OpenID Connect (OIDC)

Concept

An authentication protocol built on top of OAuth 2.0 that uses compact JSON tokens to handle sign-in; Microsoft recommends it as the default for new cloud apps.

Title graphic: OpenID Connect (OIDC) (Concept)

Type	Concept

Key points about OpenID Connect (OIDC)

OpenID Connect answers the question every app has to ask: who is this person? · OpenID Connect - Simply Explained
SAML and OpenID Connect are the two protocols compared for carrying that proof between the identity provider and apps. · Single Sign-On (SSO) - Simply Explained

Episodes about OpenID Connect (OIDC)

Service Principal Security

2026-05-12 · Video on YouTube

Learn why personal accounts create automation risk and how service principals, managed identities, least privilege, and monitoring improve cloud security.

OpenID Connect - Simply Explained

2026-10-28 · Video on YouTube

You've used OpenID Connect more times this week than you realize, and you never knew its name. It answers one simple question every app has to ask, and that question is who is this person. In this episode of Simply Explained you will learn: - The sign-in you…

Single Sign-On (SSO) - Simply Explained

2026-10-29 · Video on YouTube

You've signed in twice today and never typed a single password. One login is replacing the dozens of accounts you used to juggle, and it's happening in almost every company. In this episode of Simply Explained you will learn: - Why One Login Feels Like Magic…

Timeline of episodes about OpenID Connect (OIDC)

Articles about OpenID Connect (OIDC) (1)

SAML vs OpenID Connect: Choosing the Right Protocol for Microsoft Entra ID
2026-10-30 · Mirko Peters
Compare SAML and OpenID Connect (OIDC) protocols in Microsoft Entra ID. Learn the key technical differences, use cases, and when to choose each standard.

Frequently asked questions

What is OpenID Connect?

OpenID Connect is a shared set of rules that lets one app trust another app to confirm your identity. It answers the question of who this person is. · From the episode: OpenID Connect - Simply Explained

Why isn't OAuth 2.0 enough for sign-in?

OAuth 2.0 lets one app reach your data without your password, but it was not built to tell an app who you are. OpenID Connect adds the identity layer on top, answering who this person is. · From the episode: OpenID Connect - Simply Explained

Where does OpenID Connect appear in Microsoft 365?

OpenID Connect sits underneath the Microsoft sign-ins you do every morning in Microsoft 365 and Azure. You use it many times a week without knowing its name, because it answers the simple question of who is signing in. · From the episode: OpenID Connect - Simply Explained

What is the difference between SAML and OpenID Connect?

Both are protocols that let an identity provider vouch for a user to an app. The episode compares them as the two main ways this trust is passed along. · From the episode: Single Sign-On (SSO) - Simply Explained

Glossary

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Sources

Feed for this topic (RSS): entity/openid-connect/feed.xml
M365.FM episodes on this topic: 3
Articles on this topic: 1

Maintained by Mirko Peters (Microsoft MVP) · Last updated: 2026-11-03