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The A to Z of security
Got the Love Bug? Scared of spyware? Read all about what's keeping techies awake at night...

By Natasha Lomas

Published: Tuesday 14 November 2006

Federated identity

Federated identity is all about trust.

It refers to the process of using a single ID to authenticate a user across multiple systems - be they IT systems on a network, a group of websites or even different organisations.

Security from A to Z

Click on the links below to find out more...

A is for Antivirus
B is for Botnets
C is for CMA
D is for DDoS
E is for Extradition
F is for Federated identity
G is for Google
H is for Hackers
I is for IM
J is for Jaschan (Sven)
K is for Kids
L is for Love Bug
M is for Microsoft
N is for Neologisms
O is for Orange
P is for Passwords
Q is for Questions
R is for Rootkits
S is for Spyware
T is for Two-factor authentication
U is for USB sticks/devices
V is for Virus variants
W is for Wi-fi
X is for OS X
Y is for You
Z is for Zero-day

In order for this linking up of services to be possible, a group of service providers must get together and agree to accept a single authenticating ID for a user.

The main advantage of a federated identity is convenience - since users of services that have agreed to link up in this way don't have to manage a raft of ID credentials in order to access each resource. Federated identity also facilitates a more personalised service for users, without the security risk of storing a large amount of a user's personal data in one place - a bit like a jigsaw puzzle making up a picture by the joining of each small piece.

But - as with any issue of trust - not everyone buys into the logic of federating identity in this way, as standardisation inherently introduces an element of insecurity.

Click here to read silicon.com's federated identity Cheat Sheet.