SSO is a mechanism that allows users to authenticate themselves once and gain access to multiple applications or systems without the need for repetitive login processes. SSO providers offer the tools and infrastructure necessary to enable this seamless authentication experience, simplifying identity and access management for both individuals and enterprises.
Unfortunately, many corporate applications don't support the SSO standard and can't reap all the benefits. The applications that fall into this category are best called "nonfederated." Nonfederated applications are a new category that is becoming increasingly challenging for businesses to manage and secure effectively, yet increasingly critical for businesses to succeed.
Cerby connects all of your apps to your SSO tools, even if they don't support the SSO standard. In this guide, you'll learn about SSO software, the history, and the benefits.
Not all apps are created equal. Some come with security gaps and complexities that can hinder user adoption and put sensitive data at risk. With Cerby, you can ensure secure and seamless access to all your applications, regardless of their support for standards like SSO.
In today’s digital landscape, where individuals and organizations rely on an ever-expanding array of applications and systems, managing multiple usernames and passwords can become a cumbersome and time-consuming task. This is where Single Sign-On (SSO) providers come into play, revolutionizing the way users access and manage their digital identities.
At its core, SSO is a mechanism that allows users to authenticate themselves once and gain access to multiple applications or systems without the need for repetitive login processes. SSO providers offer the tools and infrastructure necessary to enable this seamless authentication experience, simplifying identity and access management for both individuals and enterprises.
With SSO, users are granted a single set of credentials, typically a username and password, which they can use to access a variety of applications and services. Instead of juggling numerous login credentials, users can authenticate themselves once and enjoy frictionless access to multiple resources within an ecosystem of connected applications.
To understand the role of SSO providers and SSO tools, consider this common single sign-on example. A user wants to access their email, Google Docs, and customer relationship management (CRM) system. Without SSO, they would need to remember and enter separate login credentials for every platform. By leveraging an SSO provider, the process becomes much more efficient. The user can authenticate themselves once, and the SSO system securely propagates their identity and authentication across all the integrated applications.
As businesses and users navigate the digital landscape, SSO solutions have emerged as a game-changer, offering a range of advantages that streamline access management and enhance security. When you work with the best SSO providers, you’ll reap the following benefits:
Choosing the right SSO identity provider (IdP) is crucial. Some of the top identity providers include:
Cerby is an access management platform specifically designed for nonfederated applications. These applications do not support common identity and security standards such as APIs and SSO integration. Cerby addresses the challenges associated with nonfederated applications, including the inability to effectively onboard, offboard, and manage users at scale.
Okta is a leading SSO provider known for robust features and seamless integration capabilities. It offers a comprehensive identity platform supporting multi-factor authentication (MFA), social login integration, and adaptive access policies.
Azure AD is a cloud-based identity and access management solution provided by Microsoft. It seamlessly integrates with Microsoft products and offers robust SSO capabilities, including multi-factor authentication and conditional access policies.
OneLogin is a user-friendly SSO provider with a scalable and secure platform. It offers various authentication options, including biometric and certificate-based authentication. OneLogin also provides centralized access management and supports multiple integration options, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes.
Understanding the difference between SSO identity provider vs. service provider is critically important. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
An identity provider is responsible for authenticating users and providing identity information to service providers (SPs). It acts as a trusted authority that verifies the user’s identity and provides a secure way to access various services and applications. The IdP issues authentication tokens or assertions to the SPs, allowing users to access those services without needing to provide credentials repeatedly.
Identity provider examples include Okta and Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD).
A service provider is an entity that hosts the applications or services that users want to access. It relies on the IdP for user authentication and authorization. The SP receives the authentication tokens or assertions from the IdP and grants access to the requested resources based on the provided identity information. Examples of service providers include Salesforce and Google Workspace (formerly known as G-Suite).
Identity providers are commonly used in scenarios where users need to access multiple applications or services using a single set of credentials.
Service providers are typically organizations or platforms that offer specific applications or services to users. By relying on an IdP for authentication, SPs can focus on providing their core functionality while leveraging the secure authentication infrastructure provided by the IdP.
Identity providers (IdPs) authenticate users and provide identity information to Service Providers (SPs), which host the applications or services users want to access. IdPs streamline authentication and enable users to access multiple SPs with a single set of credentials.
Open-source solutions offer a cost-effective and flexible approach to implementing SSO and identity and access management (IAM) systems. But the benefits don’t end there. Key advantages include:
Some of the best open-source SSO options include:
Keycloak is a highly regarded open-source identity and access management (IAM) solution that supports SSO using SAML and other protocols. It also offers seamless integration with popular identity providers and supports multi-factor authentication. It can be deployed as a self-hosted solution or used as a SaaS SSO option with Red Hat’s Keycloak Identity Platform.
Shibboleth is a popular open-source SAML SSO system. It focuses on federated authentication and authorization, enabling secure access to web applications and services. Shibboleth provides a robust and scalable solution for organizations in the research and education sectors. It offers features like attribute-based access control, identity federation, and Single Logout (SLO) capabilities.
SimpleSAMLphp is an open-source PHP-based SAML framework that simplifies the implementation of SAML-based SSO. It offers an easy-to-use solution for organizations seeking basic SAML authentication capabilities. SimpleSAMLphp provides comprehensive documentation, community support, and compatibility with various SAML service providers and identity providers.