Terms

OAuth

OAuth is an open-standard authorization framework that allows applications to gain secure, delegated access to user data from another service without exposing the user's password. Instead of sharing credentials, it uses authorization tokens to grant specific permissions for a limited time. This process allows a user to approve one application to interact with another on their behalf without ever handing over their password.

OAuth Use Cases

OAuth is a cornerstone of modern application security, enabling seamless and secure interactions across the internet. It allows users to grant limited access to their data without sharing passwords, which is useful in many common scenarios. Some of the most prevalent use cases include:

  • Logins: Using social media accounts like Google or Facebook to sign into third-party websites.
  • Sharing: Granting permission for an app to post content to your social media feeds on your behalf.
  • Integrations: Connecting applications, like allowing a calendar app to access your Google Calendar data.
  • Devices: Authorizing smart home devices and other IoT products to connect securely to cloud services.

OAuth Security Considerations

While OAuth enhances security by eliminating the need to share passwords, its implementation has a large security surface area. Proper configuration is crucial to prevent common vulnerabilities and protect user data from being exposed.

  • Phishing: Malicious apps can mimic login pages to steal user credentials during authorization.
  • Tokens: Intercepted bearer tokens can be reused by attackers to gain unauthorized access.
  • Redirects: Unvalidated redirect URIs can be exploited to steal authorization codes or tokens.
  • Scope: Granting excessive permissions exposes more data than necessary if an app is compromised.
  • CSRF: Flows are vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery without proper state parameter validation.

OAuth vs. OpenID Connect

While often used together, OAuth and OpenID Connect serve distinct but complementary purposes in application security.

  • OAuth: This framework focuses on authorization, granting applications limited access to resources without sharing passwords. It's ideal for enterprises and mid-market companies needing to secure APIs or enable delegated access for third-party integrations. However, it does not verify a user's identity on its own.
  • OpenID Connect: This is an authentication layer built on top of OAuth 2.0 that verifies user identity and enables single sign-on (SSO). Companies prefer it for creating seamless login experiences across web and mobile apps, effectively combining authentication with OAuth's authorization capabilities.

OAuth Implementation Best Practices

Always use OAuth 2.0, as it is more secure and designed for modern web and mobile applications. Ensure all communications happen over HTTPS to protect tokens while in transit. Implement short-lived access tokens with a clear expiration and revocation strategy to limit the window of opportunity for attackers.

To prevent common vulnerabilities, always use the 'state' parameter for CSRF protection and whitelist redirect URIs. Request the minimum necessary permissions (scopes) to reduce the data exposed if an application is compromised. Finally, keep all client secrets confidential and never embed them in public applications.

OAuth in Modern Applications

OAuth is a fundamental protocol in modern application development, enabling secure interactions between services. It allows users to grant applications limited access to their data on other platforms without ever sharing their passwords. This token-based system is crucial for everything from social logins to complex API integrations.

  • Delegation: Allows an application to access a user's data or perform actions on their behalf in another service.
  • Security: Uses temporary access tokens instead of passwords, minimizing the risk of credential exposure.
  • Integration: Facilitates seamless connections for social media, single sign-on (SSO), and API access across platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions about OAuth

How is OAuth 2.0 different from OAuth 1.0?

OAuth 2.0 is a complete rewrite, not backward-compatible with 1.0. It simplifies the process by relying on HTTPS for security instead of complex signatures, making it much easier to implement for web and mobile applications and offering more flexible authorization grant types.

Can OAuth be used for authentication by itself?

No, OAuth 2.0 is strictly an authorization framework for granting access to resources. It doesn't verify a user's identity. For authentication, you need to use a protocol like OpenID Connect (OIDC), which is built on top of OAuth 2.0 to handle identity verification.

Are bearer tokens secure?

Bearer tokens are only as secure as their transport and storage. Since anyone possessing the token can use it, they must be transmitted exclusively over HTTPS. Implementing short token lifespans and secure client-side storage is crucial to mitigating risk if a token is compromised.

