Identity Proxy Failover Across Multiple IDPs for IAM Uptime
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IAM systems are prone to network bottlenecks and downtime due to high demand or failure, leading to significant disruptions in access and potential loss of revenue or customer confidence, especially when relying on a single identity provider (IDP).
Innovation Solution
A resilient IAM architecture that utilizes multiple IDPs hosted in disparate physical infrastructure, with an identity proxy managing authentication requests and seamlessly switching between them based on heartbeat signals or load balancing, ensuring continuous access without user awareness of the switch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single IDP is used to provide identity access services, then the system is simpler to manage and operate, but the system becomes prone to network bottlenecks and downtime due to high demand or failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the identity provider function into multiple independent IDPs (primary and secondary) that can operate autonomously. Each IDP maintains separate authentication credentials and can independently handle authentication requests, allowing the system to distribute load and avoid single points of failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operational parameters of IDP selection based on real-time conditions. The identity proxy monitors heartbeat signals and operational status, switching between IDPs based on their current availability and load, thereby adapting the system's behavior to maintain reliability under varying conditions.
2Reliability
If multiple IDPs are deployed with disparate physical infrastructure, then service continuity is improved during failures, but the system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The identity proxy serves as an intermediary component that manages communication between users and multiple IDPs. It handles the complexity of coordinating between disparate IDP infrastructures, routing authentication requests appropriately, and transparently switching between IDPs without requiring users to understand the underlying complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The identity proxy performs multiple functions: it acts as a load balancer distributing requests to healthy IDPs, a failover mechanism switching to backup IDPs when primary ones fail, and a unified interface presenting a consistent authentication experience to users regardless of which underlying IDP is being used.
3Reliability
If load balancing and heartbeat monitoring are implemented across multiple IDPs, then service disruption is prevented, but the operational complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The IDPs perform self-verification through automated heartbeat signals that indicate their operational status. The identity proxy autonomously monitors these heartbeats and makes switching decisions without human intervention, allowing the system to self-manage its own reliability and reduce operational burden on administrators.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where IDPs send heartbeat signals to the identity proxy, which monitors their status and adjusts request routing accordingly. This real-time feedback mechanism enables automatic adaptation to changing conditions, maintaining service continuity while reducing the need for manual operational management.
Data Source
AI summary
Identity access and management (“IAM”) systems with resiliency features and methods related to the same are provided. An identity proxy is interposed between user systems and each of two or more identity provider (“IDP”) systems. The identity proxy routes authentication requests, challenges, and responses between the user systems and the IDP systems based on availability, and verifies challenge responses to permit access to data or services.