![\"human](\"/499c0cfb01fff9f826629127fc04da46/image-1.webp\")
Portrait of Thakur Utham Ram, ca. 1760 Portrait of Thakur Utham Ram, ca. 1760
Source - metmuseum
\nThe concept of human identity stretches back thousands of years into unrecorded history.
\nLong before our identities were digitized and stored in databases, we used language, objects, and documents to represent and confirm our individuality.
\nThis pictorial history in 3 parts explores all the creative ways that we’ve developed to identify ourselves and each other over the millennia.
\nIt’s impossible to know when humans first recognized that they had individual identities.
\nWe assume that early hominins knew each other by sight, sound, smell, and touch, as animals do.
\n![\"human](\"/7479ec6c6f774efbcd8508d42ebfe9c9/image-2.webp\")
High school students in Binghamton NY, USA, holding replicas of hominin skulls. Photo by Carolyn WIlczynski
Students explore hominid evolution
\nPresumably they could tell one Neanderthal from another by their faces, the noises they made, and the way they moved.
\nThere is even research showing that human faces evolved in ways that made it easier for humans to recognize each other. The fact that facial recognition was supported by natural selection implies that it’s very important for social interaction and the success of the species.
\n![\"human](\"/038c61e7148e2d901d3706d730a71c3f/image-3.webp\")
Hands, ca. 7300 BC, at the Cuevas de las Manos upon Río Pinturas, Argentina. Photo by Mariano Cecowski
SantaCruz-CuevaManos-P2210651b
\nFor an example of written identity in prehistory, we can look at cave markings showing stencilled handprints. Archeologists disagree on the meaning behind cave handprints—they could be warning messages or part of shamanic practice—but to our modern eyes they look like signatures or graffiti tags, a way of saying, “I was here.”
\n![\"human](\"/d4ab7373de245ee439788583b118900d/image-4.webp\")
Forensic reconstruction of Oase 2 skull dating to 35,000 BC
Homo sapiens sapiens, Oase, Rumänien (Daniela Hitzemann)
\nSpoken language emerged 100,000 years ago. In fact, the structure of the brain and the size of the spinal cord of Cro-Magnon people suggests that they would have been capable of producing the same sounds that we use in speech today.
\nBut since we’ve only been writing for the last 6,000 years, we’ll never know if Cro-Magnons developed names for one another, or if so, how these were chosen.
\nThe earliest known names go back to the dawn of ancient history, around 3000 BC. These were the names of royalty passed down through oral history and written down much later: Alulim, first king of Sumer, and Narmer, an ancient Egyptian pharaoh.
\nThe oldest artifacts with written names have more everyday origins.
\nThere are several candidates for the distinction of first recorded name.
\n![\"human](\"/825deb1a4626c7afea9d1c7841665640/image-5.webp\")
A photo of the Kushim Tablet. © The Schøyen Collection, Oslo and London
Leaving A Mark in History: The Oldest Known Named Person
\nOne is a Mesopotamian clay tablet, ca. 3100 BC, found in Iran that appears to document a business transaction. The receipt for barley delivery to the brewery at Inanna Temple is presumably signed with the name of Kushim, an accountant or record keeper.
\n[caption id=\"attachment_5348\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1684\"]![\"human](\"https://www.loginradius.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/pic5.webp\")
Jamdat Nasr administrative tablet, ca. 3100-2900 BC. Image copyright © The Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum
The second is another Mesopotamian tablet from the same era that bears the name of a slaveholder, Gal-Sal, and two slaves, En-pap X and Sukkalgir.
\n![\"human](\"/eca137243e6c8edab906e998bf53de49/image-6.webp\")
A Machiguenga woman dressed in traditional garb Machiguenga woman
Almost every known society refers to individuals by a fixed personal name, but there are some exceptions. One is the Machiguenga of the Amazon, a small tribe that refers to others by their kin relationship, such as “sister.”
\nAncient cultures generally used single names, what we might now consider a first name or given name. Single names are also called mononyms.
\n![\"human](\"/e04146471a786da84dca8e6f6f68133f/image-7.webp\")
Dead Sea Scroll, part of Isaiah Scroll (Isa 57:17 - 59:9), ca. 100 BC Dead Sea Scroll
Most Biblical names are mononyms, for example. This fragment of the Hebrew Bible contains the name יַעֲקֹב (Jacob).
\nBoth the Hebrew and Christian scriptures give great significance to names within the narrative. The meanings of names are often described in the text: The man called his wife Eve [which probably means “living”] because she would be the mother of all the living.” People sometimes take or receive new names to indicate a change in their identity, such as when God renames Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah as part of a promise to make them a great nation.
\n![\"human](\"/f7dd0c103beb3fc46feb44d0afd569a9/image-8.webp\")
Zeno of Citium. Bust in the Farnese collection, Naples. Photo by Paolo Monti, 1969 Paolo Monti
The ancient Greeks used mononyms as well, although historians added qualifiers called epithets when they needed to distinguish between two people with the same name. Epithets might be descriptive of the person or refer to their home or ancestry, but they are not considered part of their official name. For example, we have Zeno the Stoic (also known as Zeno of Citium) and Zeno of Elea.
\nFor a history of identity in the modern world, read Part II of this series next week.
\n![\"human](\"/097b03db8ae840e524586576d4956c6d/image-9.webp\")
A newborn’s hospital name tag
Learn how to create a unified digital identity for all of your customers. Book a demo today with LoginRadius.
