Identity federation also integrates access to applications across distinct business units within a single organization. As organizations grow through acquisitions, or when business units maintain separate user repositories and authentication mechanisms across applications, a federated solution to browser-based SSO is desirable.

This cross-domain, identity-management solution provides numerous benefits, ranging from increased end user satisfaction and enhanced customer relations to reduced cost and greater security and accountability.

For complete information about identity federation and the standards that support it, see Supported standards.