Identity as a Service (IDaaS) is a cloud-based solution that lets users sign in to multiple applications and services – across various locations and devices – with just one identity.
IDaaS platforms are provided by third parties called identity providers (IdPs) and are based on a subscription model. They save organizations from having to use multiple identity and access management (IAM) tools for different on-premises and cloud-based environments, instead letting them manage all their identities, access permissions, and cybersecurity from one place.
Why is IDaaS needed?
Employees today work remotely around the world, often using their own devices, and engage with SaaS applications across various on-premises and cloud platforms. If they needed different login details each time they changed location, device, or service, security teams would have a monumental identity management task on their hands – one which would likely result in security blind spots and vulnerabilities.
IDaaS platforms are designed to handle the scale and complexity of these modern networks. They make it easy for users to work across internal and external applications and systems, and help prevent misconfigurations and cyber threats.
Key features of IDaaS
IDaaS platforms offer centralized, cloud-based IAM capabilities for authenticating, authorizing, and managing users, including:
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA): A security measure that requires users to provide additional evidence of their identity alongside their username and password when signing in to an account. This evidence can include memorized PINs, one-time passwords and links, and biometrics.
- Single sign-on (SSO): With SSO, users can sign in via a portal (such as a web browser) with just one identity to access all of their applications. SSO also allows companies to manage the access users have to these applications from one – usually cloud-based – location.
- Directory services: IDaaS platforms integrate with various on-site and cloud-based directories to synchronize with and manage details about users and resources.
Benefits of IDaaS
Cybersecurity: By simplifying the sign-in process, IDaaS platforms make it easier for security teams to monitor identities and standardize policies and permissions, which helps plug any gaps that attackers could use to exploit a network. SSO portals, meanwhile, reduce the number of login details that users need to remember, which promotes good password hygiene.
Cost savings: Manually assigning identities for different applications is expensive. IT teams need to pay for servers, upgrades, backups, and new software, and if employees are working from abroad, this shopping list can include VPNs and specific security tools too. The subscription fee that IdPs charge is often far cheaper.
Increased efficiency: Whether signing into applications from their homes, offices, or in public spaces around the world, users can access all the applications they need at the click of a button or two. Plus, as IDaaS platforms are managed by IdPs, IT teams don’t need to worry about maintenance.
