SAML VS OPENID CONNECT?


WHICH IS BEST FOR FASTX DEPENDS ON YOUR NEEDS

FastX has built-in support for a number of different authentication methods, from regular SSH to 2-factor authentication to SAML and OpenID Connect.

If you have users who are required to log into your Linux servers from remote locations over the Internet, you might consider SAML and OpenID Connect, both of which are standards for exchanging identity information between different parties. 

As you see in the image, FastX Offers SAML and OpenID Connect options from the Admin tool section

But what are the pros and cons of each one? In this blog post, we will compare and contrast SAML and OpenID Connect based on four criteria: security, performance, compatibility and user experience.

Security: Both SAML and OpenID Connect use cryptographic techniques to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the identity information. However, SAML relies on XML signatures and encryption, which are more complex and prone to vulnerabilities than the 

JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) used by OpenID Connect. Moreover, OpenID Connect supports more advanced features such as dynamic client registration, discovery and revocation, which can enhance the security of the authentication process.

Performance: SAML and OpenID Connect have different impacts on the performance of the application. SAML uses a redirect-based flow, which means that the user’s browser has to make multiple requests to different servers before accessing the protected resource. This can increase the latency and network traffic, especially if there already is some latency in the connection between the user and the FastX remote Linux access server being used. On the other hand, OpenID Connect uses a hybrid flow, which combines a redirect-based flow with a direct request from the client to the identity provider. This can reduce the number of round trips and improve the responsiveness of the web application.

Compatibility: SAML and OpenID Connect have different levels of compatibility with existing systems and protocols. SAML is an older standard that has been widely adopted by many enterprises and organizations. It is compatible with many identity providers and service providers, as well as other standards such as WS-Federation and WS-Trust. However, SAML is not designed for mobile or native applications. Although those are becoming more prevalent in today’s web environment, when it comes to remote Linux application visualization this is not a major drawback. . OpenID Connect is a newer standard that is based on OAuth 2.0, which is a widely used framework for authorization. It is compatible with many modern web platforms and technologies, such as RESTful APIs, HTML5 and JavaScript. It also supports mobile and native applications, as well as single-page applications (SPAs).

User experience: SAML and OpenID Connect have different effects on the user experience.. SAML requires the user to enter their credentials on a separate login page hosted by the identity provider. This can interrupt the user’s flow and cause confusion or frustration. Additionally, SAML does not support single sign-on (SSO) across multiple domains or applications, which means that the user has to log in separately for each one. OpenID Connect allows the user to log in with their existing social media or email accounts, such as Google or Facebook. This can simplify the login process and increase the user’s trust and satisfaction. Furthermore, OpenID Connect supports SSO across multiple domains or applications, which means that the user only has to log in once for all of them.

Conclusion: As you can see, SAML and OpenID Connect have their own advantages and disadvantages as methods of authentication for web applications. Depending on your specific needs and preferences, you might choose one over the other or use both in combination. In any case, it is important to understand how each one works and what implications it has for your web application’s security, performance, compatibility and user experience.

Question?: Feel free to contact StarNet for any questions related to the authentication protocols available in FastX. You can file your requests at https://www.starnet.com/company/contact?who=support