a needed basis. 

&nbsp;

This approach not only ensures that access rights are promptly revoked after the completion of a task but also significantly reduces the administrative burden on IT teams who would otherwise spend considerable time on [provisioning and de-provisioning](https://www.miniorange.com/products/user-provisioning) access. Moreover, the limited access granted under ZSP can enhance an organization's eligibility for cyber insurance, potentially lowering the costs associated with recovering from a security breach.

&nbsp;

Another critical advantage of ZSP is its capacity to limit excessive administrative privileges, which are commonly overextended in many IT environments. Administrative users often retain high levels of access, which can pose significant security risks if exploited. By limiting administrative access to only what is necessary for specific tasks and durations, ZSP minimizes the risk of unauthorized activities and potential internal and external threats. Additionally, this model reduces the need for an organization to manage a large volume of passwords, secrets, and keys, thereby simplifying the security infrastructure and further securing the IT environment against breaches and unauthorized access.


### The risks of standing privileges

Let us now have a look at a few of the risks associated with standing privileges 

![Risks of standing privileges according to Gartner](/blog/assets/2024/risks-of-standing-privileges.webp)

1. **Excessive Access Risk**: Standing privileges allow for continuous, unmonitored access to IT resources, making them vulnerable if credentials are compromised, granting attackers unrestricted entry into the system.
2. **Security Issues with Permanent Access**: The necessity to constantly monitor who has access to what, especially in growing IT environments with remote work, demands significant ongoing management and can lead to security oversights.
3. **Increased Risk of Lateral Movement**: Withstanding privileges, attackers can use compromised credentials to move laterally within the network, accessing sensitive areas and escalating privileges, thus amplifying the potential damage from a breach.
4. **Resource Drain in Access Management**: Continuous provisioning and de-provisioning of access for new or departing employees can overextend an organization's resources, increasing the chance of errors that lead to breaches.
5. **Inadequacy of Traditional PAM Solutions**: Traditional [Privileged Access Management solutions](https://www.miniorange.com/pam/) often fail to adequately prevent breaches from compromised credentials, underscoring the need for a Zero Standing Privileges approach to limit access to resources strictly as needed.

## What is Zero Trust vs least privilege? {#what-is-zero-trust-vs-least-privilege}

Zero Trust and the principle of least privilege are two fundamental concepts in cybersecurity that focus on minimizing access risks, but they differ in their approach and emphasis.

&nbsp;

[Zero Trust](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/zero-trust-security-model/) operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify." This means it doesn't automatically trust anything inside or outside its network. Instead, Zero Trust requires verification for every access request regardless of where the request originates or what resource it accesses. It involves continuous authentication and authorization checks to ensure security is maintained throughout a session, not just at the entry point.

![What is the Principle of least privilege? (PoLP)](/blog/assets/2024/principle-of-least-privilege-polp.webp)


[Least Privilege](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/principle-of-least-privilege-polp), on the other hand, is about limiting user access rights to only what is strictly necessary to perform their job functions. It focuses on minimizing the potential damage that could occur if an account is compromised. By providing the minimum level of access required, it reduces the risk and impact of a security breach.

&nbsp;

While Zero Trust encompasses a broader, more holistic approach to network security—constantly questioning the security status of assets and user access—least privilege is more specifically concerned with ensuring users don’t have more access than they need. Both approaches aim to enhance security by controlling access based on user identity and context, but they apply their principles in slightly different ways to protect digital environments.

### Difference between ZSP and PoLP

| Aspect                        | Zero Trust Security (ZTS)                | Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP)           |
|-------------------------------|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| **Core Principle**            | Never trust, always verify.              | Grant the minimum necessary access.           |
| **Verification**              | Continuous authentication and checks.    | Initial setup of minimal access, adjusted as needed. |
| **Scope**                     | Broad: network, devices, users, data.    | Specific: user and application access.        |
| **Focus**                     | Trust validation at every access.        | Limiting access to minimize risk.             |
| **User Access**               | Dynamic based on risk assessment.        | Static setup, modified as needed.             |
| **Implementation**            | MFA, micro-segmentation, monitoring.     | Role management, access reviews, audits.      |
| **Examples**                  | Multi-checkpoint user verification, secure remote access. | Assigning read-only access to sensitive data.  |



### How does Zero Standing Privileges work?

Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP) is a security approach designed to minimize the risk of excessive or unnecessary access rights within an organization's IT environment to their [Privileged Accounts](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-are-privileged-accounts/). 

