What is SSO and How Does SSO Work?

Users may safely access several apps and services with the help of a Single Sign-On (SSO), a user authentication mechanism, by utilizing only one set of credentials. Whether Slack, Asana, Google Workspace, or Zoom are essential to your daily operations, SSO gives you a pop-up widget or login page with only one password that grants you access to all linked apps. Using SSO, you just need one password each day as opposed to twelve.

The days of needing to remember and input several passwords are over, and having to change forgotten passwords is no longer a hassle thanks to single sign-on. A variety of platforms and apps are accessed by users without them having to log in each time.

In this article, we will cover the following topics related to SSO:

• What does SSO mean?

• What are the types of SSO?

• What are the examples of SSO?

• Who uses SSO?

• What is the Importance of SSO?

• What are the advantages of SSO?

• What are the risks of SSO?

• How is SSO implemented?

• What are the SSO Vendors?

• Is SSO Secure?

• What is the difference between authentication and SSO?

• What is the difference between SSO and FIM?

• What is the difference between SSO and MFA?

What does SSO mean?

SSO is a mechanism that substitutes one login window for several ones for numerous apps. A user may access all of their SaaS services with SSO by just logging in once on a single page (username, password, etc.).

When user applications are allocated to and controlled by an internal IT team, SSO is frequently utilized in business contexts. SSO has advantages for remote employees who utilize SaaS services.

Imagine if patrons who had already been admitted to a bar were required to provide their identity card each time they tried to make a second alcoholic beverage purchase in order to verify their age. Some customers would become impatient with the frequent inspections and could even try to get around them by smuggling in their own drinks.

The majority of businesses, however, will simply once verify a customer's identity before offering them multiple beverages during the course of an evening. This is similar to an SSO system in that a user just needs to establish their identity once to access a variety of services as opposed to doing it repeatedly.

Several identity and access management (IAM) or access control solutions use SSO as a key component. Verifying user identification is essential for determining which rights each user needs. One example of an access control program that works with SSO programs to manage users' identities is Cloudflare Zero Trust.

What are the Types of SSO?

While recognizing and dealing with SSO, it's important to be aware of a number of rules and standards. Types of SSO are listed below:

• Security Access Markup Language (SAML): An open standard called SAML allows for the sharing of identifying data while encoding text into machine language. It now serves as one of the fundamental SSO standards and aids application providers in ensuring the appropriateness of their authentication requests. Information may be communicated over a web browser thanks to SAML 2.0, which is specially designed for usage in online applications.

• Open Authorization (OAuth): OAuth is an open-standard permission system that uses machine code encryption to communicate identity data between apps. This is especially useful for native apps since it allows users to provide application access to their data in another application without them having to explicitly verify their identity.

• OpenID Connect (OIDC): OIDC is layered on top of OAuth 2.0 to add user-specific data and allow SSO. It enables the usage of a single login session across several apps. For instance, instead of typing user credentials, it allows a user to check in to a service using their Facebook or Google account.

• Kerberos: Over insecure network connections, the user and server can mutually authenticate each other by checking the other's identity thanks to the Kerberos protocol. Users and software programs like email clients or wiki servers are authenticated using a ticket-granting service that distributes tokens.

• Smart card authentication: Hardware, such as actual smart card devices that users insert onto their computers, is another option for classic SSO that can help with the same procedure. To authenticate the user, computer software communicates with cryptographic keys stored on a smart card. The smart cards must be physically carried by the user, raising the danger of being misplaced, and they can be costly to use even if they are extremely secure and require a PIN to work.

What are the Examples of SSO?

