What is the primary purpose of a Service Provider (SP) in SAML authentication?

The primary purpose of a Service Provider (SP) in SAML authentication is to serve applications that users want to access. In the context of SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language), the SP is responsible for receiving authentication assertions from an Identity Provider (IdP) and allowing users to access the services or applications after successful authentication.

When a user attempts to access a service, the service provider redirects them to the identity provider to authenticate. After the user is validated, the IdP sends assertion tokens back to the SP, enabling the user to access the desired applications seamlessly. This process streamlines user access to resources and enhances security by centralizing the authentication process.

While other roles, such as issuing tokens or managing user access rights, are vital in the broader identity and access management ecosystem, they are not the defining purpose of the SP's role in the SAML framework. The SP's main function is to manage and provide access to the applications that users need.