CompTIA SecurityX (CAS-005)Security EngineeringEasy

A security architect is designing an authentication system for a new enterprise application that will integrate with multiple third-party services. The primary requirement is to enable single sign-on (SSO) across these services while ensuring strong identity verification. Which federated identity standard is BEST suited for this scenario, offering robust security features and broad interoperability?

  1. ASAML
  2. BLDAP
  3. CKerberos
  4. DRADIUS
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A. SAML

SAML is a widely adopted XML-based standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between an identity provider and a service provider, making it ideal for federated SSO across disparate systems. It provides a secure and standardized way for users to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B. LDAP is a directory service protocol, not a federated identity standard for SSO.
  • C. Kerberos is a network authentication protocol for internal networks, not typically used for federated SSO with external third-party services.
  • D. RADIUS is primarily used for network access control and authentication, not for federated SSO across web applications.

SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language)

An XML-based standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between an identity provider and a service provider, enabling single sign-on (SSO) for web applications.

  • Enables Single Sign-On (SSO)
  • Uses XML for data exchange
  • Facilitates identity federation between different security domains

Memory trick: Fed up with logins? SAML's your single solution!

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