\n![\"book-a-demo-loginradius\"](\"/8fce571f703a5970dbb1359a2fe0e51a/book-a-demo-loginradius.webp\")
Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) is a security process that requires users to verify their identity using two or more authentication factors before accessing an account, application, or system.
\nUnlike traditional password-based logins, MFA adds an extra layer of security by demanding additional verification, reducing the risk of unauthorized access. For instance, a user must complete a second verification process after providing their username and password to access certain platforms or resources.
\nMFA is widely used in various industries, including e-commerce, media & communication, healthcare, and finance, to protect user accounts from cyber threats. Hundreds of organizations have benefited by integrating MFA. See how to integrate MFA into security policies to mitigate risks associated with credential theft and data breaches.
\nCybercriminals are constantly exploiting weak credentials and gaining access to sensitive systems. Here’s where we get an answer to the question- Why is MFA important?
\nSince we’ve learned what MFA is and why it’s important, let’s understand how it works. The MFA process is straightforward yet highly effective. Here’s how it works:
\nUnderstanding how MFA works is crucial for organizations implementing strong security policies.
\nMFA can be implemented in various ways, and organizations can choose the most suitable method based on their security needs and user convenience.
\n![\"A](\"/31897617f8cfd303cc4a03b4950ccab7/how-mfa-works.webp\")
Different MFA methods provide varying levels of security and convenience. Here are the most commonly used types of multi-factor authentication:
\nA TOTP is a temporary passcode generated by an authentication app (e.g., Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator). The code expires shortly, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
\nPush notification MFA is one of the convenient MFA factors that allows seamless authentication. It involves sending a push notification to a registered mobile device and asking the user to approve or deny the login attempt.
\nAn SMS-based MFA solution sends a one-time passcode (OTP) to a user’s mobile phone via text message. The user must enter the OTP to complete authentication.
\nA hardware token is a physical device that generates OTPs or connects via USB/NFC to authenticate the user.
\nThis method uses inherent factors like fingerprint scans, facial recognition, or iris scans for verification.
\nBiometric authentication is gaining popularity because of its ease of use and strong security. Many modern devices, including smartphones and laptops, integrate biometric authentication as an additional layer of security.
\n![\"Buyers](\"/b2d3a16b02ab56f63d8a8a720ca22b86/eb-buyers-guide-to-multi-factor-authentication.webp\")
Authentication factors are categorized into different types based on what the user knows, has, or is. These MFA factors play a key role in strengthening security.
\nExamples include passwords, PINs, or security questions.
\nExamples include smartphones, security keys, and smart cards.
\nThese involve biometric authentication methods such as fingerprints, voice recognition, or facial scans.
\nThese include behavioral patterns like keystroke dynamics and mouse movement patterns.
\nBehavioral authentication is an emerging MFA technology that continuously analyzes user behavior to detect anomalies and prevent unauthorized access.
\nMany people confuse both terms and are unable to decide between 2FA and MFA. When it comes to 2FA vs MFA, the difference is quite simple:
\nMFA is more secure than 2FA since it provides additional layers of protection. Organizations handling sensitive data or focusing on enterprise security often prefer MFA over 2FA to ensure stronger security.
\nWhen we talk about an advanced security measure, Adaptive MFA is undoubtedly a game-changer that analyzes user behavior and risk levels to determine when to prompt for authentication.
\nIf a login attempt appears risky (e.g., new device, unusual location), the system triggers additional authentication steps.
\nAdaptive MFA helps balance security and user convenience by requiring additional verification only when necessary.
\nHere are some MFA examples used by businesses and individuals:
\nWhen it comes to the benefits of MFA, the list is endless; here’s a list of a few benefits that you get:
\nMFA protects against unauthorized access by adding extra layers of verification beyond passwords. It significantly reduces the risk of credential-based attacks and data breaches.
\nBusinesses can implement MFA solutions to secure digital transactions, remote work setups, and cloud applications. This allows organizations to safely expand their digital services without compromising security.
\nMFA helps businesses prevent fraudulent transactions and unauthorized account access. It is especially crucial for industries like banking and e-commerce, where financial fraud is a major concern.
\nCustomers feel more confident using services that implement strong authentication measures. A well-implemented MFA system reassures users that their sensitive information is protected, leading to improved customer retention and brand reputation.
\nMany industries, such as healthcare and finance, require MFA to comply with strict data protection regulations. Implementing MFA ensures that businesses meet compliance standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.
\nSee how one of our clients- SafeBridge, leveled up security with LoginRadius MFA.
\nLoginRadius Multi-Factor Authentication makes security effortless. With flexible options like OTPs, biometrics, and authenticator apps, you can add an extra layer of protection without disrupting the user experience.
\nMoreover, LoginRadius’ adaptive MFA intelligently detects risk—only stepping in when needed, like an unusual login attempt. Best of all, you can integrate LoginRadius MFA into your app or website within minutes, with developer-friendly APIs and seamless workflows. Strong security, easy implementation, and a frictionless login experience—all in one solution.
\nGoogle Authenticator is a mobile app that generates time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) for multi-factor authentication (MFA).
\nIt provides an additional layer of security by requiring users to enter a unique 6-digit code, which refreshes every 30 seconds, along with their password during login. This method helps protect accounts from unauthorized access and is widely used across various platforms for secure authentication.
