A Comparative Analysis of OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect for Identity Federation in Cloud Environments
Cloud Computing Engineer, United State.
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2019, 01(02), 054–060
Publication history:
Received on 29 January 2019; revised on 24 March 2019; accepted on 27 March 2019
Abstract:
In cloud computing, secure and efficient identity federation is crucial to providing users with seamless access across distributed resources. As cloud ecosystems grow, so does the demand for protocols that can manage identity verification and access authorization in a scalable and secure manner. OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect are two of the most prominent protocols enabling identity federation, though they address distinct aspects of identity management. OAuth 2.0 primarily facilitates secure delegation of access permissions without sharing user credentials, making it a reliable choice for resource access in distributed systems. Conversely, OpenID Connect builds on OAuth 2.0 by introducing an authentication layer that verifies user identities, thus enhancing security for applications where user verification is required.
This paper provides a comparative analysis of OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect, focusing on their architectural designs, security features, and performance in cloud-based applications. Using metrics derived from real-world cloud scenarios, this study examines each protocol’s scalability, vulnerability to security threats, and efficiency in high-demand environments. The results indicate that OAuth 2.0’s architecture supports higher scalability and lower latency, suitable for environments prioritizing efficiency. OpenID Connect, while introducing some computational overhead, provides added layers of identity security, which is critical in applications requiring strong user authentication. This analysis offers a framework for selecting the appropriate protocol based on specific cloud environment needs, whether prioritizing performance, scalability, or identity verification.
Keywords:
Identity Federation; OAuth 2.0; OpenID Connect; Cloud Security; Authentication Protocols; Authorization Framework; Access Control; Scalability; Data Security; Federated Identity Management; User Authentication; Cloud Identity Management; Token-based Security
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Copyright information:
Copyright © 2019 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0