Two-Tier Authentication in Microservices Architecture

 

Microservices are decoupled, self-contained units, which makes security pivotal. Two-tier authentication can offer an extra layer of protection. By integrating both AWS Cognito (for cloud-based authentication) and FAMS (an on-premises solution), we can create a robust authentication mechanism for such architectures.

It's a clear separation of concerns, with FAMS focusing on user identity and Cognito securing your API. This is a valid and robust approach, particularly if you want to leverage Cognito's capabilities for managing API access without intertwining it with FAMS.

Two-Tier Authentication in Microservices

Microservices often communicate through APIs. The two tiers in this setup are:

On-Premises Authentication (e.g., FAMS): Before accessing cloud-based microservices, authentication through on-prem systems like FAMS ensures that the initial user or service is validated.

Cloud-Based Authentication (e.g., AWS Cognito): After the initial validation, Cognito facilitates the subsequent authentication steps, providing tokens that are required to access microservices' endpoints.

Benefits of Using AWS Cognito with FAMS

·        Seamless Integration: AWS Cognito integrates well with AWS services and can work in tandem with FAMS for initial authentication.

·        Token-based security: After initial authentication with FAMS, Cognito handles token-based authentication for cloud resources.

·        Flexibility: Offers the ability to switch between different authentication providers.

Sequence Flow in a Microservices Environment

 

Conclusion

Two-tier authentication using both FAMS and AWS Cognito offers a comprehensive authentication strategy for microservices, bridging on-premises systems and cloud architectures. It ensures that microservices are only accessed by authenticated clients and services, upholding the principles of security and integrity.