How do you secure an app when there isn't any internet to verify user identity and enforce access policies?
Offline apps—apps that operate without constant access to the network—are becoming the new standard. Businesses are investing in offline-first apps to deliver end-to-end reliability in remote locations, improve user experience, and reduce dependence on cloud connectivity. Having said this, these apps can also introduce a security threat. Traditional identity and access management (IAM) systems operate on real-time authentication, which is not possible when an app operates offline.
Without IAM security controls, offline apps are vulnerable to unauthorized access, credential misuse, and data breaches. Offline authentication is more difficult when no provision exists to validate credentials in real time with an identity provider. Similarly, enforcing role-based access control (RBAC) and Zero Trust principles is challenging when policies cannot be dynamically updated.
To address these problems, businesses need new IAM solutions that can effectively work offline. Secure offline storage of data, pre-synced access rules, and biometric authentication are just a few methods of maintaining security without the constant need for connectivity.
This blog explores how IAM can be implemented for disconnected apps, the risks involved, and what businesses can do to provide identity and access even when there is no internet.
With internet connectivity available almost everywhere, it's fair to assume that apps always rely on an active network connection. However, disconnected apps, or offline-first apps, are essential in most industries. Disconnected apps are designed to work even without the internet, syncing data and updates as soon as the internet is back.
In contrast to typical cloud-based applications, offline-first applications prioritize local functionality. They store secure offline data, perform transactions, and authenticate users without reference to a central server. Here are some of the main features:
There are many industries that make use of disconnected apps to offer seamless operations in situations where connectivity is unavailable or unreliable.
Reliability is one of the primary reasons why companies are opting for offline-first apps. Network outages, whether due to poor infrastructure, mobility, or security concerns, should not bring operations to a halt. Companies also value the security and privacy benefits. Locally stored data reduces reliance on third-party servers and minimizes vulnerability to cyber attacks.
Although these apps solve many operational intricacies, they introduce new IAM security challenges.
Traditional identity and access management systems are based on real-time authentication and policy checking, both of which are hard to do when an application is offline.
Some of the most significant IAM security challenges that businesses face while protecting offline-first apps are as follows:
Offline authentication challenges
When an app can’t communicate with an identity provider, user identification becomes an issue. Common problem-solving methods include cached credentials, biometric authentication, and temporary passwords. While they let users sign in without a network connection, these solutions also have risks. Cached credentials can expire or be stolen, temporary passwords can be stolen, and biometric authentication requires secure local storage of user information.
Role-based access control without cloud verification
It’s difficult to apply role-based access control when IAM servers are out of reach. If an application relies on preconfigured roles, outdated access information can grant unauthorized users privileges for longer periods than intended.
Secure data storage and encryption
Offline apps have the tendency to cache sensitive data locally, making it simple for unauthorized parties to access the information. Without encryption, data stored is vulnerable if a device is lost or compromised.
Synchronizing identity policies on reconnect
When an app reconnects from being offline, it needs to synchronize identity policies and implement any modifications that have been done while it was offline. In case of revocation of a user's access or modifications to permissions, these changes must be effective immediately. However, such asynchronous synchronization can lead to conflicts, stale tokens, or security vulnerabilities where the incorrect users maintain their access for longer periods than they should.
Compliance and auditability concerns
A number of industries require strict compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA. User authentication and access control audit trails are harder in disconnected environments.
As more businesses adopt offline-first apps, identity and access protection in disconnected environments will require new strategies.
Connected apps are protected by IAM strategies that rely on live cloud availability. For disconnected apps, the normal authentication and access models need to be adapted in order to achieve security, even in an offline state.
Offline-first authentication models
Without an internet connection, the authentication will have to be from locally cached credentials or other authenticating methods. Biometric authentication such as fingerprint or facial recognition offers a safe and easy solution because biometric data is stored on the device rather than in cloud verification.
Another option is the use of expiring offline access tokens, which provide temporary access but automatically expire to prevent misuse.
Pre-synced role-based access control policies
Enabling RBAC in offline scenarios requires IAM policies to be preinstalled on devices. This allows the app to locally authenticate access even when it can’t reach an IAM server. The policies need to have expiration controls so that stale permissions do not linger indefinitely. Synchronizing refreshed policies when the device returns online is required to maintain a Zero Trust approach in offline scenarios.
Data security and encryption best practices
As individual apps store sensitive data locally, there has to be strong encryption that can’t be accessed otherwise. AES-256 encryption is an established standard for offline data encryption. The authentication keys have to be stored in secure enclaves or trusted platform modules so that they can’t be manipulated. In addition, through automated local encryption and decryption practices, even if a device is compromised, stored data becomes unavailable to unauthorized personnel.
Secure syncing and policy enforcement on reconnect
On reconnect of an offline application, IAM must first refresh security policies, denied access, and audit logs. Delays in syncing these updates leave security gaps behind where the expired access rights remain active for longer durations than planned. Event logs need to capture offline user activity and securely sync it so that it conforms to security and regulatory compliance standards.
Decentralized identity and blockchain for offline IAM
One of the newer IAM solutions for disconnected environments is decentralized identity. Self-sovereign identity technologies allow users to authenticate themselves using locally retained verifiable credentials rather than relying on a centralized IAM provider. Blockchain-based authentication could also facilitate secure offline verification by enabling cryptographic identity verification without direct internet connectivity. While these technologies are still (relatively) in its early stages, they hold great potential as long-term solutions for protecting disconnected apps.
Applying these IAM strategies can help organizations have security even in offline-first situations.
As more companies adopt offline-first apps, the future of IAM will need to consider offline security needs. Emerging technologies like AI-fueled IAM security, edge computing, and decentralized identity are transforming how businesses protect disconnected apps.
AI-based IAM for adaptive offline security
Artificial intelligence is strengthening offline IAM security through enabling adaptive authentication behavior. These solutions are capable of analyzing user activity, device environment, and past behavior in order to decide risk and offer dynamic access privileges. This makes authentication and access policy secure without an internet connection.
Edge computing and local IAM enforcement
Edge computing is playing an important role in localized IAM enforcement through authenticating and managing access at the device level. Instead of relying on identity authentication in the cloud, IAM policies run locally and introduce less latency while ensuring continuous security. With more large businesses adopting edge-based authentication solutions, IAM security will be improved, even in disconnected environments.
Decentralized identity as a long-term solution
Decentralized identity offers a sustainable alternative to traditional IAM approaches. With the use of self-sovereign identity (SSI), users can store their credentials on personal devices and authenticate without a centralized IAM provider. Secure, tamper-proof verification using blockchain-based technology makes decentralized identity a scalable solution for offline authentication.
The evolution of traditional IAM models
To facilitate hybrid online-offline security, legacy identity and access management systems must support multi-layered authentication methods such as biometric authentication, AI-driven risk analysis, and end-to-end encrypted local storage of credentials. Organizations require IAM frameworks that can switch between offline and online modes easily so that they can always have protection in absence or presence of the network.
Securing apps is required for the protection of private data, controlling access, and being compliant. A comprehensive IAM strategy enables companies to maintain security even when there is no cloud connectivity.
Reach out to us at info@anomalix.com to learn how we can help you protect your offline-first apps and minimize security risks typically associated with disconnected apps.
