Category Archives: SSO Protocols & Tools

The Hidden Costs of DIY Identity Management Projects

The Hidden Costs of DIY Identity Management Projects

 

When universities and enterprises look at Single Sign-On (SSO) or identity management projects, the first instinct is often to handle it in-house. That might mean building a system from scratch on-premises, or taking on a cloud solution like Okta or Azure AD without dedicated expertise. 

On the surface, it seems like a way to save money. But in reality, “DIY identity management” — whether in the cloud or on-premises — often costs more in the long run – not just in dollars, but in time, security risk, and lost opportunities. 

Here are the hidden costs of do-it-yourself identity management projects, and why many organizations ultimately turn to experts for help. 

The Hidden Costs of DIY Identity Management Projects

Cost #1: Delays and Lost Productivity

Identity management projects can be deceptively complex. Protocols like SAML and OAuth require specialized knowledge. 

The impact: 

  • Projects take months longer than planned. 
  • IT staff get pulled away from critical work. 
  • Faculty, staff, or employees wait longer for streamlined access. 

 

#2: Security Risks from Misconfiguration

A misconfigured SSO setup, whether on-premises or cloud-based, may work “well enough” on the surface but leave behind serious vulnerabilities. 

The impact: 

  • Data leaks due to incorrect attribute release. 
  • Weak points that can be exploited by attackers. 
  • Compliance violations that put the organization at risk of penalties. 

 

Cost #3: Compliance Failures

Universities and enterprises must comply with strict regulations like FERPA, HIPAA, and GDPR. DIY projects often miss critical logging, reporting, or access control features. 

The impact: 

  • Failed audits. 
  • Regulatory fines. 
  • Loss of trust from partners and users. 

 

Cost #4: Higher Long-Term Expenses

Many organizations underestimate the long-term costs of maintaining a DIY solution. DIY cloud deployments are especially prone to this when organizations underestimate the configuration and governance required. 

The impact: 

  • Ongoing troubleshooting and patching consume IT hours. 
  • Upgrades and integrations require repeated custom work. 
  • The “savings” of doing it in-house disappear quickly. 

 

Cost #5: Missed Opportunities for Federation and Growth

Universities and enterprises increasingly need to join identity federations or integrate with research and cloud partners. DIY setups often don’t scale or meet federation standards. 

The impact: 

  • Barriers to research collaboration. 
  • Inability to join trusted federations like InCommon. 
  • Limited flexibility for adopting new apps and services. 

 

Conclusion 

DIY identity management — whether on-premises or in the cloud — may seem cost-effective at first, but the hidden costs are significant. Delays, security risks, compliance failures, and long-term expenses can quickly outweigh the perceived savings. 

Organizations that succeed with SSO and identity management recognize that it requires deep expertise. By bringing in specialists, you not only reduce risk but also accelerate your timeline and set your systems up for long-term success. 

At IDM Engineering, we’ve helped universities and enterprises implement identity management systems that are secure, compliant, and scalable. 

? Contact us to Book a 4-hour Consultation and get expert support before hidden costs derail your project. 

 

This entry was posted in Blog, Identity Management Basics, Security & Compliance, SSO Protocols & Tools on by .

The Top 5 Mistakes Universities Make with SSO (and How to Avoid Them)

The Top 5 Mistakes Universities Make with SSO (and How to Avoid Them)

 

Universities and research institutions rely on hundreds of digital systems.  From learning management platforms and research databases to HR and student portals. With so many moving parts, Single Sign-On (SSO) is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It’s essential for security, compliance, and a smooth user experience. 

Yet, many universities struggle with SSO projects. Some fail to launch at all, while others create more problems than they solve. In our 20+ years working with higher education IT teams, we’ve seen the same mistakes repeated again and again. 

Here are the top 5 mistakes universities make with SSO, and more importantly, how to avoid them. 

Students accessing campus apps through single login system

Mistake 1: Treating SSO as Just a Convenience Feature

Many stakeholders think of SSO as a way to cut down on password fatigue. While true, that mindset underestimates its importance. 

Why it’s a problem:
SSO is about more than convenience, it’s about securing sensitive data, enabling compliance, and creating a foundation for identity federation. If it’s treated as a “quick win,” it often gets underfunded or underplanned. 

How to avoid it:
Educate leadership that SSO is a strategic security investment, not just an IT perk. Frame it in terms of risk reduction, compliance, and long-term cost savings. 

 

Mistake 2: Choosing the Wrong Protocol

Some universities jump into implementation without fully understanding the differences between SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect. 

Why it’s a problem:
The wrong choice can lead to integration headaches, poor user adoption, or worse, security gaps. For example, OAuth by itself does not handle authentication, but we’ve seen it misused for that purpose. 

How to avoid it:
Evaluate your environment and long-term needs. Many universities use SAML for federation but add OpenID Connect for modern cloud apps. Work with experts who understand both legacy and modern protocols. 

 

Mistake 3: Ignoring Attribute Release Policies

Attribute release (deciding which user data is shared with which applications) is one of the biggest sticking points in university SSO projects. 

Why it’s a problem:
If attribute release is misconfigured, faculty or students may not get access to critical resources, or worse, too much personal data may be shared with external apps. Both create compliance risks. 

How to avoid it:
Define attribute release policies early, document them, and involve both IT and data privacy stakeholders. Test thoroughly before rollout. 

 

Mistake 4: Underestimating User Education

Rolling out SSO is not just a technical project, it’s also a change management project. 