\nYubico provides hardware-based multi-factor authentication (MFA) solutions through its YubiKey devices. YubiKeys enhances security by requiring physical authentication in addition to a password, protecting accounts from phishing and unauthorized access.
\nThey support multiple authentication methods, including FIDO2, U2F, OTP, and Smart Card authentication, making them compatible with a wide range of platforms. Unlike SMS-based MFA, YubiKeys does not rely on network connectivity and provides strong, passwordless authentication options for improved security and ease of use.
\nMulti-Factor Authentication is a critical component of modern cybersecurity. By requiring multiple verification steps, MFA enhances security, prevents data breaches, and provides an added layer of protection against cyber threats.
\nBusinesses should implement MFA by choosing the right multi-factor authentication provider to safeguard sensitive information, reduce fraud risks, and comply with security regulations.
\n1. Why is MFA important to security?
\nMFA is crucial to security because it adds an extra layer of protection by requiring multiple forms of verification, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
\n2. What are the benefits of MFA security?
\nMFA security offers enhanced protection against cyber threats, mitigates the risk of stolen or weak passwords, and improves overall account security.
\n3. What is multi-factor authentication and why is it important to help prevent identity theft?
\nMulti-factor authentication (MFA) verifies user identity with multiple factors like passwords, tokens, or biometrics, reducing the risk of identity theft by ensuring only authorized users gain access.
\n4. What are the benefits of having an MFA?
\nHaving MFA provides improved security, reduced vulnerability to password-related attacks, increased trust with consumers, and compliance with security standards.
\n","frontmatter":{"date":"June 28, 2019","updated_date":null,"description":"In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity threats are evolving rapidly. Businesses and individuals alike need stronger security measures to protect sensitive data. A highly effective method to improve security is through Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). But what is multi factor authentication, and how does it work? Let’s dive into the details.","title":"What is Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) and How does it Work?","tags":["mfa","authentication","ciam solution","cx"],"pinned":null,"coverImage":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.4598540145985401,"src":"/static/bebdf0e50e1df0f97ff4169608b4f233/58556/mfa-cover.webp","srcSet":"/static/bebdf0e50e1df0f97ff4169608b4f233/61e93/mfa-cover.webp 200w,\n/static/bebdf0e50e1df0f97ff4169608b4f233/1f5c5/mfa-cover.webp 400w,\n/static/bebdf0e50e1df0f97ff4169608b4f233/58556/mfa-cover.webp 800w,\n/static/bebdf0e50e1df0f97ff4169608b4f233/cc834/mfa-cover.webp 1024w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}},"author":{"id":"Rakesh Soni","github":"oyesoni","avatar":"rakesh-soni.webp"}}}},{"node":{"excerpt":"In January of 2019, Akamai acquired Janrain and rebranded their CIAM solution as “Identity Cloud,” a platform designed to improve security…","fields":{"slug":"/identity/best-janrain-alternative/"},"html":"In January of 2019, Akamai acquired Janrain and rebranded their CIAM solution as “Identity Cloud,” a platform designed to improve security access controls and identity management. Before the purchase price was revealed, Forrester predicted it would be in the $250M–$275M range (based on an estimation of Janrain’s annual revenue). In reality, the sale price was $125M—roughly half of Forrester’s estimate. Since then, perhaps in response to the Janrain acquisition, customers have reached out to LoginRadius seeking a Janrain alternative. Here’s what they told us.
\nLoginRadius has had many conversations with current and former Janrain customers in the last few months. Through these discussions, we’ve learned that the Janrain acquisition is playing out in a similar fashion to the Gigya acquisition. If you’re interested in reading about the pitfalls of the Gigya/SAP merger, you might like our article Looking for a Gigya Alternative?. In it, we explain some of the problems arising from the Gigya/SAP merger.
\nLikewise, in this article, I’ll demonstrate that while mergers and acquisitions (M&A) can be exciting, an acquisition may sometimes be damaging for customers, partners, and employees. To illustrate that, here are some of the reasons customers are seeking a Janrain alternative today.
\nOne of the chief concerns that companies have shared with us involves service level agreements (SLAs). In particular, we’ve heard that many companies fear that Akamai will not offer the flexibility of custom tech stacks. Their concern is that if they use software or apps not provided by Akamai, they’ll lose the quality, availability, and features that they relied on before the merger.
\nTo put it into perspective, former Gigya customers complained to us that during the SAP acquisition, they didn’t want to switch their tech stack to SAP. However, in order to get a full SLA and the optimal service and features they had come to expect, it suddenly became necessary.
\nThe reason for their cold feet is simple: switching software can lead to a massive drain of resources within large companies. Therefore, it’s reasonable for companies to avoid that kind of change. Let’s face it, if you already have a tried-and-true tech stack, wouldn’t you want to choose a CIAM solution that works with it?
\nAnytime a big acquisition or disruption occurs in a company, there’s a high probability that customer service may suffer. In fact, time and again, customers told our consultants that they switched from Akamai/Janrain or Gigya due to a decline in technical assistance and customer support.
\nAnother customer related complaint occurred after Akamai acquired Janrain. Janrain customers became concerned when their accounts did not auto-renew. Since the Janrain/Akamai merger, Akamai is exercising its right to renegotiate terms. As a result, Janrain customers are reported to be wary of the fine print on these new terms.
