SSO

What Is SSO?

Single Sign-On (SSO) technology combines multiple different application login screens. With SSO, users can access all of their SaaS applications by entering their login credentials (username, password, etc.) only once on a single page.

In general, Single Sign-On (SSO) utilizes an identity provider (IdP) to oversee user authentication data and securely transmit it to applications or systems needing authentication. SSO allows users to access protected resources without the need to repeatedly enter their credentials, simplifying the authentication procedure.

How Is SSO Implemented?

The diagram below illustrates the implementation of SSO.

• Initially, when a user accesses an application or system needing authentication, the process initiates.

• The application or system forwards the user to the Identity Provider (IdP), where the user undergoes authentication, typically via username and password input.

• Upon successful authentication, the IdP issues a token containing user authentication details.

• The user is then redirected back to the original application or system, presenting the token. Subsequently, the application or system utilizes the token to verify the user's identity and grant access accordingly.

• For subsequent access to other authenticated applications or systems, the same token is employed for authentication via the IdP.

Protocols and Technologies Used by SSO

SSO can be deployed utilizing various authentication protocols and technologies:

• Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML): This XML-based standard facilitates the transfer of authentication and authorization data across diverse security domains. Users authenticate within one application and leverage SAML tokens to access additional applications.

• Open Authorization (OAuth): An authorization framework enabling third-party applications to access user resources. Users log in to an application with their credentials and subsequently access other applications using OAuth tokens.

• OpenID Connect (OIDC): Built on OAuth 2.0, OIDC serves as an authentication protocol primarily for enabling social login in third-party applications. Often deployed alongside SAML, OIDC/OAuth offers a lightweight solution.

• Kerberos: This network authentication protocol ensures secure user identity verification across a computer network. Users can log in to applications using their credentials and subsequently access other applications using Kerberos tickets.

• Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP): LDAP is a vendor-neutral application protocol utilized for accessing and maintaining distributed directory information services. It defines the directory structure for storing and updating user credentials and facilitates user authentication based on this directory. Users can authenticate to an application using their credentials and then utilize the LDAP directory to access other applications.

• Active Directory (AD): AD is a directory service operating on Microsoft Windows Server. It serves as a repository for storing and managing users, computers, and other organizational resources.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of SSO?

The advantages are as follows:

• Enhanced user experience: Through a single sign-on process, users gain access to numerous applications or systems without the hassle of repeated logins, leading to an improved overall user experience.

• Heightened security: Centralized management of user authentication and authorization reduces the risk associated with using the same credentials across various applications or systems, thereby decreasing the likelihood of password breaches.

• Increased productivity: Streamlined authentication processes for users across multiple applications or systems result in reduced authentication times, consequently enhancing overall work efficiency.

• Minimizes password reset requests: While trying to remember a large number of passwords, business users may forget their login credentials. This leads to frequent requests to retrieve or reset their passwords, increasing the workload on internal IT teams. Implementing SSO reduces the number of forgotten passwords, thereby minimizing the support resources required to handle password reset requests.

The disadvantages are as follows:

• Single point of failure (SPOF): Should the SSO system encounter a malfunction, it would render all dependent applications or systems unusable, potentially leading to service disruptions.

• Security risks: In the event of an attack or breach targeting the SSO system, all associated applications and systems become susceptible to security threats.

• High implementation cost: Given the complex configuration and integration requirements of the SSO system, substantial time and resources are needed for implementation, resulting in elevated costs.

In conclusion, SSO enhances user experience, security, and productivity, yet it comes with drawbacks like SPOF, security vulnerabilities, and high implementation expenses. Hence, thorough evaluation of its pros and cons is essential before adopting SSO, guiding decision-making processes accordingly.

SSO Implementation Scenarios

Single Sign-On (SSO) streamlines user access to multiple applications through a single login, leading to enhanced user satisfaction, decreased administrative expenses, and bolstered security measures. Consequently, SSO has gained widespread acceptance across diverse application contexts.

• For internal applications: Within an enterprise, there are typically various internal applications such as email and ERP systems. Utilizing SSO, employees can conveniently access all these applications following a single login session.

• Facilitating cross-organizational collaboration: In scenarios involving collaboration between different organizations, the assortment of applications and systems may differ. SSO facilitates seamless transitions for users across various organizational platforms.

• Handling cloud-based applications: As the prevalence of cloud computing continues to rise, an increasing number of applications are being hosted on cloud platforms. Many enterprises leverage cloud-based applications like Office 365, which SSO enables users to access with a single login event.

• Managing mobile applications: SSO simplifies the process by allowing users to sign in once and subsequently access all mobile applications without the need for repeated authentication.