Other terms

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Letter of Intent

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Channel Marketing

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Cross-Site Scripting

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CRM Integration

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CRM Integration

Bounce Rate

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Data-Driven Lead Generation

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Messaging Strategy

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Audience Targeting

Audience targeting is the process of segmenting consumers into specific groups to deliver more personalized and relevant marketing messages.

Audience Targeting

Rapport Building

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Sales Productivity

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Persona-Based Marketing

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Conversion Rate

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Product Recommendations

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Internal signals

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Rollback Procedures

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Rollback Procedures

No Spam

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Ballpark

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Ballpark

Customer Relationship Management Systems

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Customer Relationship Management Systems

Site Retargeting

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B2B Marketing Channels

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Call Analytics

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Call Analytics

Conversational Intelligence

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Account-Based Sales Development

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Account-Based Sales Development

Sales Pipeline Reporting

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Sales Pipeline Reporting

Targeted Marketing

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Master Service Agreement

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Consultative Sales

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Generic Keywords

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Product-Market Fit

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Lead Routing

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Below the Line

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Below the Line

Video Selling

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Deal Closing

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Email Verification

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Business to customer

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Forecasting

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Revenue Intelligence

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Amortization

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Amortization

Version Control Systems

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Statement of Work

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Decision Buying Stage

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Sales Development

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Employee Engagement

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B2B Demand Generation

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Data Appending

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Ad-hoc Reporting

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Ad-hoc Reporting

High Availability

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B2B Marketing Attribution

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Dynamic Segment

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WordPress

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Value-Added Reseller

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Overcoming Objections

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Tire-Kicker

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Gamification

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XML

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Interactive Voice Response

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Funnel Optimization

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Sender Policy Framework

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Sales Forecast Accuracy

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Sales Playbook

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Lead Conversion

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Call for Proposal

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Employee Advocacy

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Account-Based Analytics

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Value Chain

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Email Deliverability Rate

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ClickFunnels

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B2B Data Solutions

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B2B Data Solutions

White Label

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Adobe Analytics

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Private Labeling

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Marketing Budget Breakdown

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Marketing Budget Breakdown

Sales Partnerships

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Sales Partnerships

Average Revenue per User

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Average Revenue per User

Cost Per Click (CPC)

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Lightning Components

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Voice Search Optimization

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Voice Search Optimization

Customer Lifecycle

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Customer Lifecycle

AI Data Enrichment

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AI Data Enrichment

Cloud-based CRM

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Customer Buying Signals

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Service Level Agreement

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Service Level Agreement

Outbound Leads

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Referral Marketing

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Referral Marketing

Proof of Concept

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Proof of Concept

SFDC

SFDC stands for Salesforce Dot Com, a popular cloud-based CRM platform that helps companies manage their customer interactions and data.

SFDC

Marketing Funnel

The marketing funnel is a model illustrating the path potential customers take, from initial awareness to making a purchase.

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CDP

A Customer Data Platform (CDP) is software that gathers and organizes customer data from various touchpoints into a single, unified profile.

CDP

Marketing Qualified Account

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Marketing Qualified Account

Average Order Value

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Average Order Value

Content Syndication

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Content Syndication

B2B Data Erosion

Learn about B2B data erosion, including causes of B2B data decay, strategies to combat data erosion, & measuring the impact of data erosion.

B2B Data Erosion

Direct-to-Consumer

Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) is a business model where companies sell products directly to customers, bypassing traditional retail middlemen.

Direct-to-Consumer

Win/Loss Analysis

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Closed Opportunities

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Video Prospecting

Video prospecting is the sales technique of sending personalized videos to potential customers to grab their attention and secure more meetings.

Video Prospecting

Account-Based Selling

Account-Based Selling is a B2B strategy where sales and marketing treat high-value accounts as markets of one, using personalized outreach.

Account-Based Selling

Content Delivery Network

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Content Delivery Network

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)

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Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)