\nCustomers revealed that they noticed a lot of downtime on sites using Akamai Identity Cloud as their provider. Most recently, the NBA Finals game outage on Sportsnet created a lot of heat for Rogers. And since Janrain is the CIAM provider for Rogers, the outage is a result of their inability to handle peak loads. For any business that experiences surges in logins, downloads, or streaming, downtime can cost $300,000 (on average) in lost revenue.
\nKey Takeaway
\nAkamai is a security company, so its acquisition of Janrain confirms that CIAM is a security platform. Akamai clearly saw Janrain as a missing piece in their security company.
\nHowever, LoginRadius made this pivot sooner than Janrain—in 2016, to be precise. Simply put, we've spent more years innovating and delivering value to enterprises than Janrain has. Here are just some of the reasons why LoginRadius is the best Janrain alternative for your business.
\nOur 100% uptime is second to none.
\nYou don’t have to worry about surges or spikes driving customers away and hurting revenue. LoginRadius is the only identity platform with a 100% uptime.
\nWe’re a global leader in customer identity.
\nLoginRadius was named a global CIAM leader by KuppingerCole and has been positioned ahead of other vendors such as ForgeRock, Okta, and Ping Identity. Recently, LoginRadius received $17 million Series A funding, led by ForgePoint Capital and Microsoft. W__e may not be enterprise-size, but we’re enterprise grade—meaning you’ll get both dedicated service and an exceptional product from LoginRadius.
\nWe provide data privacy and consent solutions.
\nWe follow the strictest government regulations for privacy and consent and offer out-of-the-box solutions for GDPR, CCPA, and COPPA compliance. We also provide the highest industry standards for secure single sign-on, data storage, and customer access management.
\nWe’re 100% CIAM with 24/7 tech support.
\nOur product consultants, customer support, and tech teams act quickly to meet your needs. Data migration from your current provider is included, as are customization features and fast deployment.
\nSimply put, LoginRadius excels at what Akamai/Janrain doesn’t—**giving companies an edge over the competition.**
\n“The secret to exceeding customer expectations
\nis knowing what customers want before they do.”
\nLoginRadius is a CIAM solution that offers seamless migration from your current provider within days. We also do migration testing on a staging site, so your customers won’t notice a thing.
\nWant to hear more about making the switch to LoginRadius? Call a LoginRadius digital identity consultant today at 1-844-625-8889. We’ll be happy to give you a product demo so you can compare LoginRadius with your current provider.
\n![\"Janrain](\"/23b2208278dbd4fe5b7ddff1307ce0b5/CTA-Graphics-for-Blogs-V02.01-15.webp\")
Today, consumers want to log into one place and access all of their favorite sites and services using their preferred login credentials. Single sign-on is a great way to show your consumers that you care about their security and convenience.
\nSingle sign-on authentication, or SSO, is becoming more commonplace as the digital revolution continues to evolve. With numerous benefits for customers and companies alike, SSO helps streamline user experience, aid movement between applications and services, and secure the transfer of pertinent information about customers between organizations.
\nSingle Sign-On (SSO) is a method of authentication that allows websites to use other trustworthy sites to verify users. Single sign-on allows a user to log in to any independent application with a single ID and password.
\nSSO is an essential feature of an Identity and Access Management (IAM) platform for controlling access. Verification of user identity is important when it comes to knowing which permissions a user will have. The LoginRadius Identity platform is one example of managing access that combines user identity management solutions with the following SSO solutions:
\nYour customers have only one set of login details for all of your services and can switch seamlessly between applications. Mobile SSO allows your customers to switch seamlessly between mobile applications if you have more than one. SSO also allows user access to multiple applications without the need for separate login accounts.
\nFederated SSO uses a range of industry-standard protocols including SAML, JWT, OAuth, OpenID Connect, and more to allow the same seamless experience between service applications from a range of providers and sources.
\nSingle sign on authentication offers endless business opportunities to organizations by offering a seamless customer experience while users switch between multiple applications.
\nSSO offers several benefits, including an improved user experience, increased security, reduced support costs, increased productivity, and centralized access management. With SSO, users can sign in once and access all the services they need, leading to a smoother and more efficient user experience. It also improves security by reducing the number of passwords that users need to remember and reducing the risk of password-related security breaches. SSO can save time for both users and IT staff, allowing them to focus on more important tasks and increasing overall productivity.
\nAdditionally, with SSO, IT teams can manage user access to multiple applications from a central location, making it easier to grant or revoke access when necessary and reducing the risk of unauthorized access. Overall, SSO can provide numerous benefits for both users and IT teams, making it an attractive option for organizations that manage multiple applications and services.
\nToday’s customers expect SSO. They might not be able to articulate this expectation in words, but as a matter of course, many customers already use single sign-on authentication in services every day. This means that the customer-facing features of SSO are now considered to be a minimum standard of customer convenience. Simply put, SSO is a service that most customers expect from every online company.
\nIf you have more than one website or service that requires logging in, you need single sign-on if you don’t want to annoy your customers and appear behind the times. With single sign-on, you can eliminate several common roadblocks that can hurt your business.
\n![\"single](\"/b4f2e6562bdc029bb29704bb2b28a01a/SSO-Blog-02.webp\")
For example, we heard from a consumer in the UK that there's a customer experience disconnect between different divisions at Virgin. People getting cable TV and home broadband services from Virgin Media are encouraged to sign up for Virgin Mobile with several competitively priced offers. However, even though the sites look similar, consumers need to have two separate logins for the two Virgin services. They even have different rules for password strength.
