In recent years, Okta has taken a strong stance against identity-enabled cybercrime. Their Secure Identity Commitment focuses on boosting industry standards while leveraging new technologies like AI. They aim to transform nonprofits and open pathways into tech for everyone.
When Okta announced a new standard for identity security in SaaS applications, it caught attention. The Interoperability Profile for Secure Identity in the Enterprise (IPSIE) provides an open framework for SaaS companies to enhance security throughout their technology ecosystems.
In an October 2024 announcement, CEO Todd McKinnon stressed the necessity for massive standardization: every app, device, and workload should share a common language. By adopting IPSIE, users can gain visibility into their identity environments, manage access effectively, and respond to threats in real time.
Okta aims to create a consistent and flexible SaaS ecosystem, allowing organizations to improve their security protocols seamlessly. With IPSIE, any enterprise application becomes more manageable and secure. Apps built to this standard support essential security measures like multi-factor authentication and real-time Universal Logout.
So far, 50 enterprise SaaS applications have signed on, including Google, Microsoft Office 365, Slack, and Salesforce. Harish Peri from Okta asserts that IPSIE ensures every app and API meets a security standard. He emphasized that Okta is collaborating with the OpenID Foundation to develop IPSIE, aiming for interoperability between various software implementations.
Gail Hodges from the OpenID Foundation expressed optimism about IPSIE’s potential to sync specifications for improved security and consistency across applications. According to Shiv Ramji, Okta’s president of customer identity cloud, IPSIE’s goal is to streamline security for all users. He believes that widespread adoption across the industry will lead to better overall security outcomes.
Ramji highlighted Universal Logout as a critical feature. It allows for immediate termination of user sessions if any risk is detected. Stephen McDermid, Okta’s EMEA chief security officer, believes this feature minimizes risks in real-time, moving beyond traditional security measures.
As of April 2025, there were over 150 integrations with Okta’s systems, and users are increasingly asking how they can support IPSIE. Ramji explained that users can easily enable IPSIE and Universal Logout through their Okta dashboard.
Okta’s largest customers are eager to get all their applications integrated with IPSIE. Peri and Ramji stressed that this initiative isn’t about dominance; it’s about benefiting the industry as a whole.
As for industry reception, Cisco has joined the IPSIE Working Group, emphasizing the importance of interoperability. Analysts suggest that while standards proposed by single suppliers often struggle, IPSIE has a solid chance with backing from multiple stakeholders.
The path ahead for IPSIE might be long and challenging, but there’s a hopeful sentiment surrounding its impact on identity security. The broader the participation, the stronger the potential benefits for everyone involved.