Feature | FIDO Alliance | SAML |
Authentication Method | Passwordless or strong multi-factor | Username/password, multi-factor can be integrated |
Focus | Strong user authentication | Single Sign-On (SSO) and federation |
Deployment | Client-side (FIDO keys) or server-side | Server-side |
Standards | U2F, FIDO2 (CTAP & WebAuthn) | SAML 1.1, SAML 2.0 |
Benefits | Enhanced security, phishing resistance, improved user experience | Streamlined login across multiple applications, centralized access management |
Challenges | Requires FIDO-compliant authenticators (keys), potential user adoption hurdles | Complexity of setup and management, reliance on identity providers (IdPs) |
Popular IAMs Using It | YubiKey, Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator | Okta, Azure AD |
Examples:
FIDO: Many banks and financial institutions are adopting FIDO for secure logins. For instance, JPMC utilizes YubiKey, a FIDO-compliant security key, for enhanced account access.
SAML: Companies like Google and Microsoft use SAML for Single Sign-On within their ecosystem of applications. G Suite and Microsoft 365 leverage SAML to allow users to sign in once and access various cloud services within their respective platforms.