The most common SSO services that enable end users to log in to third-party applications with their credentials are given below:

• Facebook: Facebook's SSO enables users to sign in to a multitude of third-party websites and applications using their Facebook credentials. This provides users with a secure and streamlined experience, as they do not need to establish distinct accounts for each service.
• Google: Google's SSO enables users to sign in to a multitude of third-party websites and applications using their Google account. This provides users with a secure and streamlined experience, as they do not need to establish distinct accounts for each service.
• Okta: Okta's SSO enables users to enroll in to a variety of third-party websites and applications using their Okta credentials. This provides users with a secure and streamlined experience, as they do not need to establish distinct accounts for each service.
• Microsoft: Microsoft's SSO enables users to sign in to a multitude of third-party websites and applications using their Microsoft account. This provides users with a secure and streamlined experience, as they do not need to establish distinct accounts for each service.
• OneLogin: OneLogin's SSO enables users to sign in to a variety of third-party websites and applications using their OneLogin credentials. This provides users with a secure and streamlined experience, as they do not need to establish distinct accounts for each service.
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Apple
• Duo/Cisco SSO
• MicroFocus/NetIQ Access Manager
• ManageEngine/Zoho Identity Manager Plus
• Idaptive Single Sign-On

Consider yourself a user attempting to access a server-based resource in a single sign-on scenario. Here is how SSO operates in terms of the order of events:

1. You try to reach the service provider; once more, this is usually through a program or website you want to use.
2. The service provider transmits a token containing some of your personal information, such as your email address, to the identity provider (IdP), which is your SSO system, as part of a request to authenticate the user.
3. If you have previously been authenticated, the identity provider will provide you access to the service provider application and move on to step 5 if not.
4. If you haven't logged in, you'll be asked to do so by giving the identity provider's requested credentials.
5. The identity provider will provide a token back to the service provider after these credentials have been verified to show that you have been authenticated.
6. Your browser transmits this token to the service provider.
7. Once obtained, the token is verified in accordance with the trust relationship established at the initial configuration between the service provider and the identity provider.
8. The service provider allows the user access.

Who uses SSO?

SSO may be a great way for businesses and individuals to manage their credentials. The following groups could find SSO helpful:

• Big organizations: Employers may decide to grant workers access to internal systems and software by using SSO systems to verify their identity.
• Small businesses: SSO may benefit smaller businesses in terms of both workers and customers. Due to the simplicity of SSO and the added benefit of security, they may find that allowing SSO as a means of purchasing a product or creating an account on their website increases sales.
• Individuals: SSO streamlines the login process and centralizes everything so users can visit various websites easily and securely without having to remember unique passwords.

What is the Importance of SSO?

SSO is crucial because there are ever more corporate services and accounts that users need to manage access to, and each of these services requires the level of protection that a username and password combination typically offers. But, administrators and users who struggle to pick secure passwords for several accounts may find it difficult to provide and manage all those accounts. Single sign-on maintains secure application access while centralizing the procedure for administrators and users.

SSO can be implemented using a variety of standards, but they all adhere to the same fundamental structure. The crucial aspect is that they let apps delegate control over user authentication to another application or service.

The SSO platform is viewed by the system administrator as a single location where user IDs may be handled. For instance, access to a variety of internal programs may be suddenly disabled when an employee departs a business.

What are the Advantages of SSO?

SSO is often regarded as being more secure in addition to being significantly easier and more practical for users. How can logging in only once with a single password be safer than logging in several times with different passwords may seem paradoxical. SSO proponents give the following justifications:

• Stronger passwords: SSO makes it simpler for users to generate, remember, and utilize stronger passwords because they only need to use one password. In actuality, the majority of users do use stronger passwords using SSO. What qualifies as a "strong" password? Strong passwords are difficult to guess and are sufficiently unpredictable to make a brute force attempt unlikely to succeed. A reasonably secure password is w7:g"5h$G@; password123 is not.

• No re-use of passwords: Password fatigue, a condition where users reuse passwords across services, is likely to develop when users have to remember passwords for several distinct apps and services. Because all services are only as safe as the one with the weakest password protection, using the same password across several services poses a serious security risk. If the password database of one service is breached, hackers might use that password to access all of the user's other services. By consolidating all logins into a single login, SSO avoids this situation.

