Strong authentication is a security mechanism that requires users to provide two or more forms of identification in order to access a system, application, or service. This type of authentication is also known as multi-factor authentication (MFA) or two-factor authentication (2FA).

The two or more forms of identification used in strong authentication typically fall into three categories:

Something you know: Such as a password, PIN, or security question.
Something you have: Such as a smart card, security token, or mobile device.
Something you are: Such as biometric data like fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans.
Strong authentication typically combines something the user knows, such as a password or PIN, with something the user has, such as a smart card, security token, or mobile device. By requiring multiple forms of identification, strong authentication can significantly increase the difficulty of an attacker attempting to gain unauthorized access to a system or application. In addition, if one factor is compromised, the attacker would still need to provide the additional factor(s) to access the system or application.

The goal of strong authentication is to provide an extra layer of security to protect against unauthorized access, data breaches, and identity theft. By requiring multiple forms of authentication, it makes it more difficult for attackers to gain access to sensitive information or systems even if they have obtained one factor of authentication, such as a password.

Many organizations and online services now require strong authentication as a best practice for protecting their users and sensitive data. Strong authentication is often implemented in combination with other security measures, such as biometric authentication, to provide even greater security. Overall, strong authentication is an important security measure that can help protect sensitive data and systems from unauthorized access and security threats.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a framework of policies, processes, and technologies used to manage digital identities and control access to digital resources within an organization. The goal of IAM is to ensure that the right individuals have the appropriate access to digital resources and data, while preventing unauthorized access and protecting sensitive information.

IAM systems typically include several components, such as:
Identification: The process of verifying the identity of an individual accessing a digital resource or application.

Authentication: The process of confirming the identity of an individual through various methods, such as passwords, biometrics, and security tokens.

Authorization: The process of granting or denying access to a digital resource or application based on the authenticated identity of the user.

Access management: The ongoing management of user access to digital resources, including provisioning and deprovisioning access.

Auditing and reporting: The process of tracking user access and generating reports to ensure compliance with security policies and regulations.

Overall, IAM plays a critical role in ensuring the security and integrity of digital assets within an organization. By implementing an effective IAM strategy, organizations can improve their security posture, reduce risk, and better protect sensitive information.

OpenID Connect (OIDC) is an authentication protocol that is built on top of the OAuth 2.0 framework. OIDC enables authentication between a user, a relying party, and an identity provider.

OIDC provides user authentication and authorization by allowing clients (relying parties) to verify the identity of end-users based on the authentication performed by an identity provider (IdP). The protocol enables clients to obtain user profile information, such as name and email address, and verify that the user has authenticated with the IdP.

OIDC uses JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) to transmit information between the identity provider and the relying party. JWTs are digitally signed and encrypted, ensuring that the data is secure and tamper-proof.

Overall, OIDC provides a standardized and secure way for users to authenticate and authorize access to their personal data across different applications and services.

Like SAML, OIDC enables single sign-on (SSO) authentication, but it has some key differences and advantages over SAML.

OIDC is built on top of the OAuth 2.0 protocol and provides additional capabilities for authentication, such as user profile information and support for native mobile applications. It also uses JSON web tokens (JWTs) instead of XML-based SAML tokens, which makes it easier to work with modern web and mobile applications.

Many SaaS companies, including Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, and many others, support OIDC as a standard for federated identity and access management. In fact, OIDC has become the de facto standard for modern authentication and authorization, especially in the context of web and mobile applications.

Overall, both SAML and OIDC are important protocols for secure and seamless authentication and authorization in the context of SaaS and other online services. Which protocol to use depends on the specific requirements and constraints of the application and the infrastructure in which it operates.

OAuth (Open Authorization) is an open standard protocol that allows users to authorize third-party applications to access their data or resources without having to share their credentials, such as username and password. OAuth provides a secure and standardized way for users to grant access to their resources while maintaining control over their data.

OAuth works by providing users with a mechanism to grant access to their resources to third-party applications through the use of access tokens. When a user grants access to an application, the application receives an access token, which it can use to access the user's resources or data on the user's behalf. The user's credentials, such as their password, are not shared with the third-party application.

OAuth is widely used by social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, to allow users to grant access to their social media data to third-party applications. It is also used by many other applications and services, including cloud storage services, online marketplaces, and financial services.

OAuth provides several benefits, including improved security by minimizing the exposure of user credentials to third-party applications, simplified application development, and enhanced user experience by allowing users to easily grant or revoke access to their resources.

There are several reasons why organizations are increasingly focusing on Zero Trust security these days:
The rise of cloud computing: With more organizations adopting cloud computing, and employees accessing corporate resources from a variety of locations and devices, traditional perimeter-based security models are becoming less effective.

The increase in cyber attacks: Cyber attacks are becoming more frequent, sophisticated, and costly, and traditional security models are struggling to keep up. Zero Trust provides a more robust and flexible approach to security, which can help organizations better defend against these attacks.

The need for compliance: Many organizations are subject to regulatory requirements that mandate strong security controls, and Zero Trust can help them meet these requirements.

The need for flexibility: Zero Trust provides a more flexible approach to security that can adapt to changing business needs and security threats. This can help organizations be more agile and responsive in the face of evolving security risks.

Overall, Zero Trust security is gaining traction because it provides a more comprehensive, flexible, and adaptable approach to security that is better suited to the needs of modern organizations. It represents a shift away from the traditional perimeter-based security model, towards a more holistic and proactive approach to security.