\nI’m sure you can think of examples of your own, perhaps where (like with Virgin) you can’t even choose to use the same sign-in details if you want to. Maybe others require you to log in to different services from the same company repeatedly.
\nDon’t be one of these companies. You probably won’t end up with frustrated customers, since they’ll end up voting with their feet (and leaving you for another provider).
\n![\"single](\"/fc07ed0b04f9cd0d89eb8b6eb5e4a0fa/SSO-Blog-03.webp\")
A unified customer profile is the first step to a smarter company. With CIAM, you’ll have a single location for everything about individual customers (including their login and service usage data).
\nWhat’s more, CIAM creates a unified customer profile on which to base all other metrics and predictions. Customer-specific data can be used in marketing, sales, customer support, content planning, product development, customer security, and more. Unified customer profiles are simply a brilliant resource for rich data, metrics, and analytics that multiple departments can use.
\nBy reducing the number of separate sign-in databases and systems you need to maintain and service, SSO reduces maintenance costs for every application or service that would previously have needed a separate login system.
\nA centralized identity solution also streamlines the creation of new apps and services by providing a “drop-in” solution for logging in, and for a multitude of useful data gathering methods. An effective enterprise SSO solution saves money in the long term and short term by making it easier than ever to collect customer data and user credentials in one secure spot.
\nBy leveraging Single Sign On (SSO), brands can reduce the barriers to entry for users and bring them onto a single platform. That’s one login, one set of credentials, one consistent experience.
\nEasy site navigation is the key to making a site user-friendly. The process should be quick and simple, allowing users to get in and get out without hassle.
\nNow busines\nses can link their consumers to their own applications in just one click, making it easy to log in with the service they choose.
\nFaster, less cluttered sign-ups result in more loyal users. No wonder, SSO is gradually becoming the new, industry-standard solution to increase conversion rates across web and mobile properties.
\nYou need to focus fiercely on consumer retention during the initial days of your business. If you’re not in the top 10, you’re nowhere. That means that you need to convince your users to stick around and keep using your service from day one.
\nAccording to a Localytics study, if you can keep 80% of your users around after Day 1, you're on track to be on top 10. But, if you can't keep 40% around after Day 1, you won't make the top 100.
\nAlthough your frequent users are unlikely to lose their log-in credentials, a third of your user base isn't yet on a daily basis. If they forget their details, there's a good chance you'll never see them again.
\nWithout any need for passwords, SSO enables your users to come back to your app seamlessly. It's like leaving the porch light on for them: it makes them feel involved.
\nSingle sign-on directly benefits your organization by gathering a wealth of customer data and credentials securely in one spot for your services, teams, and applications to use. Failing to use SSO will make your consumers notice you in a bad light as they try to navigate your apps and services. By contrast, leaders who bring an SSO solution to their organization will stand out because of the multitude of benefits that single sign-on provides.
\n![\"sso\"](\"/f91644b068ec78e0acdb60c2a9d83004/sso.webp\")
Implementing single sign-on authentication (SSO) for B2C enterprises can bring numerous benefits, making it a wise investment. SSO not only simplifies the login process but also enhances security by reducing the risks of password-related breaches.
\nAdditionally, it saves time and effort for both customers and IT teams. With the benefits of SSO, B2C enterprises can improve their user experience, increase customer loyalty, and reduce operational costs.
\nTherefore, it's a valuable solution that every B2C enterprise should consider. In summary, the benefits of SSO for B2C enterprises are significant, and implementing it can be a game-changer in today's digital age.
\n
If you aren’t already taking advantage of CIAM (customer identity and access management), you should be. But what components do you need to include if you want to implement the perfect CIAM platform? One that meets all of your organization’s needs, both now and in the future?
\nThe CIAM revolution has taken over the access management landscape in just five years. Winning customer trust by safeguarding their data is becoming a competitive advantage.
\nResearch from Deloitte shows that 70% of consumers are more likely to purchase from consumer product companies that they believe protect their personal information.
\nCustomer identity management goes beyond simply repurposing employee IAM for customers—CIAM’s scalability, scope, and customer focus enable you to go far beyond simple privacy management and access verification. In fact, it forms a key component of effective digital transformation.
\nTo succeed in today’s environment, businesses should consider an all-in-one CIAM platform that manages people, systems, and devices used throughout their organization. Customers, vendors, partners, and more should all be included in a comprehensive framework if you want to enable true digital transformation.
\nThere are a number of key features that are essential if you want to implement a robust customer identity and access management framework.
\nThe initial seed behind CIAM will always be the need to securely manage access, with many of its advanced functions evolving from this essential starting point. Going beyond old-fashioned access methods, a modern customer identity management solution should enable frictionless security. By enabling seamless authentication between people, systems, and things, CIAM can enable low-friction access for all, while still remaining secure.
\nFrictionless security means easy-to-use security. Your customers are presented with a beautifully integrated access solution that works so well they barely notice it.
\nCompliance with local data protection laws can be a chore, especially given their constant evolution. A good customer identity platform should enable you to keep up with local laws anywhere in the world that you do business.
\nWith country-specific or regional control over how personal data is stored and managed, you’ll always meet legal requirements, saving you compliance management costs each year.
\nThese aren’t the only potential costs you can save—legal fees can run high when privacy management fails. Presenting customers with easily self-managed privacy choices and a solid privacy policy also shows them that their data is safe and shows your company to be competent and professional in handling these issues.
\nThis reputation will encourage customer loyalty in the long run.
