
***Authentication and Authorization*** are often used interchangeably but they are distinct security processes in [identity and access management (IAM)](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/).

**Authentication** is the process of verifying your identity by confirming your credentials, such as your username/user ID and password. The system then uses your credentials to verify that you are who you claim you are.

**Authorization** is the process of determining whether an authenticated user has access to specific resources. After the system has properly confirmed your identity, you will be granted complete access to resources such as information, files, databases, finances, and so on.

The key difference between authentication and authorization is that the user or service identity is confirmed through authentication, and their access privileges are established through authorization.

 

### What is Authentication? {#what-is-authentication}
[Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/authentication-services) is a process that identifies the identity of an oncoming user. This is the root step of all Identity Management. Identification of identity is simple – a set of credentials are accepted by a user and he/she is authenticated if those credentials are correct.

Sometimes, there can be another layer to this authentication, and the user might need to pass through a more complex but secure authentication process than just simple credentials passing. A user’s identity is verified by many different factors through this process before the system grants them access to anything. This may include a time-bound OTP, a set of questions, a hardware token, biometrics, etc.

 

### What is the Purpose of Authentication? {#what-is-the-purpose-of-authentication}
The main purpose of authentication is to verify and validate the identity of an individual or entity trying to access a system, application, or resource. It ensures that the user is who they claim to be and grants them appropriate access privileges based on their authenticated identity. This ensures that unauthorized personnel or impostors cannot illegally get access to critical resources. 

Authentication serves as a fundamental security measure to protect sensitive information, prevent unauthorized access, and maintain the integrity and confidentiality of data. It plays a crucial role in establishing trust, mitigating security risks, and safeguarding user accounts and resources from unauthorized use or malicious activities. Authentication is a very pivotal part of Identity and Access Management for modern organizations.

 

### What are the Popular Authentication Methods? {#what-are-the-popular-authentication-methods}
Over the years, a wide range of [authentication methods](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/different-types-of-authentication-methods-for-security/) have been developed. Now, we’ll go through the most popular forms of authentication and demonstrate how each method works in modern systems.

![Types of Authentication Methods](/blog/assets/2023/different-types-of-authentication.webp)

#### **Biometric:**  
[Biometric](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-biometric-authentication/) authentication is a method of verifying a person’s identity using their unique biological traits. It assists you in verifying individuals and ensuring that they are who they say they are. The biometric data of the users is collected and stored in a database, which is later compared to ensure that the user is authenticated. Different types of biometric authentication include fingerprint scanners, eye scanners, voice recognition, face identifier, etc.  

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#### **Password-based:**  
The most frequent way of authentication is passwords. A string of letters, numbers, or special characters can be used as a password. You must develop strong passwords that incorporate a mix of all possible solutions in order to secure your identity.  

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#### **Single Sign-On Authentication:**  
This method of authentication enables users to access different applications, resources, and systems using a single set of credentials. [Single Sign-On](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso) streamlines the authentication process, which provides a seamless user authentication experience. It improves productivity and security at the same time.  

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#### **Multi-factor:**  
[Multi-Factor Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) is the most advanced mechanism, requiring two or more levels of protection from multiple authentication categories to enable user access to the system. To prevent security breaches, this includes elements that are independent of one another.  

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#### **Passwordless Authentication:**  
In passwordless authentication users do not need passwords to authenticate, instead, other methods like OTP, Email Verification, Biometrics, etc., are used for authenticating the user identity. This method eliminates password management hassles and password-theft risks.  

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#### **API:**  
The process of confirming a user’s identity while requesting to access server-side services is known as [API authentication](https://developers.miniorange.com/docs/rest-api-authentication/wordpress/api-key-authentication). Basic HTTP, core API, and 0Auth are only a few of the most used APIs.  

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#### **Certificate-based:**  
Digital certificates are used in certificate-based authentication solutions to identify individuals, computers, and devices. A digital certificate is a type of electronic document similar to a driver’s license or passport. Only a certification authority may issue digital certificates to show ownership of a public key.


### What is Authorization? {#what-is-authorization}
Authorization is the process that determines what level of access a user will get to critical resources of the organization. Authorization deals with the role of an individual within an organization or a group. Considering an example, the employee who belongs to the Accounts and Finance team will be authorized to only Account-related tools and applications, and not the Sales and Business-related tools. 

Authorization of a user is very important, as most web resources today are to be selectively shared among user bases, and most online business models also run this way. That is the reason why it is one of the most crucial steps when talking about access management.

