Glossary

active session

Every time someone signs in to your account, an active session is opened. Until the sign-out, the session is active and the user can access the portal’s resources.

authentication device

Usually a mobile device (phone or tablet) where you install your authenticator app. It is used to verify your identity if 2FA is set up for your account.

authenticator app

An app on a mobile device that generates OTPs. It is used to verify your identity if 2FA is set up for your account.

identity management

The process of managing and authenticating user identities and controlling access to portals and data.

identity provider

IdP

A service that authenticates a user’s identity by verifying credentials, such as usernames, passwords, and OTPs. It then issues identity assertions to other applications to enable access as part of an SSO process.

one-time password

OTP

A temporary, single-use code. It is used to verify your identity if 2FA is set up for your account.

sign-in credentials

The username and password used to sign-in to a portal and start an active session.

single sign-on

SSO

A process that allows users to access multiple applications with one set of sign-in credentials.

two-factor authentication

2FA

An authentication method requiring two forms of verification to access an account. Besides the usual sign-in credentials, the second verification is often an OTP sent by an identity provider to an authenticator app.