• Improved password policy enforcement: As SSO only requires one password input point, IT teams can more simply implement password security guidelines. For instance, several businesses mandate that customers update their passwords on a regular basis. Password resets are simpler to accomplish with SSO since users just need to reset one password instead of often changing it across several apps and services. (While the benefit of routine password resets has been questioned, some IT teams still see them as a crucial component of their security plan.)

• Multi-factor authentication: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is the process of authenticating a person by using more than one identification factor. A user could be required to connect a USB device or input a code that displays on their smartphone in addition to providing a login and password, for instance. A second "factor" that confirms the user is who they claim they are in possession of this tangible thing. MFA is far more secure than depending just on a password. Instead of needing to activate MFA for three, four, or several dozen apps, which might not be practical, SSO enables MFA to be activated once.

• Password re-entry enforcement from a single point: Administrators can demand users input their credentials again after a predetermined period of inactivity to confirm that they are still using the same device that they logged in with. Instead of having to enforce it across several applications, some of which might not support it, they can accomplish this for all internal apps from a single location using SSO.

• Internal handling of credentials as opposed to external storage: User credentials are typically kept insecurely remotely by programs and services that may or may not adhere to proper security guidelines. Nevertheless, with SSO, they are kept in-house in a setting that an IT team has more control over.

• Less time is lost on password recovery: In addition to the security advantages mentioned above, SSO saves internal teams time. Users spend less time logging into several applications to complete their tasks, while IT spends less time assisting users in recovering or changing their passwords for dozens of apps. The potential for this is to boost corporate productivity.

What are the risks of SSO?

It's crucial to first understand the hazards of SSO. Like any other method of access, SSO carries implicit security flaws. Knowing the hazards of single sign-on can help your business design a safe solution, even while those risks can be reduced by putting in place extra controls like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and session management.

SSO generally cares more about granting access than about limiting it. Having additional access does not necessarily make sense in a period when malware-based assaults are common. Notwithstanding the advantages already highlighted, there are a number of hazards associated with using SSO, and the risks of SSO are listed below:

• Instant Access to More Than Just the Endpoint: External attackers frequently target login credentials (61% of data breaches contain login data). With SSO in place, a malicious user instantly gains access to all associated apps, systems, data sets, and environments once they get first access to an authorized SSO account. SSO is hazardous since it is so beneficial to users. Moreover, after infecting an endpoint with malware to take control of it, external attackers have post-logon access to anything linked to the business through SSO, broadening their attack surface.

• Less-Than-Perfect Control over Access Once Granted: Let's assume that a user has successfully signed in using SSO and has been given access to extra external cloud-based apps. Following that, the user is taken in by a phishing scam, allowing an attacker access to the endpoint. The account can undoubtedly be disabled if it is discovered. But, because of how Windows operates, the user stays logged on, and, depending on the SSO solution used and the security architecture of the associated application, it is feasible for an attacker to stay signed on with access to a specific program.

• Little-to-No Adherence to the Principle of Least Privilege: According to the least privilege concept, users should only have access to the data, programs, and systems they absolutely need to perform their duties. Moreover, it frequently requires the need for distinct credentials for enhanced access. SSO goes against the notion of forcing the user to authenticate each and every time they need to access anything new because it is all about providing access with a single authentication.

How is SSO Implemented?

Employees log into a variety of software systems meant to make everyday chores easier on a regular basis, including email, benefits systems, and other applications. It might be difficult to keep track of all the accounts and passwords connected to these products. Single sign-on (SSO) solutions are essential for reducing the burden of having to remember several credentials. The technical experts in charge of implementing identity and access management (IAM) efforts must balance user convenience with business security risk, making it more difficult to provide a decent SSO user experience.

SSO is a fundamental IAM need for most enterprises. Because employees use so many different software programs and because businesses are moving to the cloud, it is more important than ever to offer SSO without sacrificing security.

Here are the seven stages that must be completed in order to build a successful SSO architecture.

