Identity Provider
IdP.
The system that authenticates a user and issues identity claims to relying-party applications, typically over SAML or OIDC.
The major enterprise IdPs in 2026 are Okta Workforce Identity Cloud, Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace, Ping Identity, OneLogin, JumpCloud, and the legacy ADFS deployments still common at large enterprises. B2B SaaS CIAM federates outbound to whichever IdP the customer runs; supporting the long tail of IdP variations is one of the reasons enterprise CIAM cost more than developer-first alternatives.
Common questions
Is a CIAM platform an IdP?
Can my application be both a relying party and an IdP?
How do I federate to a customer's IdP?
Related terms
In the guides
B2B SaaS Identity: Organizations, SSO, SCIM, and the Enterprise Sales Checklist
How to design B2B SaaS identity: Organizations, Enterprise SSO with SAML and OIDC, SCIM provisioning, audit logs, and the IT-admin features that close enterprise deals.
Enterprise SSO: SAML vs OIDC, and How to Pick
SAML and OIDC are the two protocols that dominate enterprise SSO. A practical comparison, when each is the right answer, and the IdP-side considerations that determine the choice.