The process of matching user attributes from an identity provider to a service provider during Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication.
Description
Attribute Mapping plays a crucial role in the Single Sign-On (SSO) protocol by ensuring that user identity information is correctly transferred between systems. When a user authenticates via an identity provider (IdP) like Google or Microsoft, their attributes—such as email, name, and role—need to be communicated to the service provider (SP) that they are attempting to access. Attribute Mapping helps define how these user attributes from the IdP correspond to the expected attributes by the SP. For example, if the IdP sends an attribute labeled 'user_email' but the SP expects it under the name 'emailAddress', Attribute Mapping allows this discrepancy to be resolved. Proper mapping is essential for user management, access control, and enhancing security by ensuring that the correct user information is utilized for authentication and authorization purposes.
Examples
- In a corporate environment, when an employee logs in via Okta (IdP), their attributes like 'jobTitle' and 'department' are mapped to corresponding fields in Salesforce (SP).
- When using SSO with LinkedIn for a job application portal, the attributes from LinkedIn, such as 'fullName' and 'profilePicture', are mapped to the fields required by the application.
Additional Information
- Attribute Mapping can enhance security by ensuring that only the necessary user information is shared between systems.
- Many SSO solutions, like Auth0 and Azure AD, provide user-friendly interfaces for administrators to configure and manage attribute mappings easily.