Identity Web Services Framework Now Supports SAML 2.0

Liberty Alliance has released the second draft of its Identity Web Service Framework (ID-WSF), which now includes support for Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards' (OASIS) Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) 2.0 specification. Both ID-WSF and SAML provide methods of handling identity in conjunction with the use of Web services. A spokesperson for Liberty Alliance said the draft and suppor for SAML 2.0 represent ongoing cooperation between the two groups.

Liberty Alliance said that ID-WSF 2.0 will be rolled out in phases. The first phase is focused primarily on support for SAML 2.0. The second and third phases are expected to be complete by the end of the year and will include enhancements that pertain to subscription-based services, user groups, Web service personalization, support for additional types of authentication mechanisms, and more.