Imagine you have to log in separately to every website or app you use. It can be time-consuming and hard to remember all your passwords. SAML helps solve this problem by allowing you to log in once and access multiple services without needing to log in again each time. This is called Single Sign-On (SSO).
> Let’s say you want to use an online tool at your workplace.
> Instead of entering your username and password directly into the tool, SAML redirects you to a central place called an Identity Provider (like your company’s login page).
> You enter your credentials (username and password) on the Identity Provider’s site.
> SAML Sends a “Token”:
> Once you’re logged in, the Identity Provider sends a secure message (called a SAML assertion) back to the tool you want to use. This message confirms that you are who you say you are.
> The tool receives the message and lets you in without asking for your password again.
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A) A subset of TLS that validates digital certificates between identity servers: While TLS is used to secure the communication channel over which SAML assertions are sent, SAML itself is not a subset of TLS. TLS is a transport layer security protocol, while SAML is an XML-based framework for exchanging authentication and authorization data.
B) A protocol designed to directly hash and encrypt user passwords during transit: SAML does not directly handle the hashing and encryption of user passwords during transit. It focuses on passing assertions (statements about a user's identity and attributes) between the IdP and SP. Password hashing and encryption are typically handled by other mechanisms within the authentication process.
D) A method for restricting users based on pre-defined security roles and network zones: While SAML can be used to convey information about a user's roles and attributes, which can then be used for authorization decisions (restricting access based on roles), SAML itself is not the method for restricting users based on network zones. Network zoning is a separate security concept.