What does federation in identity management systems refer to?

Federation in identity management systems refers to the linking of electronic identities across multiple systems. This concept allows users to access resources and services across different organizations or domains using a single set of credentials. Essentially, federation enables different identity providers to collaborate and trust each other, allowing users to authenticate once and gain access to various applications or resources without needing to sign in repeatedly.

This streamlined approach significantly enhances user experience and simplifies identity management, as it reduces the need for multiple usernames and passwords. Many organizations utilize federation to facilitate partnerships, cloud services, and other integrations while maintaining secure access control.

In contrast, a central database for all user identities denotes a more traditional centralized identity management approach and does not capture the essence of federation. Similarly, methods of data encryption and standards for user authentication serve different purposes in cybersecurity and identity management and are not related to the fundamental concept of federating identities.