What is Single Sign-On (SSO)?

What is Single Sign-On (SSO)?

Single Sign-On (SSO) is an authentication method that enables users to authenticate once and access multiple applications and systems without having to enter their credentials each time. With SSO, a user can log in to a single identity provider (IdP) and gain access to multiple applications and services that are part of a federation or trust network.

With SSO, users do not have to remember and enter different login credentials for each application or service they use, reducing the need for multiple logins and passwords. Instead, SSO uses a centralized authentication server that verifies the user's identity and grants access to the authorized applications or services. Once the user has logged in to the SSO system, they can access the authorized applications or services without the need for additional login prompts.

It provides several benefits for organizations, including:

Improved user experience: SSO simplifies the authentication process for users and reduces the burden of managing multiple passwords for different applications and services. With SSO, users can access multiple applications and services with a single set of login credentials, making it easier and more convenient to use different systems.

Improved security: SSO reduces the risk of password-related security incidents such as phishing, keyloggers, and password reuse. SSO can improve security by reducing the number of login credentials that users need to remember and reducing the risk of password reuse or weak passwords. Additionally, SSO systems can incorporate stronger authentication methods, such as multi-factor authentication.

Increased productivity: SSO saves time for users and reduces the number of help desk requests related to forgotten passwords.

Simplified identity management: SSO can simplify administration by centralizing user authentication and reducing the need to manage multiple user accounts and passwords for each application or service.

Lower costs: SSO reduces the costs associated with managing user identities and access to different applications and systems.

SSO can be implemented using various protocols such as SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language), OpenID Connect, and OAuth. These protocols provide a standardized way for applications and systems to communicate with the IdP and obtain authentication information.

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