How does Okta handle federated identity?

Okta handles federated identity by allowing users from one identity provider to access applications without the need to create separate accounts for those applications. This capability is crucial in a federated identity model as it enables users to use their existing credentials from one organization to authenticate with applications that may belong to another organization, thus streamlining access and enhancing user convenience.

When federated identity is implemented, it relies on protocols like SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) or OIDC (OpenID Connect) to seamlessly authenticate users. This means that upon logging in with their familiar credentials from their identity provider, users can be granted access to various applications that are part of the federated identity framework, regardless of whether those applications were originally meant for users from a different domain or organization.

This single sign-on (SSO) approach powered by federated identity not only enhances security by reducing the number of credentials that users need to remember but also improves the user experience by minimizing the friction often associated with accessing multiple applications. Options that involve requiring frequent password resets, disabling accounts of non-federated users, or limiting access only to internal users do not align with the principles of federated identity management, which is designed to facilitate seamless access and enhance user convenience across different service