• Assess SSO goals in relation to the entire IAM program: See each IAM project as a chance to position the company to support future IAM transformation in addition to achieving particular functional objectives, such as installing SSO. Investigate your alternatives for deploying SSO and choose the ones that make the most sense for your company, both now and in the future. Organizations deploying, or reimplementing, SSO should work toward establishing IAM agility that will be able to react to future changes in business objectives and security expectations. This will help them remain ahead of the growing demands on IAM infrastructure.

• Determine users and needs, evaluate capabilities, and carry out gap analysis: Determine the organization's SSO needs, which encompass a number of important decision-making areas. For instance, the criteria for employee, business-to-business partner, and customer SSO might vary greatly. For some businesses, implementing an SSO solution across all user types and apps can be a major undertaking. Oftentimes, it makes it more logical to establish SSO for a select group of user constituencies in stages.

• Create a structure that supports SSO: Choose whether to utilize on-premises SSO software, a cloud solution like identity and access management as a service (IDaaS), or a hybrid strategy. The capacity of the business to run the SSO software safely and with high availability is one of the most crucial elements to take into account. Organizations that do not have regulatory obligations for on-premises IAM software are increasingly choosing to outsource their SSO functions. By 2022, up from 50% currently, more than 80% of new access management purchases would be made internationally.

• Establish the SSO access control needs: Making sure users are properly authorized is a crucial part of offering SSO. Use an adaptive trust-based strategy for user authentication in the environment of cyberattacks and phishing attempts of today. The continuous adaptive risk and trust assessment (CARTA) approach to identity corroboration evaluates a variety of signals, including both positive signals (like device and IP address recognition) that confirm the user is who they say they are and negative signals (like unusual behavior) that indicate increased risk.

• Examine additional needs: Assess any additional requirements related to the particular organization, such as access to Microsoft Office 365, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and APIs, after the fundamental architectural approach has been established.

• Adapt the architecture as necessary: When necessary, iterate and improve architectural strategies. Most of the time, it is not required for all employees to have SSO access to every application they use, especially if doing so would be disproportionately expensive for a seldom-used (or soon-to-be-replaced) application. Put the 80/20 rule to use.

• Establish the necessary specifications and vendor shortlists: Bridge the gaps between the current infrastructure and what is needed. This may be accomplished by updating current IAM technologies to more recent versions or by incorporating new software or services. Check again to make sure another division doesn't already have SSO software that might be used for the present endeavor in larger businesses with several business units or user communities. When it is practicable, an organization can gain from operational personnel and training by using the same software product for numerous SSO efforts, even if it has good reasons to deploy distinct SSO software instances for various user populations.

What are the SSO Vendors?

Any of the top SSO providers can assist you in streamlining your operations and giving all of your staff members simple access to numerous applications. The best SSO vendors are outlined below:

• Okta Identity Cloud: Single sign-on suppliers can use Okta to access all sites and cloud apps, including certain doors to secure places. Because of its adaptability, simplicity, and two-factor authentication for added protection, this is a leader in open-source SSO. Applications may be accessed anytime they are required from any device thanks to Okta. This gives you greater control and better user management so you can quickly and easily deploy changes throughout your workforce. From education and non-profits to financial services and government usage, Okta is appropriate for a variety of industries. Okta's absence of an on-premises option as it is exclusively a SaaS solution is one of its drawbacks (Software as a Service).

• OneLogin Unified Access Management Platform: The most popular open-source SSO providers for workforce access to cloud-based apps include OneLogin. OneLogin is perfect for all of your IT administrator needs and helps to enforce IT policy in real-time. It can also be updated instantly if changes take place, like an employee quitting. Another advantage of OneLogin is the cost savings it makes possible as a source of safe, one-click access. The traditional identification infrastructure expenses are no longer a significant time or cost factor, making this functionality viable. Due to its versatility as an SSO provider, OneLogin is appropriate for businesses of all sizes. Moreover, it offers additional access management features including on-premises security to restrict who may enter and access particular areas of a business.

