Cloud computing is changing how companies run their compute, storage, and networking infrastructure. Due to this ever-changing landscape, user identity and authentication are becoming more crucial to safeguarding the infrastructure. Yet, as cloud-based platforms take over almost every aspect of data and application activity, what makes them secure is increasingly ill-defined and arguably more critical than ever. Making the user identity a secure, unbreachable part of the cloud-based platform’s function is of paramount importance. So how are identity and authentication systems changing?
In the nascent era of cloud computing, it was the norm to use simple password-based authentication. Still, as the cloud expanded and security threats became more advanced, basing everything on passwords soon grew inadequate. A Verizon report (2021) noted that more than 80% of data breaches had their roots in weak or compromised passwords—the inescapable reality that prompted many experts to look for better ways to manage user identities.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is one of the most widely adopted and effective improvements in cloud security available today, and for good reason: it is very hard to compromise. When an organization enables MFA for its cloud accounts, it requires that anyone trying to sign in must prove their identity using at least two of the “three factors” that make up the standard for MFA:
1. User knowledge such as PIN, passcode, etc
2. User specific hardware or software tokens like google authenticator, YubiKey
3. User’s own identifiers, like biometrics. This could be anything from finger print, eye scan and face scan.
Cloud environments require users and service teams to frequently access a variety of different services and applications. Single Sign-On (SSO) is a popular solution in these cloud environments. With SSO, users authenticate once and gain access to multiple services without having to re-enter their credentials. This “one-click” accessibility obviously makes for a smoother user experience, but it also has security benefits. Show less. “With SSO, you have only one username and password to manage, and you also have only one credential that potentially could become compromised.” Okta’s 2020 Business at Work report shows that SSO adoption is rising steadily. Companies are using SSO with not just one or two cloud applications but with many, many applications. The average company has over 80 different cloud applications.
Another rising trend in cloud service technology is Identity as a Service, or IDaaS. There are so many providers, such as Okta, Ping Identity, and Microsoft’s Azure Active Directory, who offer cloud based identity management solution. The solution provides secure access and authorization to various critical infrastructure applications and data. The access problem can be understood in a couple of ways.
First, it is essential for IDs, or identities, to be managed in a secure manner so that only the right users can gain access to only the right apps and data. If that doesn’t happen, the outcome can be disastrous, as has been illustrated by several high-profile hacking stories.
The Rise of Zero Trust Architecture
There is a big shift in identity management and the adoption of Zero Trust Architecture. Instead of traditional security models that rely on a trusted network perimeter, Zero Trust assumes that no user, device, or system should be inherently trusted, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the organization’s network. Zero Trust relies on robust identity verification and uses continuous authentication. It also follows the least privilege access to ensure that only the right users can interact with sensitive resources. Every access request is authenticated and authorized based on policies that consider the user’s identity, location, device health, and behavioral patterns.
Challenges in Cloud Identity and Authentication
Since the environment in which organizations operate is becoming more global, so is the migratory usage of various cloud platforms. We will explain some of those difficulties:
Identity Sprawl
As organizations move to cloud computing, it becomes difficult to govern identities as they become spread across different Cloud platforms. One such problem is identity sprawl, which occurs when different applications and services create siloed identity repositories. By doing so, it poses risks to the security policies due to the inability to effectively monitor and control movement of personnel and resources, as well as to ensure proper use of identities.
Shadow IT and Unauthorized Access
Shadow IT where employees access resources from the cloud is yet another barrier. As employees begin to self-provision and use cloud-based facilities outside the controls set by the IT department, it gets even more difficult to enforce security measures and identity management across all these applications. These are services that the company does not manage and hence exposes the organization to risks.
The Future of Identity and Authentication in the Cloud – Decentralized Identity
Today, instead of asking users to use centralized identity providers, blockchain-independent identity, or decentralized identity, as it is called, solves some of the problems.
There is no need for centralized authority to manage users’ identities because decentralized identity makes it possible for users to socially authenticate themselves and manage their credentials without relying on third parties.
Many organizations, including Microsoft, have already embraced and pioneered the use of decentralized identity solutions, especially through initiatives such as the Decentralized Identity Foundation. These systems have the potential to offer more secure and privacy-respecting authentication methods in the future.
Conclusion
As we look ahead, the role of identity in cloud security will only become more critical.
Identity and authentication are going to be a core issue for security with the evolution of cloud computing. From MFA and SSO to Zero Trust and decentralized identity, the ways in which organizations manage access to cloud resources are undergoing significant transformations. New ideas like AI-driven security, and decentralized identity frameworks offer great solutions given the constant threat to identity in SaaS applications.