Why it’s a problem:
If faculty, staff, and students don’t understand what SSO is or how to use it, help desk tickets will skyrocket. Worse, they may bypass it with workarounds, which weakens security. 

How to avoid it:
Pair technical implementation with a communication plan. Provide clear, user-friendly instructions and explain the benefits (security, fewer passwords, faster access). 

 

Mistake 5: Skipping Professional Guidance

Universities often try to handle SSO implementation entirely in-house, assuming existing IT staff can “figure it out.” 

Why it’s a problem:
SSO and identity federation are specialized skill sets. Without expertise, projects take longer, cost more, and often miss critical security configurations. 

How to avoid it:
Engage experienced identity management professionals who know the protocols, the pitfalls, and the higher education environment. A short consultation can save months of headaches. 

 

Conclusion 

Single Sign-On is one of the most powerful tools universities can use to secure systems, support compliance, and improve user experience. But when handled poorly, SSO projects stall, frustrate users, and put sensitive data at risk. 

By avoiding these five common mistakes, universities can set themselves up for success. 

At IDM Engineering, we’ve helped universities across the country implement SSO solutions that scale, secure, and last. 

? Contact us to Book a 4-hour Consultation and get expert support for your next identity management project. 

 

 

This entry was posted in Blog, Higher Education & Research, SSO Protocols & Tools on by .

SAML vs OAuth vs OpenID Connect: Which Protocol Is Right for You?

SAML vs OAuth vs OpenID Connect: Which Protocol Is Right for You?

 

If your university or enterprise is exploring Single Sign-On (SSO), you’ve probably seen SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect mentioned a lot. They each handle authentication and authorization in different ways, so you can’t always swap one for another. It’s common to run several protocols to match different systems, and most identity products, whether on-premises like Shibboleth or cloud-based like Okta, support multiple standards. Picking the right protocol mix matters for security, user experience, and long-term scalability. 

In this article we’ll explain what each protocol does, how they differ, and how to pick the right fit for your environment. 

Comparison of SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect protocols

What Is SAML?

Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) is an XML-based protocol that allows identity providers (like your university’s central login system) to pass authentication credentials to service providers (like a learning management system or HR portal). 

  • Best suited for: Enterprise and higher education environments. 
  • Strengths: Mature, widely adopted, excellent for browser-based applications. 
  • Limitations: Heavier to implement, less friendly for mobile and modern APIs. 

 

What Is OAuth?

OAuth is an authorization framework, not an authentication protocol. Instead of logging in directly, OAuth is used to let one application securely access resources in another. 

Think of it like this: when you use Google to log in to a third-party app, OAuth is what allows that app to access your Google profile data without giving away your password. 

  • Best suited for: Cloud apps, APIs, and mobile applications. 
  • Strengths: Designed for delegated access, modern use cases, and app ecosystems. 
  • Limitations: Does not handle authentication on its own. Often combined with OpenID Connect. 

 

What Is OpenID Connect?

OpenID Connect (OIDC) is built on top of OAuth 2.0 but adds authentication. It provides a standardized way to verify identity, making it possible to know who the user is, not just what data they can access. 

  • Best suited for: Modern web and mobile applications. 
  • Strengths: Lightweight, API-friendly, supports modern identity needs. 
  • Limitations: Newer than SAML, not always supported by legacy systems. 

 

Key Differences at a Glance

Protocol  Primary Use  Best For  Strengths  Limitations 
SAML  Authentication  Universities and Enterprises  Mature, widely supported  Heavy XML, not ideal for mobile 
OAuth  Authorization  APIs, Cloud Apps, Mobile  Delegated access, flexible  Not authentication by itself 
OpenID Connect  Authentication + Authorization  Modern Web & Mobile  Lightweight, API-first  Limited legacy support 

 

How to Choose the Right Protocol

  1. If you are in higher education or a large enterprise
    SAML is often the standard. It integrates with federations like InCommon and is still the backbone for many university IT systems. 
  2. If you are building or supporting modern cloud or mobile apps
    OAuth and OpenID Connect are often the better fit. OAuth provides secure authorization while OIDC covers authentication. 
  3. If you need to support both legacy and modern systems
    You may end up using a mix. Many universities, for example, rely on SAML for academic resources but adopt OpenID Connect for cloud-based student apps. 

 

Common Misconceptions 

  • “OAuth handles login.”
    Not exactly. OAuth alone is about authorization. To authenticate users, you need OpenID Connect. 
  • “SAML is outdated.”
    SAML is older, yes, but it remains a cornerstone in higher education and enterprise because of its wide adoption and federation support. 
  • “You only need one protocol.”
    In reality, most institutions use more than one. The key is knowing which protocol fits which use case. 

Conclusion 

Choosing between SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect is not about picking the “best” protocol overall. It’s about selecting the right one for your environment. Universities often lean on SAML for federation with academic resources, while enterprises may combine OAuth and OIDC for modern cloud integrations. 

The challenge comes when organizations need to support all three. That is where expert guidance makes the difference. 

At IDM Engineering, we specialize in helping universities and enterprises design and implement secure, scalable identity management solutions. Whether you’re migrating to Shibboleth, integrating OAuth with legacy apps, or rolling out OpenID Connect, our team can help you get it right. 

?  Contact us to Book a 4-hour Consultation and let’s find the right path for your identity management strategy. 

 

This entry was posted in Blog, Identity Management Basics, OAuth, SAML, SSO Protocols & Tools on by .