A year ago, we introduced Gartner attendees to a new standard, OpenID AuthZEN that promised to establish a
standard for fine-grained authorization. A year later and two interops later, we're happy to report that the
draft is nearing final specification and that we have completed 3 new interops focusing on API gateways, the
AuthZEN Search API, and IdP integrations. With AuthZEN, IAM teams can confidently externalize and standardize
authorization across their application estate without being locked in to a proprietary API. Gone are the days of
incomplete authorization and gaps in access control logic. With OpenID AuthZEN we are closer to enabling the
Zero Trust Enterprise. This session will review the progress achieved in the past twelve months, highlight the
milestones, and demo the latest integrations.
The purpose of this WG is to explore how to improve the deployability, scalability and interoperability of
dynamic,
fine-grained authorization schemes to better meet the needs of modern information security best practices. In
particular, we need to make authorization easy for an organization to deploy and operate authorization
capabilities
across their entire application estate, including both SaaS services and internally developed applications
(whether
they be on-prem or in the Cloud).
The Authorization Manifesto
Call to Arms: Championing Externalized, Fine-Grained Authorization
Fellow Application Architects and Developers,
In our rapidly evolving digital landscape, the need for robust and adaptive security measures has never been
more pressing. As custodians of software integrity and user trust, we must rise to the challenge of modern
application development by embracing externalized, fine-grained authorization.
Why This Matters
Enhanced Security: Traditional role-based access control (RBAC) models often fall short in meeting
the nuanced needs of today's complex applications. Fine-grained authorization enables us to define precise
access controls based on attributes and contextual data, reducing vulnerabilities and mitigating insider
threats.
Agility and Scalability: As applications grow and evolve, so too must their security frameworks.
Externalizing authorization allows for centralized management, making it easier to update and maintain
policies without disrupting the application's core functionality. This agility ensures our systems remain
resilient and adaptable to changing business requirements.
Compliance and Governance: In an era of stringent regulatory requirements, maintaining compliance
is paramount. Fine-grained authorization provides the granularity needed to enforce data privacy and
protection regulations, ensuring that access controls are aligned with legal mandates and audit trails are
robust.
User Experience: By implementing fine-grained authorization, we can deliver a more tailored and
seamless user experience. Users are granted access only to what they need, reducing clutter and confusion
while enhancing overall satisfaction and productivity.
Taking Action
It's time to move beyond the limitations of legacy access control models and embrace the future of secure
application development. Here's how you can get started:
Educate and Advocate: Share the benefits of externalized, fine-grained authorization with your teams and
stakeholders. Highlight the security, agility, compliance, and user experience improvements it offers.
Adopt Best Practices: Implement best practices for externalized authorization, such as attribute-based
access control (ABAC) and policy-based access control (PBAC). Leverage industry standards and frameworks to
guide your efforts.
Invest in Tools and Training: Equip your teams with the tools and knowledge they need to effectively manage
and implement fine-grained authorization. Continuous learning and upskilling are essential in staying ahead of
security challenges.
Collaborate and Innovate: Foster a culture of collaboration and innovation within your organization.
Encourage cross-functional teams to work together in designing and implementing secure, user-centric
applications.
Adopt OpenID AuthZEN: As a first step towards a successful externalized authorization program, consider
adopting OpenID AuthZEN. This powerful tool simplifies the implementation of fine-grained authorization by
providing a robust and scalable framework. By leveraging OpenID AuthZEN, you can streamline the integration of
attribute-based access controls and ensure your applications are both secure and flexible.
Join the Movement
As we navigate the complexities of modern application development, our commitment to robust security practices
must remain unwavering. Let us unite as a community of forward-thinking architects and developers, championing
the adoption of externalized, fine-grained authorization for a safer, more resilient digital future.
Together, we can build applications that not only meet the demands of today but also anticipate the challenges
of tomorrow. Join the movement and lead the charge in redefining security standards in our industry.
Stay Secure, David Brossard CTO Axiomatics & Co-chair OpenID AuthZEN
Contact.
Do you want to learn more about authorization and standardization efforts?