 

### What are the Popular Types of Authorization?  {#what-are-the-popular-types-of-authorization}
Below are some of the techniques used for the authorization process. Each of these techniques works differently and is important in its own way to secure data.  

**API Keys:**  
The API key is a long string that is usually provided in the URL or header of the request. The API key is mostly used to identify the individual initiating the API request (authenticating you to use the API). Most APIs require you to sign up for an API key before you can use them.  

**Open ID:**  
The Open ID layer is an authorization authentication layer built on top of the 0auth2.0 framework. It enables clients to validate the end user’s identification using the authorization server and to acquire basic profile information about the end user in an interoperable and REST-like manner.  

**SAML:**  
[SAML](https://www.miniorange.com/what-is-saml) is an XML-based authentication and authorization mechanism that connects two entities: the SP and the IDP. Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) is a standard SSO in which verified data is transferred via digitally signed XML documents.  

**HMAC:**
Hash-based Message Authentication Code is a digital signature technique that makes use of message digest algorithms like MD5 and SHA-1 to produce a reliable data integrity protocol.  

**HTTP:**  
Authentication and authorization both employ this mechanism. To establish their identity, a user typically submits a username and password. This technique excludes cookies, session IDs, and login pages since the [HTTP header](https://www.miniorange.com/reverse-proxy/header-based-authentication) is used.  

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#### **While considering Authentication and Authorization, Authorization can only be granted after Authentication.**  


![Authentication & Authorization Process : Flow Diagram](/blog/assets/2023/authentication-authorization.webp)
 

### Authentication VS Authorization {authentication-vs-authorization}

| Authentication | Authorization |
| -------------- | ------------- |
| Authentication is the process of verifying who a user is through Login or Passwords. | Authorization gives those users permission to access a resource. |
| It works through passwords, biometrics, and other information provided or entered by the user. | Authorization works through settings that are implemented and maintained by the organization. |
| It is visible & partially changeable by the user. | Authorization isn’t visible & changeable by the user. |
| Data is transferred through ID Tokens (JWT Token). | Data transmits through Access Tokens. |
| Authentication is usually done before Authorization. | Authorization can only be granted after Authentication. |
| e.g. When a college student walks into their campus, they have to showcase their identity card at the gate to get authenticated as a student of the institution. | e.g. Once the student is authenticated they walk towards their pre-allocated building, towards their floor, and their classroom. This is where Authorization is in play, the student does not have access to the professor’s cabin or the principal’s office. |
 

### Authentication and Authorization in Cloud Computing {#authentication-and-authorization-in-cloud-computing}

Authentication and authorization are essential components required for securing cloud computing environments. They help ensure that only authorized individuals or entities can access resources and perform actions within the cloud infrastructure.  

Different Authentication methods discussed in this article can be implemented to verify the identity of a user or entity requesting access to a system or resource within the cloud. Different authentication mechanisms are used to establish trust between the user and the cloud service provider (CSP).  

In cloud computing, Authorization or [access control](https://www.miniorange.com/reverse-proxy/access-control) is used for granting or denying permissions to authenticated users based on their roles, responsibilities, or other attributes within the cloud environment. Authorization mechanisms help enforce the principle of least privilege, ensuring that users only have access to the resources they need. 


### How miniOrange can help you Implement Authentication & Authorization in your Organization? {#how-miniorange-can-help-you-implement-authentication-and-authorization-in-your-organization}

Being in a high-paced cyber world, it’s an important need for enterprises to adopt Authentication and Authorization mechanisms to fortify their security posture. To successfully implement these robust security measures in your organization, you need a customized [Identity and Access Management (IAM)](https://www.miniorange.com/what-is-iam-identity-and-access-management) solution from a trusted IAM vendor.  

miniOrange provides a wide array of solutions that efficiently and securely enable Identity and Access Management for your organization in On-Premise, Cloud, and Hybrid environments. But before choosing any cloud Security Service provider for implementing Authentication and Authorization mechanisms, you should confirm they confidentially handle your information, with the simplest technical support at a budgeted price. The miniOrange IAM solution is highly customizable, scalable, and fits your organization’s unique needs.  You can leverage the [miniOrange Free Trial](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/free-trial) to try out our IAM solution & test all the features to make better and more well-informed decisions.