Here’s how it works step-by-step:

1. **Authentication and Request** : The process begins with a user authenticating themselves in the system. After authentication, the user requests specific access rights or entitlements. These requests are aligned with the principle of least privilege, meaning the user asks only for the access necessary to perform a particular task.
2. **Time-bound Access** : The request includes not only the specific entitlements needed but also the duration for which they are required. This duration should be as short as feasible to minimize risk, as longer access periods can potentially expose the system to greater security threats.
3. **Processing the Request** : After the request is made, it needs to be processed. In simpler or smaller-scale implementations, this might involve a manual approval flow where an assigned approver manually reviews and approves the request. However, for efficiency and to reduce the chance of human error, automating this approval process is recommended where feasible.
4. **Provisioning Access** : Once the request is approved, the system automatically provisions the requested entitlements to the user's federated identity. This means the access rights are temporarily granted to the user for the duration specified.
5. **Performing the Task** : With the entitlements provisioned, the user can then proceed to carry out the necessary tasks or work. The system ensures that access is configured correctly for the duration of the session.
6. **Termination of Access** : After the work is completed, the user either actively ends the session or lets the access rights expire as per the set time limit. The ZSP system then automatically enforces the removal of all the entitlements or roles that were granted temporarily.

This approach effectively reduces the risk of permanent, excessive, or unused privileges within the system, aligning with broader security strategies like Zero Trust by continuously adapting access controls based on ongoing assessments of need and risk.

The user is returned to the default state of zero permissions.

## Explore miniOrange PAM Solution {#explore-miniorange-pam-solution}

miniOrange PAM solution revolutionizes traditional Privileged Access Management by offering seamless and secure control over your organization's critical resources. With miniOrange PAM, you empower your team to grant access precisely when it's needed, enhancing security without compromising on productivity. Our solution utilizes the principles of zero standing privileges and just-in-time access, which minimizes the risk of unauthorized access and significantly reduces the threat of data breaches.

&nbsp;

Start a free 30-day free trial of miniOrange PAM today and experience firsthand how straightforward and effective implementing zero standing privileges and just-in-time access can be.


Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP) minimize risk by eliminating persistent privileged access in IT environments.

What Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP)? Explained


## What is Zero Trust Security & How does it work ?

**Zero Trust** is an approach to perimeter-less security that helps create an effective environment, policies, and infrastructure to minimize data breaches. Although many enterprises were moving towards the Zero-Trust model, Remote working (Work From Home) accelerated it by ten folds.

Zero Trust assumes that no **conventional** network **exists**; networks maybe local, cloud-based, or a combination or hybrid with resources anywhere as well as workers in any location. Although a lot of sellers have tried to create their own definitions of Zero Trust, there are a number of recognized organization standards that can help you bring Zero Trust into alignment with your organization.

Remote Work increased demand for a zero trust model, because of its potential to remedy the Remote working challenges to security

### What is Zero Trust ? {#what-is-zero-trust}

Zero Trust is a model that recognizes trust as a vulnerability and aims at eliminating trust from the Network while ensuring a simplified user experience. It assumes all users, devices, and endpoints are compromised and verify all requests based on their identity and before giving any access to resources.

It reduces the risk of successful data breach and contains severity of breach by eliminating trust and preventing lateral movement.

![What is Zero Trust ? How does it work ?](/blog/assets/2023/zero-trust.webp)

### Why is there a need for Zero Trust ? {#why-zero-trust-is-needed}

In the legacy system, security is defined by protecting organization resources from external threats. In legacy systems, a VPN or Firewall is used to create a perimeter around the organization’s network. All users/devices within the organization network, are considered as trusted users/devices, have unrestricted access to all company resources.

The recent rise in the popularity of remote working brought forth new challenges to the existing security system. With the majority of users working remotely (using remote networks), relying on this approach is less effective, less efficient, and more dangerous.

