SSO Authentication in Serverless

February 15, 2023February 15, 2023 Gilad David Mayaan authentication, cloud native, IAM, identity, serverless

Serverless refers to a cloud-native application development model in which developers build and run cloud-native applications based on microservices and running on platforms like Kubernetes. These serverless applications are software systems that run without requiring the user to manage any underlying servers or infrastructure. Instead, they rely on cloud providers to execute code on demand in response to events, such as a user request. It enables developers to focus on writing code rather than managing and scaling infrastructure. It can also result in cost savings as the provider only charges for actual usage.

Single sign-on (SSO) refers to an authentication method that enables users to access multiple applications with the same set of credentials (username, password, etc.), eliminating the need to log into each application separately.

SSO enhances security, simplifies the login process, and improves the user experience by minimizing the number of passwords they need to remember. It can be implemented using various protocols, such as SAML, OAuth and OpenID Connect, and can work with on-premises and cloud-based applications.

In this article, I’ll explain how to add SSO to your serverless applications to make them more convenient for end users and more secure.

The Benefits of SSO Authentication in Serverless Applications

Using SSO for serverless applications has the following benefits:

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Improved user experience: SSO provides a seamless user experience by allowing users to access many different functions or resources with a single credential set.
Increased security: SSO reduces the risk of password-related security threats, such as reuse and phishing attacks, by relying on a centralized authentication service.
Simplified user management: SSO simplifies user management by reducing the number of places where user credentials need to be stored and managed.
Reduced development effort: By relying on a centralized SSO provider, developers can reduce the amount of code and infrastructure required to manage user authentication within their serverless applications.
Reduced complexity: By relying on a centralized SSO provider, serverless applications can reduce the amount of code and infrastructure required to manage user authentication, making it easier to debug and troubleshoot issues with user authentication.
Improved compliance: SSO can help organizations meet regulatory compliance requirements, such as data privacy regulations, by providing auditable logs of user access and activity.
Scalability: SSO provides a scalable solution for managing user authentication in a serverless environment, as the authentication service can handle high volumes of user authentication requests.

4 Options for Serverless SSO Authentication

AWS IAM Identity Center

AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) Identity Center is a cloud-based identity management solution provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It provides a centralized way for organizations to manage and secure access to AWS resources, including serverless applications, with SSO.

AWS IAM Identity Center integrates with other AWS services, such as Amazon Cognito and Amazon API Gateway, to provide a seamless SSO experience for users. By leveraging IAM Identity Center, organizations can improve security, simplify user management, and reduce the administrative overhead of managing access to AWS resources, including serverless applications.

Azure Active Directory Seamless Single Sign-On

Azure Active Directory Seamless Single Sign-On (SSO) is a feature of Microsoft Azure Active Directory that provides SSO for cloud and on-premise applications. It enables users to access cloud-based applications, including serverless applications, using the same credentials they use for on-premise applications, such as their Windows credentials.

It integrates with other Azure services, such as Azure AD B2C, Azure AD Domain Services, and Azure AD Identity Protection, to provide a comprehensive IAM (identity and access management) solution.

Google Cloud Identity

Cloud Identity is a cloud-based identity management solution provided by Google. It enables organizations to manage user identities and access to cloud-based applications, including serverless applications, with SSO. It integrates with Google Workspace, a suite of productivity tools, to provide a seamless SSO experience for users.

By leveraging Cloud Identity, organizations can improve security, simplify user management, and reduce the administrative overhead of managing access to serverless applications. This can help organizations to increase productivity and reduce costs associated with managing multiple sets of user credentials for different applications.

Okta SSO

Okta SSO is a cloud-based IAM solution provided by Okta, Inc. It is designed to provide secure and seamless access to various applications, both on-premises and in the cloud. Okta SSO provides centralized management of user identities and authentication, making it easier for organizations to manage user access to the applications they use.

With Okta SSO, users can log in to all of their applications with a single set of credentials, eliminating the need to remember multiple usernames and passwords. Okta SSO integrates with a variety of applications, both cloud-based and on-premises, and supports a range of protocols and standards, including SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect.

SSO Implementation Guidelines in Serverless

Here are some guidelines for implementing Single Sign-On (SSO) in serverless applications:

Choose the right SSO provider: Choose a SSO provider that fits your organization’s requirements (i.e., AWS IAM, Azure Active Directory, Google Cloud Identity, or Okta). Consider factors such as ease of integration, security features, and scalability when making your choice.
Define your SSO strategy: Determine which applications and services will be included in the SSO solution, and define the user authentication and authorization flows.
Use open standards: Use open standards such as OAuth 2.0 and SAML 2.0 to implement SSO, as they are widely adopted and well-supported.
Secure your SSO infrastructure: Ensure that the SSO provider and its related infrastructure are secure and follow security best practices. This includes securing the communication channels between the SSO provider and the serverless applications.
Implement proper error handling: Ensure that appropriate error messages are displayed when SSO fails, and that the user is redirected to the appropriate place.
Test thoroughly: Test the SSO implementation thoroughly, including edge cases and failure scenarios, to ensure it is working as expected.
Monitor and troubleshoot: Set up monitoring and logging for the SSO solution to detect and troubleshoot any issues in a timely manner.

Conclusion

In conclusion, SSO authentication is an essential component of secure access to serverless applications. SSO provides a centralized way for organizations to manage user identities and access to cloud-based applications, including serverless applications. By leveraging SSO, organizations can improve security, simplify user management, and reduce administrative overhead, leading to increased productivity and reduced costs.

Several cloud providers, including AWS IAM Identity Center, Microsoft Azure AD Seamless SSO, and Google Cloud Identity, offer SSO solutions for serverless applications. Organizations can choose the solution that best fits their specific needs, based on their existing infrastructure, security requirements, and budget. Regardless of the solution, SSO is a valuable tool for managing access to serverless applications, providing a secure and seamless experience for users.

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