 

### FAQ {#faq}
**Which comes First, Authentication or Authorization?**  
In the Identity and Access Management process, authentication typically comes before authorization. Authentication is the process of verifying digital identities. Once authenticated, the next step is authorization. Authorization determines what actions and resources a user is allowed to access.

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#### **Further Reading:**
- [miniOrange Authentication Services](https://www.miniorange.com/authentication-services)
- [Two-Factor Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/2fa-security/)
- [What is Authentication?](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/different-types-of-authentication-methods-for-security/)
- [What is OAuth (Open Authorization)?](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-oauth-2/)
- [What is Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS)?](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-identity-as-a-service-idaas/)

The key difference between authentication and authorization is that the identity of user & service is confirmed through authentication, and their access privileges are established through authorization.

What is the difference between Authentication and Authorization?


When the word “technology” is used, the phrase “authentication and security” immediately comes to mind. Authentication becomes the first baby step in improving security, given the growing requirement for it. The basic job of authentication is to manage user identification and provide them with suitable access control for seamless operation and security. Individual authentication does not have to be restricted to usernames and passwords. [Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/single-sign-on-sso), [Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa/), [Provisioning](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-provisioning/), [Adaptive Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa), and other Identity and Access Management (IAM) tools augment the capabilities of standard authentication.

 

### What Is Authentication? {#what-is-authentication}
Authentication is the process of identifying users that request access to a system, network, server, app, website, or device. The primary goal of [authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/authentication) is to ensure that a user is who they claim to be. User A, for example, has access to only relevant information and is unable to see User B’s personal information. Unauthorized users are prevented from accessing sensitive data with user authentication. Authentication improves security by allowing any Organizational admin to manage an individual user’s identity and access. The basic authentication used for identity and access control verification is username and password, with **different types of authentication** techniques that we shall cover moving forward.

 

### Why Is User Authentication Important? {#why-is-user-authentication-important?}
There is no organization, system, network, website, or server in today’s modern world that does not require some form of authentication. If they are not, they are putting themselves at risk of attacks that could result in the misappropriation of their resources and sensitive data at the very least. A single blunder may expose your organization’s data to cybercriminals, as they are always prepared with a variety of cyber weaponry, such as (Phishing, Data breaches, spoofing, etc). When your authentication system isn’t up to par, they can quickly get access and steal information. A few of the most recent major attacks will lead you to the conclusion that, whether you are a little business or a large corporation, authentication using the finest security techniques is a must to stay stable in this technological environment.

 

### Different types of Authentication {#different-types-of-authentication}
When it comes to authentication and security, there is a vast ocean of different authentication options to choose from. Before adopting or choosing any of the authentication methods for your Organization’s employees or end-users, you should be aware of a few key factors that will help you choose the most appropriate authentication technique for you:  
1. Security capability of that Authentication Method
2. Usability interface
Let’s take a closer look at the many sorts of authentication techniques available:
 
**1. Password Based Login:**  
The most commonly utilized regular login authentication system that you will employ on a daily basis while utilizing an online service is password-based login. You need to input a combination of your username/mobile number and a password when using the Password-Based Authentication technique. The individual is authorized only when both of these elements have been verified. However, because today’s customers use multiple online services (apps and websites), it’s tough to keep track of all of their usernames and passwords. As a result of this, end-users engage in unethical behaviors such as forgetting passwords, using the same password for several services, and so on. Cybercriminals enter at this point and begin actions such as phishing, data breaches, and so on. That is the fundamental reason why standard password-based authentication is losing favor and more organizations are turning to advanced additional security authentication factors.  

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**2. Multi-Factor Authentication:**

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is an authentication method in which an individual must pass multiple factors in order to gain access to a service or network. It’s an extra layer of security on top of the standard password-based login. Individuals must also submit a second factor in the form of a one-time code that they will receive through phone or email in addition to their Username and Password.

You may quickly configure several Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) methods to give an extra layer of security to your resources. OTP/TOTP via SMS, OTP/TOTP over Email, Push notification, Hardware Token, and Mobile Authenticator are all examples of MFA methods (Google, Microsoft, Authy, etc). You can choose any of the MFA techniques and implement them for organizational security based on your needs and requirements. After traditional password-based login, Multi-Factor Authentication is the most trusted authentication mechanism. For improved security, password-based traditional authentication and Multi-Factor Authentication methods are usually used simultaneously.  