\n![\"CIAM](\"/64cdb7a77672e65160bc2e4f3cfe7e2f/integration-graphic.webp\")
A perfect CIAM platform needs to be able to integrate more than just people. There are lots of identity-filled business processes and practices, and in the future the number of these is only set to grow.
\nA well-designed customer identity solution connects all native and third-party applications that handle customer data.
\nAPIs let you quickly integrate systems that need to work together across providers, so the APIs available from your CIAM provider need to work with every system that can benefit from CIAM integration.
\nTo make the most of your customer identity and access management solution, it needs to integrate seamlessly with your CRM, business intelligence, analytics, content management, and marketing automation systems. You also need to know that your vendor has the capacity to create effective APIs to let you take advantage of new technology as it comes online.
\nCustomer data needs to be securely protected at all times, yet at the same time be available to those who should be able to use it. A good CIAM solution will let you develop schemas flexibly so you can get the most out of your systems
\nWithout effective data access control, data governance is useless. You need to know these essentials:
\nAll of these things need to be manageable across future system updates without fail. At the same time, there should be no need to mess around with schemas that work well.
\n![\"CIAM](\"/eb4e9f0a5e0ae5b0d70066a80a20e3a4/global-compliance-graphic.webp\")
Your CIAM platform must meet compliance requirements on a global scale, even though many of these requirements are constantly changing and evolving. Currently, here’s what your CIAM platform needs to do:
\nMake sure you aren’t wasting time and money on security compliance—use an up-to-date cloud CIAM system.
\nOne of the best things about an advanced CIAM solution is the ability to tie in customer analytics, giving you a much deeper and clearer understanding of each customer. Here’s what this data can be used for:
\nCIAM can be used to both extract and store many different data points, feeding them back to your other systems for use.
\n![\"buy-vs-build\"](\"/4942fa32c5cf695754d199e3a745d029/buy-vs-build.webp\")
Your CIAM solution must be not only scalable, but rapidly so, making it possible to meet unexpected demand without faltering. You shouldn’t ever need to worry that a promotion or event could affect the smooth operation of your account features.
\nAll told, your CIAM platform needs to boost customer experience in every possible way. A reduced initial entry threshold that leverages social login or passwordless login is just the start.
\nAdvanced analytics, effective self-service options, and integration with all of your customer-facing functions should all work to improve the way customers access your systems. And storing everything about one customer in the same place—data, analytics, preferences, and browsing/purchase history—will make it much easier for employees to manage customer accounts.
\nThe main thing to remember is that customer IAM is all about customer experience and customer trust. More than just an identity platform, and more than just an access management solution, LoginRadius offers a way to go beyond customer expectations.
\nToday that means you need to offer self-service data management and make use of the additional customer data that CIAM platform can give you. Only then can you improve what you offer customers at virtually every point in their journey.
\n![\"CIAM](\"/3438abf9d9b7f387d38a9f3b99c73ba7/CTA-Graphics-for-Blogs-13.webp\")
Customer identity and access management (CIAM) is taking over the customer login experience. There’s more at stake than just registration and authentication. In this article, we have explained how CIAM can help your business face the future head-on.
\nCIAM simplifies every business task that deals with your customers on an individual basis, including those that haven’t registered on your site yet. With a single data hub for all identities, CIAM seamlessly links authentication, customer management, sales, marketing, business intelligence, and services.
\nCompanies that focus on providing an excellent digital experience to their customers should also focus on offering customers personalizing services. To accomplish this, businesses need to build a 360-degree view of the customer profile based on interactions with the company.
\n“If your business isn’t using CIAM, you stand every chance of lagging behind businesses that are making the most of the technology and the customer data it collects.”
\nAt the same time, companies need to ensure the safety of these data to secure customer trust. This twin objective of enabling excellent customer experience and reliable security systems can be met by implementing a Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) system.
\nA CIAM solution usually offers a combination of features including customer registration, self-service account management, consent and preferences management, single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), access management, directory services, and data access governance.
\nAt the extreme scale and performance, a customer identity and access management solutions ensure a secure, seamless customer experience regardless of which channels (web, mobile, tablet, etc.) customers use to engage with an organization.
\nCustomer identity and access management (CIAM) is a digital identity management software solution for businesses that combines login verification with customer data storage. CIAM aims to improve the customer's sign-up and login experience while securely managing customer identities.
\nCIAM offers the luxury of a centralized customer database that links all other apps and services to provide a secure and seamless customer experience.
\nLet’s start by outlining the scale of the issue. Research suggests that B2B companies see customer experience as the most exciting business opportunity in 2020. Over 85% of buyers say they are willing to pay more for excellent customer experiences. Today, however, only 1% of customers think that companies can deliver a level of customer service that consistently meets their expectations.
\nIt is clear that consumers want a better experience, but this can’t come at the expense of security. In a recent survey, 83% of US customers said that they would stop buying from a company that had experienced a data breach–21% said they would never return. Overall, the survey showed you could lose up to half your customers if you’ve been hacked.
\n![\"Customer](\"/c002c85bb638b44433d7d4832ccb5a39/Customer-identity-and-access-management-loginradius-1024x456.gif\")
A secure login experience is a minimum that today’s customers expect from a modern organization. It engenders trust and encourages your customers to come back to you time and again. Hence, the importance of the CIAM platform chimes in.
