How does Zscaler Private Access authenticate end users?

Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) utilizes Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) as a standard for authenticating end users. SAML is an open-source protocol that allows secure web domains to exchange user authentication and authorization data. By leveraging SAML, ZPA enables Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities, which means users can seamlessly access applications without needing to log in multiple times. This enhances user experience and security, as authentication is managed centrally.

In this context, SAML works by facilitating a trust relationship between the Identity Provider (IdP), which manages and authenticates user identities, and the Service Provider (ZPA), which provides access to applications. When a user attempts to access a resource through ZPA, they are redirected to the IdP to perform the authentication, and a SAML assertion is returned to ZPA, confirming the user’s identity and enabling access.

While other authentication methods such as username and password or database-hosted credentials may be used in various contexts, SAML stands out in this scenario for its ability to integrate with modern identity management systems and provide a more streamlined authentication process. SCIM (System for Cross-domain Identity Management), on the other hand, is less focused on the authentication itself and more on