What is implied by the term 'federated identity' in hybrid cloud setups?

The term 'federated identity' in hybrid cloud setups refers to a unified identity management system across various domains. This concept allows users to access multiple services and applications across different environments—such as on-premises infrastructure and cloud services—using a single set of credentials. By implementing federated identity management, organizations streamline the authentication process, enhancing user convenience and security.

In a federated identity framework, trust relationships are established between different identity providers, enabling users' identities to be recognized and authenticated across various systems without the need for multiple logins. This approach reduces administrative overhead related to managing numerous credentials and supports a more cohesive user experience.

In contrast, requiring multiple logins for different services, storing identities locally only, or mandating individual passwords for each user would complicate the authentication process and defeat the purpose of implementing a federated identity system. The strength of federated identity lies in its ability to provide seamless access while centralizing identity management across diverse platforms.