What is SAML?
SAML is an abbreviation of Security Assertion Markup Language, which is an XML based standard for web browser Single Sign On (SSO), and defined by OASIS. It is in rife since 2002. SAML is called a security markup language because this is specifically defined to exchange security and identity related information such as authorization information and authentication information etc.
Background
Its first version came in 2002 as SAML 1.0 and the latest version released in 2005 as SAML 2.0. Another version came in between as SAML 1.1.
Why SAML!
In view of emergence in cloud computing and cloud based identity management providers, the need for implementing SAML protocol is imperative. In addition, with the proliferation of SaaS (Software as a Service), and other web based applications, identity management has become challenging for various enterprises. Handling so many usernames and passwords for your intranet, cloud, webmail, HR system, and other resources is nothing but bothersome especially when your workforce is huge. This is where SAML is desperately needed. Many hosted services providers support SAML for authentication including Google Apps, Salesforce.com, Zendesk and Zoho. Thousands of large enterprises have adopted it as their standard protocol for their communicating identities across their network environments.
How SAML works!
SAML generally defines three roles i.e. the principal (which is normally an end user), the identity provider (IdP), and the service provider (SP). A system that supports SAML as a means for authentication is referred to as a Service Provider (SP). An SP requires the availability of an Identity Provider (IdP).
Let’s consider Google Apps with SAML configured for instance. Google Apps d...
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...ord. With one time login they can access to all resources or systems for rest of the day.
• Security — Due to common password security policies which are centrally managed, SAML is secured. No need for users to jot down their passwords when there is only one to remember.
• Cloud Computing — SAML reduces the complexity of end users who access multiple cloud applications. It allows the user to remember only one password, and if required, use as strong authentication credential just once to securely access all cloud applications.
• Speed — Single browser redirect is all it takes to securely sign a user into an application.
• Minimizes Help desk calls — Reduction of help desk calls for password resets.
• Bring your own Device — where there is increased use of Bring your own Device (BYOD), SAML best fits since multiple accounts can be accessed from anywhere, any time.
1 programmable memory button which can provide access to any department or person you need to get a
The authorization role is used by providers that make access decisions for the requested resources based on the effective user identity context. This identity context is determined by the authentication provider and the identity assertion provider mapping rules. Evaluation of the identity contexts user and group principals against a set of access policies is done by the authorization provider in order to determine whether access should be granted to the effective user for the requested resource [14]. Out of the box, the Knox Gateway provides an ACL based authorization provider that evaluates rules that comprise of username, groups and ip addresses. These ACLs are bound to and protect resources at the service level. That is, they protect access to the Hadoop services themselves based on user, group and remote IP address [14]. To provide a common authorization framework for the Hadoop platform, providing security administrators with a single administrative console to manage all the authorization policies for Hadoop components is the goal of Hadoop’s developers.
Identity Management & Authorization is the ability to insure the person accessing the system is one, who they say they are, and two, authorized to access that program. In addition, this means terminating user account that are no longer authorized to access the system.
Giammarco, Erica. "U of S Central Authentication Service (CAS)." U of S Central Authentication Service (CAS). N.p., Jan. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. http://www.sciencedirect.com.cyber.usask.ca/science/article/pii/S0191886912003650?np=y
Security architecture is a major component and part of a system’s architecture and is usually designed to provide important guidance during the development of the system. It usually outlines the assurance level required and in the process outlines the possible impacts that this level of security might have on the development process of the actual system. Since security is a major component for the success of any given business unit, it is necessary to have a fully functional and operative security system that meets all the necessary requirements for any organization. Some leading business firms are usually faced with the task of achieving and maintaining high security measures and methods. SecureTek one of the leading provider of security solutions is faced with the challenge of redesigning their security architecture to assure security to the data and the other firm’s valuable assets as well as ensuring security to their customers and employees who encounter risky situations when visiting this business unit.
Sam Tabar is a prominent attorney with an interest in finance, which is what makes him an ideal contributor to the Huffington Post, where he provides legal and financial commentary. Tabar's skills include financial analysis, hedge fund structuring and financial modeling, nevertheless, his Huffington Post contributions are aimed at the casual investor.
These interfaces provide options to choose a role for the account and necessary controls to provide account requirements such as facility and the duration of the account. The Software system can immediately process these requests and drop them into other systems so that provisioning tasks can be initiated immediately. Proper tickets are created and automatic messages are sent to all approvers involved. Once all approval levels are recorded in the corporation’s main recording system, active directory accounts can be created or reactivated for the accounts. The software system, then informs the account holders, approvers and originators of requests through automatic email messages.
A user can provide computing abilities, like server time and network storage or require human interaction with the provider automatically
"It is a matter of education for the employees to educate them on the hazards and risks," Cunningham said. "There's a policy aspect of it: If you're accessing our financial application, 'thou shalt not use that password for anything else in your life.' And then there are tools you can use to help automate that process for the employees, such as a Password Bolt. Maybe they don't know what the password is, but they can log into the Password Bolt and the passwords are generated for them." All this can be achieved through policies and the policy must be enforced and be audited to ensure adherence to this
Cloud computing facilitates sharing of computing and storage resources with the aim of reducing computing expenses in organizations. Moreover, cloud computing facilitates information sharing among individuals within a cloud. Despite being advantageous, data stored in a cloud is usually prone to hacking and other security issues. This paper addresses the various mitigation measures that organizations are using to ensure that data stored in the cloud is secure.
In this era when the Internet provides essential communication between tens of millions of people and is being increasingly used as a tool for security becomes a tremendously important issue to deal with, So it is important to deal with it. There are many aspects to security and many applications, ranging from secure commerce and payments to private communications and protecting passwords. One essential aspect for secure communications is that of cryptography. But it is important to note that while cryptography is necessary for secure communications, it is not by itself sufficient. Cryptography is the science of writing in secret code and is an ancient art; In the old age people use to send encoded message which can be understand by the receiver only who know the symbolic and relative meaning of that encoded message .The first documented use of cryptography in writing dates back to circa 1900 B.C. Egyptian scribe used non-standard hieroglyphs in an inscription. After writing was invented cryptography appeared spontaneously with applications ranging from diplomatic missives to war-time battle plans. It is no surprise, then, that new forms of cryptography came soon after the widespread development of computer communications. In telecommunications and data cryptography is necessary when communicating in any untrusted medium, which includes any network, particularly the Internet [1].Within the context of any application-to-application communication, there are some security requirements, including:
Many browsers keep track of where you have been on the Internet by using cookies. A cookie file is a small piece of information that a web server can store. However cookies are not without their problems. On...
People have been using physical security measures such as barriers for protection for centuries (McCrie, 2007). Every living thing uses physical security to protect their home, family, and themselves with some form of barriers. These barriers can be either man-made or natural as long as they define, delay, or detect unauthorized access (Fennelly, 2004). These barriers are used to protect not only the facility but the assets located inside. I will describe these barriers starting from the outside and working into the facility.
the employees and vice versa. This is a way to make sure everyone will access
Rayne, PB, Kulkarni, P, Patil, S & Meshram, BB 2012, ‘Authentication and Authorization:Tool for Ecommerce Security’, Engineering Science and Technology: An International Journal, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 150-157.