• JumpCloud Directory-as-a-Service: Using JumpCloud Directory SSO is a key component of this cloud-based solution to Microsoft Active Directory and Okta that integrates access control and device management. JumpCloud's SSO offers automated user lifecycle management options including Just-in-Time (JIT) provisioning and SCIM provisioning/deprovisioning. JumpCloud SSO's main benefit is that IT administrators may extend a single user identity to almost any IT resource. JumpCloud can control access to servers, networks, and apps on-premises and in the cloud as well as to physical security systems. JumpCloud offers limitless testing for businesses of any size and a really free offering for those with 10 users or fewer. JumpCloud's whole Pro platform, including premium features, is free to use to manage up to 10 users and systems. Free premium 24-hour in-app assistance for 10 days is also offered to new JumpCloud accounts.

• Ping Intelligent Identity Platform: The third top SSO provider on the list and a more specialized category is Ping Identity, which comes next. Ping has the capacity to work with huge businesses and can support anywhere from a few hundred to a few million users. Its Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), which is offered in addition to the SSO solution, is another major identification feature. Ping's advantages include its capacity to let users enjoy security benefits and its emphasis on worker user experience. Ping offers a variety of cloud deployment options, including single-sign-on functionality or Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS), as well as containerized software that enables the running of certain apps rather than the full system.

• Idaptive: Idaptive, a forward-thinking SSO provider best suited for small to medium-sized enterprises, can serve several users simultaneously owing to the revolutionary cloud architecture it integrates. Think "secure" if you're thinking "Idaptive". With one integrated solution made possible by its Next Gen Access, Idaptive provides IDaaS, adaptive MFA, enterprise mobility management (EMM), and user behavior analytics (UBA). One of the main ports of entry for cyberattacks on businesses is through compromised credentials, which these skills assist prevent and continually protect businesses from.

• Microsoft Azure Active Directory (AD): Microsoft Azure AD is a must-see consideration for enterprises of all sizes that make use of the Azure cloud platform. On-premises control may be integrated thanks to a function called Azure AD Connect. The capabilities of Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) support SSO. This SSO provider offers SaaS SSO apps in addition to giving customers access to programs like Microsoft services, i.e. Office 365. Because of the many different features it offers, Azure AD is versatile and safe, helping with group management.

Is SSO Secure?

Yes. A trustworthy SSO system may significantly increase security when single sign-on best practices are followed. It guarantees the following capabilities:

• SSO enables IT teams to handle usernames and passwords more easily while protecting users with uniform security policies that respond to their behavior.

• The security of corporate networks is increased by integrated security systems that automatically detect and stop unauthorized access attempts.

• Companies can easily manage user access rights and privileges by implementing security measures like MFA in conjunction with SSO.

An SSO solution from a reputable vendor should provide scaled service and security procedures that provide businesses peace of mind.

What is the Difference Between Authentication and SSO?

Verifying that the person trying to access a resource is who they claim to be is the aim of authentication. There are a variety of techniques to manage authentication, and some of the more common ones include single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) (SSO). So SSO is a technique to manage authentication.

What is the Difference Between SSO and FIM?

The main distinction between SSO and FIM (Federated Identity Management) is that whereas FIM provides single access to several applications across multiple organizations, SSO is meant to authenticate a single credential across diverse systems inside one company.

Hence, even while SSO is a part of FIM, having SSO in place won't always make it possible for federated identity management. Having said that, both solutions are essential for helping firms secure their data and reduce user experience barriers.

What is the Difference Between SSO and MFA?

The primary distinction between MFA and SSO is that, whereas SSO is a cloud security solution that reduces the inconvenience of having to input the password repeatedly, MFA is a sort of authentication that addresses the low security of passwords by adding an additional layer of protection.

MFA and SSO are thus two distinct technologies with various goals. Single Sign-On focuses on the ease of user logins, whereas MFA emphasizes user security. The SAML protocol is used to combine SSO with a security provider, which is mostly utilized for cloud apps. MFA, on the other hand, may safeguard a variety of apps, VPNs, and services.