\nEvery company wants to become a technology enterprise today. With the explosion of channels, devices, platforms, and touchpoints, customer needs are changing. And secure experiences with those interactions are of paramount importance.
\nCIAM is a fundamental technology that serves increasingly complex consumer needs and enables businesses to deliver stable, seamless digital experiences.
\n![\"Enterprise](\"/860c267222fd012ab48fe9e6c26d0129/EB-The-Enterprise-Buyer%E2%80%99s-Guide-to-Consumer-Identity-1024x310.webp\")
Customer identity and access management have historically been a use case for consumers (B2C). Yet an organization's client may also be a company (B2B). The new way of doing business covers a plethora of markets and use cases as consumers demand more from companies they do business with.
\nFrom an enterprise point of view, a CIAM solution has several useful features that can improve security, enhance customer data collation, and provide critical data to the marketing and sales departments.
\nA fundamental customer identity and access management (CIAM) system provide the following advantages for businesses and their customers.
\nA streamlined customer experience delivered by an organization reflects that it’s up-to-date and concerned about providing the easiest login possible.
\nBy providing a smooth login experience for your applications and services, you encourage customers to try out more of your digital offerings. The end result is a customer who is more embedded in your digital ecosystem, without extra effort.
\n“A streamlined customer experience delivered by an organization reflects that it’s up-to-date and concerned about providing the easiest login possible.”
\nFor example, implementing a single sign-on through a customer identity and access management system means a customer only needs one account for all of your digital touchpoints. Whether your customers are signing in from a browser or a mobile device, they’ll benefit from not having to sign in repeatedly to different services again and again—encouraging repeat use of your apps and services.
\n![\"customer](\"/9ab000fc74ed8454168b95df75f46108/Medium-post-02.webp\")
A standard CIAM system provides essential security features that safeguard both data and account access. For example, with risk-based authentication, each customer’s usage and login patterns are monitored, making it easy to spot unusual (and therefore potentially fraudulent) activity.
\nFor use cases where you need an extra layer of security, you can enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), which verifies a customer’s identity by requiring a second step, such as entering an SMS code or clicking an email link.
\nYour secure login procedures reassure customers that they are safe using your services—something that’s essential with the number of public data breaches reaching the news.
\nWith just one customer identity management system that’s fully managed for you, reliability is maximized, and the need for resources is kept to a minimum. A centralized login system for all of your apps and services makes it easy to add new services as they come online. A cloud implementation can quickly scale up or down depending on your usage, and automated failover can cut downtime to virtually zero.
\n“As your digital ecosystem grows, a modern CIAM solution reduces the workload for your IT department and makes it easy to expand your business.”
\nBy connecting the data gathered from all of your services and websites, you get a complete overview of each customer. With a full picture of everything a customer has done since the first time they visited your site, you’ll have access to real-world data in startling detail.
\n![\"customer](\"/dd20ffd19af3aeb6889383c57a060f77/SearchCustomers_145675b7b2399d905b1.79082854.gif\")
You can use this data to monitor customer journeys across multiple apps and services, create marketing personas that reflect your customers, design new products or special offers, and direct your customers towards choices that will benefit the both of you.
\nWhen you understand your customers more deeply, you can reach them more easily and serve them better. All of this adds up to more revenue and a lower cost of acquisition and retention.
\nPrivacy compliance is a critical aspect of any company handling customer data and an essential part of any online business. The EU’s GDPR and the recently rolled out California’s CCPA are just a few examples of privacy laws that have a global reach, affecting any data flowing into or out of the EU. Most Western countries have similar regulations or are enacting similar laws, and the rest of the world is rapidly catching up.
\nIf you have an online business that you want to keep viable in 2020 or beyond, you must maintain compliance with these regulations. Here are some of the things you need to provide or be able to do to meet regulations:
\nCIAM can also be tailored to meet the regulatory requirements of different regions—essential for global business.
\n“A modern CIAM solution enables you to meet all of these privacy requirements and more while simplifying the process and reducing the costs associated.“
\n![\"customer](\"/e9e48bd835af129b4c159c0b287db112/Medium-post-V01.02-03.webp\")
In the world of CIAM, a business can gain an advantage by implementing new and advanced login options that are not yet widely adopted. These login methods further improve customer experience, customer trust, or both.
\nPasswordless Login simplifies and streamlines the login process, while at the same time making it more protected. It also helps you present your company as a modern, secure organization that uses the latest technology to safeguard your customers. Passwordless login uses a customer’s email address or phone number to send them a one-time link that they click to log in.
\nOne-Touch Login also allows customers to log in with a generated link sent to their email address or a one-time password sent to their phone. However, unlike Passwordless Login, the customer does not need to be an existing user in the system, and no credentials are submitted. In other words, the customer gets the benefits of secure access without the commitment of account creation.
\nSmart Login gives users a quick and secure login for the internet of things (IoT) and smart devices, which are increasingly becoming a vital part of today’s digital ecosystem. Smart login delegates the authentication process for smart TVs, gaming consoles, and other IoT devices to other devices that are easier and more secure for entering and managing passwords.
\n![\"customer](\"/6cd81384f37c69084a41431e6cf9aa1a/Medium-post-V01.02-04.webp\")
As customers become more savvy and cautious about handing over their data, businesses can leverage CIAM to collect information in more respectful ways. Here are a few unique ways:
\nProgressive Profiling allows you to collect customer data over time, as and when needed. You can start by building a basic profile with the simplest login details (like name and email, or a social login request for just these details). You can then ask for more information as needed depending on which of your products customers use.
