What is SSO? How does it work
A user authentication technology called single sign-on (SSO) allows users to safely log into several apps and services using a single set of login credentials.
Whether you use Zoom, Google Workspace, Slack, or any other connected app in your workday, SSO offers access to all the apps using a single password on a pop-up widget or login page. SSO safely ensures you need one password per day instead of twelve.
How does SSO work?
Let’s take a step-by-step look at the above image
Step 1: A user visits Gmail or any email service. Gmail finds the user is not logged in and so redirects them to the SSO authentication server, which also finds the user is not logged in. As a result, the user is redirected to the SSO login page, where they enter their login credentials.
Steps 2–3: The SSO authentication server validates the credentials, creates the global session for the user, and creates a token.
Steps 4–7: Gmail validates the token on the SSO authentication server. The authentication server registers the Gmail system and returns “valid.” Gmail returns the protected resource to the user.
Step 8: From Gmail, the user navigates to another Google-owned website, for example, YouTube.
Steps 9–10: YouTube finds the user is not logged in and then requests authentication. The SSO authentication server finds that the user is already logged in and returns the token.
Step 11–14: YouTube validates the token on the SSO authentication server. The authentication server registers the YouTube system, and returns “valid.” YouTube returns the protected resource to the user.
The process is complete, and the user gets back access to their account.
Brust the Myth About SSO
There are plenty of misconceptions surrounding SSO, but these are continually dispelled by modern solutions. Common SSO myths include:
1. It slows down IT teams and adds to their workloads
Through improved security and visibility, more automation, and improved processes, SSO genuinely contributes to the effectiveness of IT teams. It directly tackles the fundamental goal of IT teams, which is to swiftly, safely, and seamlessly provide staff members with the resources they require to complete their work. Faster scalability, improved application access insight, fewer help desk issues, and lower IT expenses are all made possible via SSO.
2. It creates a single point of failure, so it’s less secure
It’s easy to believe that SSO gives hackers access to a desirable point of attack by simply requiring one password. However, in actuality, there is already one single point of failure—the user. Users who are required to manage several login credentials frequently recycle passwords and practice poor password hygiene, which puts businesses at risk for security breaches.
SSO enables IT teams to monitor application, user, device, location, and network context for every access request while standardizing routine security processes by doing away with the requirement for numerous sets of credentials.
3. It is the same as a password manager
SSO and password managers enable users to access multiple apps with one login, but that’s where the similarities end. Password managers are vaults that store and remember users’ credentials for various apps or websites, protected by one primary password.
However, they focus on protecting passwords, which account for over 80% of all security breaches, and offer hackers a potential entry point into an organization or identity. SSO solutions, on the other hand, manage access through trust and leverage existing relationships to create a single domain where authentication takes place.
User authentication will become an increasingly important aspect of company security as cloud services gain popularity. With single sign-ons, managing user credentials may be made easier without taxing your IT department, degrading the user experience, or compromising security.