### What is a Zero Trust Architecture? {#what-is-a-zero-trust-architecture}

Zero Trust model encourages micro-segmentation – it involves identifying Protect surface, a collection of networks most critical assets, data, and applications, and creating a perimeter around it. These perimeters act like a firewall for the protected surfaces and ensure that known, allowed and legitimate traffic can access the protected surface.

Organizations can strengthen security by using granular policies, thus reducing the chances of a breach and improving containment of breach if any takes place.

### How does the Zero Trust security model work? {#how-does-the-zero-trust-security-model-work}

In a Zero Trust system all users, within the organization network perimeter and outside the organization network perimeter are treated as untrusted. All the users requesting resources are verified and RBA sessions are used to grant user access to resources.

![Security Policy Enforcement](/blog/assets/2023/zero-trust-working.webp)

All the user requests and data pass through the security policy enforcement engine. This Security engine ensures protection by verifying device and identity before granting access to the data or applications, and further by monitoring session activities and implementing policies and threat assessment/intelligence.

### Zero Trust Pillars {#zero-trust-pillars}

The philosophy behind zero-trust assumes that no user/device can be trusted and must be verified for authentication and authorization. The 4 pillars of the zero-trust approach are:

-   Assumption of all environments being hostile and breached.
-   Verifying user, user device.
-   Focusing on data protection and not the breach attack.
-   Least privilege access to all users.
-   Real-time monitoring of traffic for Malicious activities.

Users and devices are always verified and given the least privileges and access to requested resources. Users need to request access to other resources and are verified again for them. This way, the zero trust approach offers unrealistic security.

### Challenges to Zero Trust {#challenges-to-zero-trust}

As Zero trust is a security methodology, it requires organizations to evaluate their security strategies and parameters for their system and make consistent efforts to evaluate and improve existing strategies. Some of the major challenges are:

-   Support for Zero trust system from management and users
-   The rapid increase in devices leading to increased chances of unsecured end-point.
-   The exponential growth of applications increases the need for tracking and monitoring.

### Zero trust Maturity Curve {#zero-trust-maturity-curve}

Zero trust is the Implementation of the zero tesut model that can be classified into various stages on the basis of adoption and protection.

![Security Policy Enforcement](/blog/assets/2023/zero-trust-maturity-curve.webp)

#### Stage 0: Fragmented Identities

Organizations use multiple On-premise and cloud applications, and most of them are not connected with each other or a centralized directory. Identities for the different applications are stored on a number of devices.

Due to these fragmented Identities, Securing and managing access to various applications becomes a challenge for IT, as it leaves large windows for attackers to exploit, and for users too, as it means they will need to maintain different login credentials for different applications.

This further increases the security concerns for IT probability of password fatigue or weak login credentials.

#### Stage 1: Unified IAM

This involves resolving the challenges from fragmented Identity. This can be accomplished by adopting an [Identity and Access Management](https://idp.miniorange.com/) (IAM) or [Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/single-sign-on-sso) solution. It would enable identity defragmentation by unifying all identities into a single IAM system and ensuring smooth access to both on-premise and cloud apps with a single set of credentials.

A second-factor authentication method can also be implemented for additional security. Using access policy and group policy, securely access the Applications and resources.

#### Stage 2: Contextual Access

This involves adding a layer of context-based access policy on top of Unified IAM to gather context regarding, user, application, device, network and provide access based on these context markers. These policies will allow organizations to fine-tune the access policy and better control and monitor access to resources and secure access to API.

For example, Asking for 2-factor authentication if a user logins from a new location or device.

#### Stage 3: Adaptive Workforce

This can be defined as the last stage of Zero Trust implementation and focuses on Authentication & authorization access. At this stage, Authentication is a recurring process throughout the user experience through adaptive authentication and risk-based assessment to identify potential threats. Sessions are continuously monitored and Risk scores for sessions are calculated based on assessment. Security is increased through Risk intelligence while risk-based access help simplify the user experience.

### Zero Trust History {#zero-trust-history}

The concept of zero trust has been around for a long time, dating back to the early 2000s. Zero trust is now a popular security model.


Zero Trust is an approach to perimeter-less security that helps create an effective environment, policies, and infrastructure to minimize data breaches. Although many enterprises were moving towards the Zero-Trust model, Remote working (Work From Home) accelerated it by ten folds.

Concepts