JSON Web Token (JWT) is an open standard (RFC 7519) for securely transmitting information between parties as a JSON object. Commonly used in authentication and authorization workflows, JWT provides a secure way to validate user identity, exchange tokens, and ensure data integrity. JWT is widely applied in RESTful APIs, modern software architectures, and token-based authentication systems. By integrating JWT with Frends iPaaS, businesses can automate token handling, validate and decode JWT for secure transactions, and enable interoperability between systems.

Business use cases

Authentication for REST APIs

JWT is often used for authentication in API-driven architectures. Frends workflows can process JWT tokens to enforce secure API interactions. For example, when a frontend application sends a request to an API, Frends can validate the JWT token, extract user identity, and confirm proper access permissions before processing the API request.

Token generation for user authentication

Frends can act as an intermediary for generating JWT tokens during the login process. For example, when a user successfully logs in through an authentication system like OAuth2 or OpenID Connect, Frends can generate a JWT containing encrypted user claims (e.g., roles, ID) and return the token to the client application for subsequent authorization.

Integration with custom authentication solutions

Organizations using custom identity and access management (IAM) systems can integrate them with Frends for JWT token handling. For instance, Frends workflows can extract claims from a token issued by an internal system, validate its signature and expiry, and enrich user attributes for other downstream applications.

Role-based access control automation

JWT commonly includes user roles and permissions within its claims. Frends workflows can validate JWT tokens and extract roles to enforce role-based access control (RBAC) rules. For example, upon extracting roles like "admin" or "report_viewer," Frends can permit or deny users access to specific services or data.

Single sign-on (SSO) integration

JWT is a common mechanism for enabling Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication across various connected systems. Frends can act as a middleware between the SSO provider (e.g., Okta, Auth0, Keycloak) and consuming applications. For instance, Frends workflows can validate SSO-generated JWT tokens before granting users access to target applications.

Protecting microservices communication

Microservices use JWT between services for secure inter-service communication. Frends workflows can validate JWTs for each service-to-service call, ensuring secure and authenticated interactions. For example, when a microservice forwards a request containing a JWT, Frends can authenticate the token, verify the claims, and route the request to the appropriate downstream service.

Integration with third-party APIs

Many third-party APIs require JWT-based authentication for secure interactions. Frends workflows can automate token generation, signing, and insertion into API calls. For instance, when integrating with APIs like Zoom, Salesforce, or payment gateways, Frends can generate JWT tokens according to API requirements and attach them to authorized requests.

API gateway token validation

Frends workflows can integrate with API gateways like AWS API Gateway, Azure API Management, or Kong to provide JWT validation as part of the request-handling process. For example, Frends can inspect tokens sent to the API gateway, validate their signatures, and pass the claims to backend services for further processing.

Custom token signing and verification

Frends can serve as a middleware layer for creating custom JWT tokens with specific claims and verifying signatures. For instance, before granting access to an e-commerce checkout service, Frends can generate a JWT containing user ID, cart ID, and session expiry data. Downstream services would validate the token to ensure the transaction remains secure.

Revoking tokens for session management

Revocation of JWT tokens is essential when managing user sessions or handling compromised tokens. Frends can integrate with session tracking systems to enforce revocation policies. For example, Frends workflows can check tokens against a blacklist or database before granting access, ensuring revoked tokens are no longer valid.

Token transformation for compatibility

Some systems may require tokens issued in different formats or with unique claims. Frends workflows can transform JWTs into the expected structure. For instance, Frends can decode an incoming JWT, modify its claims, and re-sign the token with a new secret or algorithm to meet integration requirements.

Token expiration monitoring and refresh

JWTs have expiry timestamps (exp) that ensure tokens are short-lived for security purposes. Frends can automate the refresh process for expired tokens by integrating with an OAuth token endpoint. For example, Frends workflows can identify expired tokens, fetch new access tokens using valid refresh tokens, and update applications securely.

Secure API proxying with token validation

Frends can act as a secure API proxy, validating JWT tokens before forwarding requests to backend services. For example, an external application could send API requests containing JWT tokens to Frends, where workflows validate the token, log access attempts, and forward the approved requests to internal systems.

Logging and auditing of authenticated sessions

JWT can provide user data that Frends workflows can log for auditing purposes. For example, when a user accesses a service, Frends can decode the JWT to extract attributes such as user ID, session timestamp, or client IP and log this data in platforms like Splunk or Elasticsearch for security audits.

Integration with CI/CD pipelines

JWT-based systems are commonly used to secure API interactions in CI/CD pipelines. Frends workflows can generate or validate tokens needed for CI/CD jobs, ensuring only authorized calls are made. For instance, Frends can integrate token processing into Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or Azure DevOps build pipelines.

Authentication for event-driven systems

In event-driven architectures using message brokers like Kafka, RabbitMQ, or ActiveMQ, Frends can validate JWT tokens attached to messages. For example, when a producer appends a JWT to a Kafka message, Frends workflows can authenticate the event and verify the token before allowing it to be consumed by other services.

Token-based integration for mobile apps

Frends workflows can handle JWT-based authentication for mobile applications by collaborating with authentication servers and backend APIs. For example, when a mobile app uses JWT for API calls, Frends can validate the token, enrich the request with additional claims, and forward it to target services on behalf of the app.

Proxying tokens for multi-tenant applications

Multi-tenant applications often require token propagation and transformation. Frends workflows can proxy JWTs across different tenants while enforcing token rules. For instance, Frends can route tenant-specific requests containing JWTs and enforce service-level claim validation on behalf of a multi-tenant backend architecture.

IoT device authentication

IoT platforms frequently use JWT to authenticate devices. Frends workflows can validate device tokens before pushing or pulling data from IoT services like AWS IoT Core or Google IoT Core. For example, Frends can decode a device’s token to check its device_id or firmware_version claims before granting access to sensitive telemetry data.

Data access control with signed tokens

Frends can enforce data access control using JWT encoded with granular claims. For example, a token may specify a user ID, access scope, and permitted actions. Frends workflows can decode and verify these tokens to determine whether a request can access restricted data or perform specific operations.