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**3. Biometric Authentication:**

Individual physical attributes such as fingerprints, palms, retinas, voice, face, and voice recognition are used in biometric authentication. Biometric authentication works in the following way: first, the physical characteristics of individuals are saved in a database. Individuals’ physical features are checked against the data contained in the database whenever a user wants to access any device or physically enter any premises (Organization, School, Colleges, Workplace). Biometric authentication technology is mostly employed by private organizations, airports, and border crossing points where security is a top priority. Because of its capacity to create a high level of security and a user-friendly frictionless flow, biometrics is one of the most often used security technologies. Among the most common biometric authentication methods are:

**1. Fingerprint:** To enable access, fingerprint authentication matches the unique pattern of an individual’s print. In some advanced Fingerprint authentication systems, the vascular structure of the finger is also sensed. Because it is one of the most user-friendly and accurate biometric systems, fingerprint authentication is currently the most common biometric technology for ordinary customers. Biometrics’ popularity can be due to the fact that you use your mobile phones with fingerprints on a regular basis, as well as companies or institutions that use Fingerprint authentication.

**2. Retina & Iris:** Scanners shine a strong light into the eye and look for distinctive patterns in the colorful ring around the pupil of the eye in this biometric. After that, the scanned pattern is compared to data recorded in a database. When a person wears spectacles or contact lenses, eye-based authentication can be inaccurate.

**3. Facial:** In facial authentication, multiple aspects of an individual’s face are scanned while they try to get access to a certain resource. When comparing faces from different angles or persons that look similar, such as family members, face recognition results can be inconsistent.

**4. Voice Recognition:** Your voice tone is stored with a standardized secret code in the same way that the above-mentioned approach does. A check occurs because you must speak off each time you want access.  

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**4. Certificate-based authentication:**

Certificate-based authentication identifies people, servers, workstations, and devices by using an electronic digital identity. In our daily lives, a digital certificate functions similarly to a driver’s license or a passport. A certificate is made up of a user’s digital identity, which contains a public key and a certification authority’s digital signature. This certificate verifies that the public key and the person who issued the certificate are both the same person. When a user attempts to log in to a server, they must first present their digital certificate. The server checks the digital certificate’s identity and credibility by confirming that the user has a correctly associated private key with the certificate using cryptography.  

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**5. Token-Based Authentication:**

Token-Based Authentication allows users to enter their credentials only once and obtain a one-of-a-kind encrypted string exchange in return. After that, you won’t have to input your credentials every time you want to log in or acquire access. The digital token ensures that you have already been granted access. Most use cases, such as Restful APIs that are accessed by many frameworks and clients, require token-based authentication.  


### How will miniOrange advance Authentication technologies will help you out? {#how-will-miniorange-advance-authentication-technologies-will-help-you-out}
As we get to know more about different types of Authentication, we will move forward with some advanced Authentication Solutions that miniOrange provides with “All in one Approach”. It will help you to Manage Identities and access both with advanced security features.


**Single Sign-On Authentication (SSO):**  
Single Sign-On is a subset of basic username-password-based Authentication. Going with SSO authentication will provide advanced security and multiple features with frictionless experience to your end-users. Single Sign-On as the name depicts allows individuals to enter their username and password once and get access to all configured applications. Simply stating you will have the provision to configure “N no apps” with miniOrange and you can set a single password for all these apps. With this, you don’t need to remember multiple passwords for different applications and you just need to login once and you will automatically get access to all applications. The benefit for this will include – As users need to remember just a single password they will not forget it or write it on any sticky notes type of stuff. Access to multiple applications will become easier which will improve efficiency and boost productivity. From the admin end, they will receive fewer support calls for password resets and login issues.

**2nd Factor Authentication (Two-Factor Authentication):**  
As the name implies, “two-factor authentication” requires an individual to pass two separate authentication procedures in order to gain access to a certain resource.Consider the following scenario: you have a website/app/group of applications and you want to add more protection to it to prevent current cyber assaults such as data breaches, phishing, or the use of key loggers. With miniOrange, you can configure any app/website built on any platform and enable 2FA for that application. One Time Passwords (OTP through SMS/ Email), Push Notifications, Biometrics, Authenticators (Google Microsoft,Authy), Yubikey and Hardware Token, and more 2FA options are available from miniOrange.According to one of the most recent security surveys, 2FA can prevent 80% of data breaches.

