Gartner Insights Abstract

Should I Use OPA, OAuth, Zanzibar, Cedar or XACML for My Authorization Use Cases?

Published: 29 July 2024

Summary

Selecting between the increasing number of authorization frameworks for API, application, infrastructure and data access is a challenge. This research compares the main options available and can help security and risk management technical professionals choose the right one for their organization.

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Overview

Key Findings
  • With the proliferation of authorization frameworks, technical teams face a complex task in selecting the most suitable one for their specific usecases.

  • Frameworks for externalized authorization management are difficult to compare because they are made with different purposes or priorities in mind. The differences between them are often theoretical or deeply technical.

  • The main frameworks themselves are not inherently interoperable, but vendors increasingly support more than one policy language or way of modeling access. The OpenID Foundation’s AuthZEN Working Group also aims to increase interoperability.

  • Frameworks for externalized authorization primarily address the authorization challenge from the perspective and requirements of

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Analysts:

Espen Bago

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