In this post, I will discuss the rise of multi-IDP Environments and outline what businesses need to know.
In recent years, identity and access management (IAM) has become a key method of securing business operations and preventing dangerous security breaches to critical systems used by businesses, tech companies, and other corporate entities.
Today, IAM services are typically provided by identity providers (IDPs) such as Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, Ping, and other leading names in cybersecurity.
While certain organizations only use one IDP across their systems, some businesses are turning towards multi-IDP environments as a means of increasing security and providing critical redundancies.
Below, we will discuss what businesses need to know about multi-IDP environments, their benefits and drawbacks, and how to create them in your business.
Table of Contents
What Are Identity Providers?
Before examining multi-IDP environments, we must define what IDPs are. Identity providers (IDPs) are digital systems that create, store, and manage digital identities and allow verified users to access applications via a single set of credentials.
In previous years, identities were often secured and managed via on-premises systems such as active directories, but today, several well-known IDPs such as Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace, Okta, Auth0, Ping Identity, OneLogin, and others operate in the cloud.
IDPs provide crucial assistance to IT departments, reducing the amount of time spent on managing access. Before cloud-based IDPs, IAM often took up as much as a month of IT time per business year. With cloud-based IDPs, however, businesses can now automate many critical IAM functions, streamlining the process of identity management and increasing security.
What Are Multi-IDP Environments?
Now that we have defined IDPs, we can consider multi-IDP environments. Multi-IDP environments are businesses which utilize the services of multiple IDPs across various applications and systems, blending them into a configured hybrid that preserves single-sign-on (SSO) capabilities while increasing security.
Multi-IDP environments are often necessary in the event of mergers and acquisitions between companies, as well as for businesses that have multiple user bases, such as one for employees, one for customers, one for contractors, etc.
Increasingly, companies maintain multiple IDPs for the sole purpose of maintaining a complete backup in case of emergencies. The core focus of multi-IDP environments is to provide critical identity protection while allowing businesses to maintain a diverse set of applications and systems that is harder to hack or breach.
Why Are Multi-IDP Environments On the Rise?
Multi-IDP environments are appealing to business owners and corporations due to their increased security and the way they avoid over-reliance on one system. Environments that use multiple IDPs are becoming more popular due to the expanding network of online connections between businesses that operate on different platforms.
There are a number of reasons why multi-IDP environments are better for security than single-IDP environments. Implementing multi-IDP environments in businesses helps to improve identity federation, giving users secure access to multiple systems that are harder to breach. The redundancies of multi-IDP environments allow businesses to address identity threats such as phishing scams, ransomware, identity downtime, and even revenue loss.
Benefits of Multi-IDP Environments vs. Single-IDP Environments
Generally, multi-IDP environments can be much more secure than reliance upon a single IDP, as each IDP in the environment has its own security protocols, and will not affect the others in the event of a breach.
If one IDP were to be impacted by a breach, vendor outage, or even a natural disaster, the secondary IDP is readily available to ensure the business can maintain access to critical functions.
In the same vein, there are several drawbacks to single-IDP environments that make multi-IDP environments more appealing. Should a disruption occur, single-IDP environments may grind the business to a halt , as access issues often pervade the entire system, affecting all users.
They may offer more opportunities for bad actors to infiltrate the system, as there is only one IDP to target. Finally, single-IDP environments operate on one set of credentialing and management protocols; if there is a breach, all departments and applications are affected at once.
How To Create a Multi-IDP Environment in Your Business
If you run a business or organization looking to implement a multi-IDP environment, there are a few major steps you can take.
The first is to research the various IDP services that exist on the market, including Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, Ping, and others. These IDPs can be utilized at various levels across your organization, creating robust and layered security.
Once you decide on the IDPs you plan to use, make sure you implement and activate them effectively. Don’t just use your IDPs without a framework or organizational policy. It is necessary to create a resilient orchestration layer so that all of your IDPs can function effectively and be managed smoothly.
Conclusion
IDPs play an important role in keeping your customers, employees, and business partners safe when accessing your applications.
A multi-IDP environment can help you add an extra layer of security to your IAM protocols, creating diversity in your security systems while maintaining ease-of-use and access.
By making use of services such as Okta and Microsoft Entra ID, you can take your business’ security standards up a notch and meet the threats of the digital age head-on.
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About the Author:
Chris Steinke, is Chief Operating Officer of MightyID, and a distinguished leader with over 25 years of experience in technology and security. Chris has a robust background in product strategy, technology, and operations. He is a published author and award winning-leader, having held several high-impact roles at prestigious brands including American Express, British Telecom, and Zelle, bringing with him a wealth of experience in driving innovation and operational excellence.