\nProgressive Profiling is a great way to leverage today’s limited social login data and a fantastic way to build trust as you build up a picture of your customer. You can also use progressive profiling to measure how much your customers trust you by offering the opportunity to add more information without making it compulsory.
\nSocial Login can be a risk as it is a benefit in today’s digital environment when data leaks and account breaches plague major social providers. With the right precautions in place, social login can still be a great way for your customers to access your services.
\n![\"customer](\"/d4d588422532a922503fc873cf1b3a19/progressive-data-gather.webp\")
As part of international privacy regulations like the GDPR and CCPA, businesses need to be clear with customers about their consent to data collection and communication.
\nCIAM provides tools for managing a customer’s consent to give them an understanding and control over their consent. Consent management involves requesting consent during registration and authentication and provides the ability to modify existing permissions and apply new consents retroactively.
\nToday, we’re moving away from simple customer access to more complex data monitoring to gain a better understanding of each customer.
\nA customer identity access management solution can bridge the gap between your customers and the latest developments in identity and personal data protection—essential in today’s connected world. CIAM helps you take the next step in assuring your customers’ online safety while simplifying their online experience across new digital platforms.
\nMany companies provide their customers with a modern digital experience, thanks to a customer identity management system. If you want to give your customers the same advantages, the time to act is now.
\nA CIAM solution like LoginRadius can help you achieve this with customer account information, including data, consent, and activity, accessible from one dashboard.
\n1. What is the difference between CIAM and IAM?
\nA CIAM (consumer identity and access management) solution manages your services’ external consumer identities, whereas an IAM (workforce identity and access management) solution manages your organization's identities. Read more.
\n2. Why is CIAM important?
\nCIAM enables businesses to enable quick, convenient, secure and unified access across multiple channels. Moreover, a CIAM solution allows you to use customer data, including customer behavior, to understand your target audience better and tailor your service, products, and marketing.
\n3. How does CIAM protect customer data?
\nA CIAM solution includes various authentication mechanisms like multi-factor authentication (MFA), risk-based authentication (RBA), and more to ensure even if the primary layer of protection like passwords is compromised, access is restricted to a particular account.
\n4. How much does a CIAM cost?
\nTypically, there are different plans for enterprises and developers. Businesses can choose monthly, quarterly, or yearly plans depending on the services and needs.
\n5. How do I get CIAM?
\nYou can contact the LoginRadius sales team to schedule a free personalized demo and learn how the leading cloud-based CIAM works for your business.
\n
Identity is evolving, and developers are at the forefront of this transformation. Every day brings a new learning—adapting to new standards and refining approaches to building secure, seamless experiences.
\nWe’re here to support developers on that journey. We know how important simplicity, efficiency, and well-structured documentation are when working with identity and access management solutions. That’s why we’ve redesigned the LoginRadius website—to be faster, more intuitive, and developer-first in every way.
\nThe goal? Having them spend less time searching and more time building.
\nLoginRadius’ vision is to give developers a product that simplifies identity management so they can focus on building, deploying, and scaling their applications. To enhance this experience, we’ve spent the last few months redesigning our interface— making navigation more intuitive and reassuring that essential resources are easily accessible.
\nHere’s a closer look at what’s new and why it’s important:
\n![\"This](\"/f46881583c7518a93bb24e94c32320de/a-developer-friendly-dark-theme.webp\")
Developers spend long hours working in dark-themed IDEs and terminals, so we’ve designed the LoginRadius experience to be developer-friendly and align with that preference.
\nThe new dark mode reduces eye strain, enhances readability, and provides a seamless transition between a coding environment and our platform. Our new design features a clean, modern aesthetic with a consistent color scheme and Barlow typography, ensuring better readability. High-quality graphics and icons are thoughtfully placed to enhance the content without adding visual clutter.
\nSo, whether you’re navigating our API docs or configuring authentication into your system, our improved interface will make those extended development hours more comfortable and efficient.
\n![\"This](\"/e5358b82be414940f3fb146013845933/capabilities.webp\")
We’ve restructured our website to provide a straightforward breakdown of our customer identity and access management platform capabilities, helping you quickly find what you need:
\nThis structured layout ensures you can quickly understand each capability and how it integrates into your identity ecosystem.
\n![\"This](\"/a8c155c2b6faf3d5f4b4de4e2b14d763/developers-menu.webp\")
We’ve been analyzing developer workflows to identify how you access key resources. That’s why we redesigned our navigation with one goal in mind: to reduce clicks and make essential resources readily available.
\nThe new LoginRadius structure puts APIs, SDKs, and integration guides right at the menu bar under the Developers dropdown so you can get started faster. Our Products, Solutions, and Customer Services are also clearly categorized, helping development teams quickly find the right tools and make informed decisions.
\n![\"This](\"/b2f9a964a2da0ea83e2f8596b833bba7/we-support-your-tech-stack.webp\")
Developers now have a clear view of the tech stack available with LoginRadius, designed to support diverse business needs.
\nOur platform offers pre-built SDKs for Node.js, Python, Java, and more, making CIAM integration seamless across popular programming languages and frameworks.
\nCheck out our revamped LoginRadius website and see how the improved experience makes it easier to build, scale, and secure your applications.
\nDo not forget to explore the improved navigation and API documentation, and get started with our free trial today. We’re excited to see what you’ll build with LoginRadius!
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