**Adaptive Authentication:**  
Adaptive Authentication is a type of authentication that adapts to the circumstances.” Adaptive Authentication,” a more advanced kind of 2FA/MFA authentication, is introduced. You can authenticate users depending on their “IP, Device, Location, Device, and Time of Access” in this section. If IP and Location-based authentication are enabled, after entering the username and password, Adaptive Authentication will check if the user’s IP is the same as the one used by the administrator and whether he is in the location to which he has been assigned. If he does not comply, he will be denied access to the resources. This is one of the most advanced authentication methods used by businesses to ensure their security.

**API Authentication:**  
Now-a-days, API has become a popular model because it handles large volumes of data and is a new dimension to the online security world. There are many API authentication methods, the most popular of them are HTTP Basic Auth, API keys, OAuth.

**HTTP Basic Authentication:**  
To prove their authenticity, a user agent just offers a username and password.  Because it believes in the HTTP header itself, this solution does not require cookies, session IDs, or login pages.

**API Passwords:**  
An API key is a unique identifier for web service requests that identifies their source (or similar types of requests).When a user attempts to get allowed access to a system for the first time through registration, a key is produced.Following that, the API key is paired with a secret token and is submitted with subsequent queries.When a user tries to re-enter the system, their unique key is used to verify that they are the same person who used the system previously.

**OAuth:**  
OAuth is a popular API authentication technique that allows for both authentication and authorization.OAuth allows the API to authenticate and access the system or resource requested by establishing scope.

 
### Conclusion {#conclusion}
In today’s fast-paced technology environment, security is the most crucial component in standing out from your competitors and providing a flawless experience to end consumers.  

Putting your security at risk can have a number of negative effects on your company, such as phishing attacks and data breaches. To avoid problems like these, you should choose an authentication system for your company that fits your budget and allows for a smooth user flow.  

As an experienced IAM solution supplier, miniOrange can assist you in determining the most reliable authentication option for your organizational structure. If you have any questions about the authentication procedure, you can contact [info@xecurify.com](mailto:info@xecurify.com).

Learn about Authentication, Different types of Authentication methods and how to implement them in your company to ensure your users always have proper access considering cybersecurity.

What is Authentication? Different Types of Authentication


### What is JWT (JSON Web Token)? {#what-is-jwt-json-web-token}
JWT, or JSON Web Token, is an open standard used to share information between two parties securely — a client and a server. In most cases, it’s an encoded JSON containing a set of claims and a signature. It’s usually used in the context of other authentication mechanisms like OAuth, OpenID to share user-related information. It’s also a popular way to authenticate/authorize users in a microservice architecture.  

JWT authentication is a token-based stateless authentication mechanism. It is popularly used as a client-side-based stateless session, this means the server doesn’t have to completely rely on a data store (or) database to save session information.  

JWTs can be encrypted, but they are typically encoded & signed.  We will be focusing on Signed JWTs. The purpose of Signed JWT is not to hide the data but to ensure the authenticity of the data. And that is why it’s highly recommended to use HTTPS with Signed JWTs.

### Structure of JWT {#structure-of-jwt}
JWT structure is divided into three parts: header, payload, signature & is separated from each other by dot (.), and will follow the below structure:

 

![JSON Web Token(JWT) Structure](/blog/assets/2023/jwt-structure.webp)

 

- Header  
The header consists of two parts:  
1. The signing algorithm being used
2. The type of token, which is in this case mostly “JWT”  
- Payload
The payload usually contains the claims (user attributes) and additional data like issuer, expiration time, and audience.  
- Signature  
This is typically a hash of the header and payload sections of the JWT. The algorithm which is used to create the signature is the same algorithm mentioned in the header section of the JWT. Signature is used to validate that the JWT token wasn’t modified or changed during transit. It can also be used to validate the sender.  

The header and Payload section of the JWT is always Base64 encoded.


### How does JWT Authentication work? When to use JWT Authentication? {#how-does-jwt-authentication-work-when-to-use-jwt-authentication}

When it comes to API authentication and server-to-server authorization, JSON web token (JWT) is particularly a useful technology. In terms of Single Sign-On (SSO), it means that a service provider can receive trustworthy information from the authentication server. 

By sharing a secret key with the Identity Provider, the Service Provider can hash a part of a token it receives and compare it to the signature of the token. Now, if that result matches the signature, the SP knows that the information provided has come from the other entity possessing the key.

The following workflow explains the authentication flow:

![JSON Web Token(JWT) Authentication Workflow](/blog/assets/2023/jwt-workflow.webp)


1. User sign-in using username and password.
2. The authentication server verifies the credentials and issues a JWT signed using a private key.
3. Moving forward, the client will use the JWT to access protected resources by passing the JWT in the HTTP Authorization header.
4. The resource server then verifies the authenticity of the token using the public key.  

