What is the purpose of SAML in authentication?

The primary purpose of SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) in authentication is to allow for single sign-on (SSO) configurations. SAML enables users to authenticate once and gain access to multiple applications and services without needing to repeatedly enter their credentials. This simplification enhances user experience and streamlines the authentication process across different platforms.

SAML achieves this by allowing identity providers (IdP) to send security assertions to service providers (SP), thereby confirming users' identities and authorizing access to various services based on that single authentication event. This means users benefit from reduced credential fatigue and improved security management since they only manage one set of credentials rather than multiple passwords for different services.

While the other options relate to aspects of user management and security, they do not capture the essential function of SAML. Providing multiple passwords complicates the user experience, creating user profiles is more about user management than authentication, and managing VPN access is not a core characteristic of SAML itself but can be influenced by SSO configurations.