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Identity Federation

What is Identity Federation?

A system of trust between identity providers and service providers that allows users to authenticate once and access multiple systems across different organisations. Federation protocols include SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect.

Information Security

Terms that appear alongside identity federation

Each of these is named in at least one of the same controls as identity federation. The number is how many controls name both.

Frameworks that govern identity federation

ISO 27001:2022View framework →NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5View framework →

What the standards actually require on identity federation

Requirements naming identity federation across 6 standards, quoted from the control text.

DoD Zero Trust Reference Architecture1 control

Provide enterprise identity federation and standardized user credentialing across DoD components.

DODZT-1.5 · Identity Federation and User Credentialing →
NSA Guidance for Transition to Quantum-Resistant Cryptography1 control

Migrate identity federation, smart card credentials, and authentication tokens to CNSA 2.0 supported algorithms in coordination with relying parties.

QRMIG-12 · Identity Federation and Smart Cards →
AWS Well-Architected Security Pillar1 control

Replace long-lived IAM access keys with short-lived credentials issued via IAM roles, IAM Identity Center, STS or workload identity federation.

SEC02-BP02 · Use temporary credentials →
Japan FSA Cybersecurity Guidelines for Financial Institutions1 control

Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a critical control area per FSA Cybersecurity Guidelines + intersects with FISC Security Guidelines + Japan Banking Customer Authentication Standards + APPI access control.

JP-FSA-CYB-Identity-Access-Management-Privileged-Access-MFA-Zero-Trust-Just-In-Time-Banking-Customer-Authentication · Japan FSA Cybersecurity Identity and Access Management + Privileged Access + MFA + Zero Trust + Just-In-Time + Banking Customer Authentication + Risk-Based Authentication + Out-of-Band + Biometric + FIDO2 + Internet Banking Security →
Kuwait National Cybersecurity Framework1 control

Kuwait NCF Protect function (Access). Access Control and Identity Management aligned with NIST SP 800-53 AC family + ISO 27001 A.9 + Zero Trust principles.

KNCF-Protect-Access-Control-IAM-Privileged-MFA-Zero-Trust-Identity-Lifecycle-IAG-PAM · Kuwait NCF Protect + Access Control + IAM + Privileged + MFA + Zero Trust + Identity Lifecycle →
Lloyd's Minimum Standards - Cyber Security1 control

Lloyds MS11.10 Third Party and Outsourcing Cyber Risk - comprehensive third-party risk management programme + PRA SS2/21 Outsourcing and Third Party Risk Management requirements + due diligence at onboarding + cyber security questionnaire (SIG + CAIQ + custom)...

LLOYDS-MS11-Third-Party-Outsourcing-Cyber-Risk-Cloud-Security-Data-Protection-Classification-MS11-10-14-11 · Lloyds MS11 Third Party + Cloud + Data Protection + Classification + MS11.10-14-11 →

Questions people ask about identity federation

What is Identity Federation?
A system of trust between identity providers and service providers that allows users to authenticate once and access multiple systems across different organisations. Federation protocols include SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect.
Why is Identity Federation important for compliance?
Identity Federation is a key concept in Information Security. Understanding identity federation helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings.
Which compliance frameworks address Identity Federation?
Identity Federation appears in the requirement text of DoD Zero Trust Reference Architecture, NSA Guidance for Transition to Quantum-Resistant Cryptography, AWS Well-Architected Security Pillar, Japan FSA Cybersecurity Guidelines for Financial Institutions, Kuwait National Cybersecurity Framework. Across these standards we have identified 6 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Identity Federation?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how identity federation applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 686 frameworks.

See how Identity Federation applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

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Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.