Remote Access Control for Web Applications

Written by Zach DeMeyer on April 23, 2020

Share This Article

In the modern workplace, SaaS applications provide organizations with the extensibility they need to keep their employees working, regardless of where they find themselves. From an IT perspective, admins face the challenge of controlling access to these web applications when end users work remotely. Thankfully, when armed with the right Identity-as-a-Service solution, IT admins can control end user access to web applications no matter where they are in the world.

Controlling Access to Web Applications

The ability to remotely manage user access to web apps is predicated on two key criteria. First, an IT admin needs to leverage SAML 2.0 or some other authentication protocol to ensure that their application access routes are secure, even if the employee is working from home. In addition, the admin also needs to be able to change access privileges at a moment’s notice — regardless of location.

Many organizations already have measures in place for managing access to web applications: first-generation Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) tools, a.k.a. single sign-on (SSO) solutions; Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS); Azure Active Directory (AAD); etc. All of these tools leverage SAML, OAuth, or similar protocols to secure access to applications, meeting the first criterion.

Although they can make some identity changes natively, the above options rely upon an on-prem directory service as their identity source of truth. That means that in order to sync user identities across all domain resources, IT admins need to be able to manage on-prem solutions either by being there in person or through a VPN.

Such a limitation creates the impetus for a domainless enterprise: an IT environment that’s as flexible as modern work needs dictate. With a domainless enterprise, it simply doesn’t matter where an end user is or what resources they need access to. In order to achieve a domainless enterprise and remotely control access to web apps and other resources, an IT admin’s IDaaS solution needs to be domainless also.

True Single Sign-On

This domainless IDaaS relies upon the concept of True Single Sign-On. With True SSO, one identity provides access to virtually all resources, extending from the system to applications, networks, cloud/on-prem infrastructure, and other resources a remote worker needs to access. 

True Single Sign-On is available through JumpCloud Directory-as-a-Service. With JumpCloud’s browser-based Admin Console, IT organizations can remotely control web app access across hundreds of popular applications. For bringing on new workers, even if they’re not in the office, JumpCloud even provides Just-in-Time (JIT) provisioning through SAML to remotely create new accounts the instant they’re needed. Beyond SAML, admins can leverage JumpCloud to enforce system-based Policies and multi-factor authentication for applications, systems, and VPNs to enhance security.

Learn More

Give JumpCloud’s remote web app access control a try for free today or check out our access control case study for even more information. Schedule a demo to see the product in action or dive in yourself and sign up for Directory-as-a-Service. A JumpCloud account comes with 10 complimentary users that you can leverage forever.

Zach DeMeyer

Zach is a Product Marketing Specialist at JumpCloud with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. He loves being on the cutting edge of new technology, and when he's not working, he enjoys all things outdoors, music, and soccer.

Continue Learning with our Newsletter