The Identity Provider generates a JWT certifying user identity, and the resource server decodes and verifies the authenticity of the token using the public key.

Since the tokens are used for authorization and authentication in future requests and API calls great care must be taken to prevent security issues. These tokens shouldn’t be stored in publicly accessible areas like the browser’s local storage or cookies. In case there are no other choices, then the payload should be encrypted.

### How JWT Single Sign-On (SSO) works for multiple web apps {#how-jwt-single-sign-on-sso-works-for-multiple-web-apps}
Single Sign-On (SSO) allows you to authenticate users in your systems and subsequently informs applications that the user has been authenticated. On successful authentication, a JWT token is generated and returned, which can be consumed by the app to create a user session. The token is automatically verified with the IDP when they sign in. The user is then allowed to access the apps without being prompted to enter separate sign-in credentials.  

This security mechanism allows applications to trust the sign-in requests it gets from the systems. Furthermore, these apps will only grant access to the users who have been authenticated by you/admin & hence Single Sign-On (SSO) relies on JSON Web Token (JWT) for securing the exchange of user authentication data. Great care must be taken in terms of how this token is stored and managed.

### miniOrange JWT Authentication for Apps that don’t Support Standard SSO Protocols {#miniorange-jwt-authentication-for-apps-that-dont-support-standard-sso-protocols}

**Usecase: Create a custom SSO between 2 existing and independent websites with their own user database**

With [miniOrange](https://www.miniorange.com/?utm_source=miniorange+Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=JWT+blog&utm_id=JWT+Blog-sso), you will be able to authenticate from existing User Stores and Identity Providers using protocols like SAML, OAuth OpenID, and SSO into websites that only support JWT Tokens. Yes, you heard it right. miniOrange provides Single Sign-On (SSO) for [JSON Web Token (JWT) apps](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/). This solution allows you to set up [Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso?utm_source=miniorange+Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=JWT+blog&utm_id=JWT+Blog-sso) into your applications (say existing or independent), which does not support SSO Standard Protocols (like SAML 2.0, etc).  

This is done using JSON Web Token (JWT) tokens, and it can be easily integrated with your application built in any framework or language. This allows you to enable SSO for any mobile app, client-side apps, static sites which don’t support any SSO standard protocols and are built on platforms like React.js, Firebase, Cordova, Angular.js, etc. 

![miniOrange integration flow with jwt token](/blog/assets/2023/mo-integration-flow-with-jwt.webp)

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#### **miniOrange makes it easy to enable SSO for your application with a simple 3-step process. All you need to do is:**

1. Embed a simple script on your site/app
2. Configure your Identity Provider/user store in miniOrange (optional)
3. Add a JWT App  

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That’s it!! You can choose to either manage users in miniOrange or choose an external Identity Provider/user store. You can even enable MFA on top of SSO with just a configuration change, no other script changes or coding required. 

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#### **Checkout miniOrange’s JWT SSO solution for Most Trending Apps:**

- [Thinkific SSO](https://www.miniorange.com/thinkific-jwt-single-signon(sso)-solution?utm_source=miniorange+Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=JWT+blog&utm_id=JWT+Blog-sso)
- [Webflow SSO](https://www.miniorange.com/webflow-single-sign-on-sso?utm_source=miniorange+Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=JWT+blog&utm_id=JWT+Blog-sso)
- [Squarespace SSO](https://www.miniorange.com/squarespace-single-sign-on-sso?utm_source=miniorange+Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=JWT+blog&utm_id=JWT+Blog-sso)
- [BigCommerce SSO](https://www.miniorange.com/bigcommerce-single-sign-on-sso?utm_source=miniorange+Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=JWT+blog&utm_id=JWT+Blog-sso)  

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#### **Additional Helpful Links:**

- [Setup SSO authentication using JWT (JSON Web Token) | SSO for JWT apps | JWT Authentication| JWT SSO](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lSsEQm_J6E)
- [Setup SSO for any JWT Application](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/content-library/admin-docs/how-to-add-jwt-app)
- [Popular apps that use JWT for SSO](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/)

What is JWT (JSON Web Token)? JWT, or JSON Web Token, is an open standard used to share information between two parties securely — a client and a server.

What is the difference between Authentication and Authorization?

What is Authentication? Different Types of Authentication

What is JWT (JSON Web Token)? How does JWT Authentication work?