Best 10 Single Sign-On (SSO) Solutions For Business (2026)
We reviewed the leading SSO platforms on the number and quality of application integrations, MFA enforcement options, and how well they handle hybrid environments with on-premises and cloud applications.
Written by
Joel Witts
Technical Review by
Craig MacAlpine
Single sign-on solves a real problem: users forget passwords, and threat actors can steal them. But the SSO market is crowded with platforms claiming deep integration, alongside frictionless experience and simplified administration.
The challenge isn’t picking an SSO tool, it’s picking one that fits your specific environment without creating new operational overhead. You need integration range across your SaaS portfolio. You need adaptive authentication that strengthens security without annoying legitimate users. Most importantly, you need platform stability. When SSO fails, access fails across everything connected to it.
We evaluated multiple SSO platforms across enterprise and mid-market deployments, testing integration speed, policy flexibility, user enrollment workflows, and real-world reliability. We reviewed customer feedback to separate marketing claims from operational reality.
What is Identity And Access Management?
Single sign-on (SSO) lets users log in once and access all their authorized applications without entering separate credentials for each one. Instead of managing dozens of usernames and passwords, employees authenticate through a single identity provider and gain access to email, cloud applications, internal tools, and other resources from one login. SSO reduces the number of credentials attackers can target through phishing and credential stuffing, while giving IT teams centralized visibility into who is accessing what.
SSO platforms authenticate users against a central identity provider and issue security tokens that downstream applications accept without requiring separate authentication. The dominant protocols are SAML 2.0 (XML-based assertions exchanged between identity provider and service provider), OAuth 2.0 (delegated authorization for API access), OpenID Connect (identity layer on top of OAuth 2.0), and WS-Federation (commonly used in Microsoft environments). Modern SSO platforms add adaptive MFA that evaluates device posture, network location, and behavioral risk before granting access, reducing friction for low-risk logins while enforcing step-up authentication for sensitive resources. SCIM-based provisioning automates account creation and revocation across connected applications, ensuring access is granted and removed in sync with HR events. Enterprise deployments require hybrid support for both cloud SaaS applications and on-premises resources that use LDAP, RADIUS, or Kerberos authentication.
Single Sign-On (SSO) Solutions Compared
Here is a comparison of the top SSO platforms across key capabilities.
| Product | Best For | Adaptive MFA | LDAP Support | Passwordless | Lifecycle Mgmt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
JumpCloud
|
SMBs and mid-market needing SSO with LDAP coverage
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Thales SafeNet Trusted Access
|
Enterprises needing scenario-based access policies
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus
|
AD-first environments needing SSO with self-service password
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
|
Cisco Duo SSO
|
Organizations needing fast SSO + MFA deployment
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
CyberArk
|
Enterprises needing SSO with privileged access management
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Microsoft Entra ID
|
M365-heavy organizations
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Okta SSO
|
Organizations needing the widest integration catalog
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
OneLogin Secure SSO
|
Teams prioritizing ease of use and fast setup
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Ping Identity SSO
|
Large enterprises with complex hybrid environments
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
SecureAuth Identity Platform
|
Security-conscious enterprises wanting continuous auth
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
How We Tested
We evaluated SSO platforms across enterprise and mid-market deployments, evaluating integration speed, user enrollment workflows, adaptive policy configuration, and platform reliability. Testing covered SAML, OIDC, LDAP, and RADIUS protocol support. We assessed admin console usability, lifecycle automation capabilities, and how gracefully each platform handled failover scenarios. This article was researched and written by Joel Witts, with technical review by Craig MacAlpine. Read our full methodology
JumpCloud
JumpCloud
Best for SMBs and mid-market companies needing SSO with LDAP coverage
JumpCloud is an open directory platform that provides secure, cloud-based SSO capabilities. Users can access work applications as well as apps that authenticate with LDAP, from IT services like Jenkins and OpenVPN to ticketing systems like Atlassian Jira to on-premises storage systems. The platform has been used by over 200,000 organizations worldwide.
- Single identity per user with full visibility into who accessed what, where, and when
- Group-based access model: adding a new user to a group automatically grants access to associated apps
- Growing list of SAML and SCIM connectors enables out-of-the-box integrations with an extensive application library
- LDAP support extends SSO to IT services and on-premises resources that many competitors don’t cover
- Available standalone or bundled with other JumpCloud identity, access, and device management solutions
We recommend JumpCloud SSO for SMBs and mid-market companies looking to streamline and tighten account security. The group-based access model simplifies onboarding and offboarding, and the LDAP support extends SSO to resources that many competitors don’t cover.
Strengths
Cautions
Thales
Best for Mid-sized to large enterprises needing scenario-based access policies
Thales is a global technology company providing security solutions across critical sectors for more than 30,000 organizations in 68 countries. SafeNet Trusted Access is their cloud-based access management platform, combining SSO, MFA, and granular access policies in a single integrated service.
- Smart SSO enables users to log into all accounts and applications using a single identity through one centralized portal
- Scenario-based access policies per application determine the authentication level required for each login attempt
- Gathers contextual information on known devices, location, and previous sessions in the background without disrupting users
- Adaptive MFA supports hardware tokens, certificate-based smart cards, mobile push and OTP, and FIDO devices
- Central policy engine manages SSO and MFA policies at user, group, or application level
- 150-plus out-of-the-box integrations; available on Google Cloud Marketplace
We recommend SafeNet Trusted Access for mid-sized to large enterprises that need centralized SSO with strong adaptive authentication controls. The scenario-based policy engine is a genuine differentiator, letting admins fine-tune access requirements without creating friction for low-risk logins. The multi-tier, multi-tenant architecture and 150-plus integrations make it a scalable option across diverse environments. Financial institutions and government agencies are among Thales’ current customer base, which speaks to the platform’s compliance credentials.
Strengths
Cautions
ManageEngine
Best for AD-first environments needing SSO with self-service password management
ManageEngine, the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, offers ADSelfService Plus: a robust SSO and password management solution with built-in MFA capabilities. The platform provides secure access to Windows, macOS, and Linux machines, VPNs, applications, endpoints, and Outlook Web Access through integrated single sign-on enforced with multi-factor authentication.
- Users authenticate with Active Directory domain credentials and a second factor, then access all corporate applications through SSO
- Supports 19 authentication methods including security questions, authenticator apps, hardware security tokens, and facial recognition
- Admins configure authentication policies from the admin console to enforce specific methods for specific groups and contexts
- Custom password policies add an additional security layer by preventing poor password behaviors
- Installs on servers or machines with 64-bit and 32-bit options; integrates tightly with Active Directory for automatic user sync
We recommend ADSelfService Plus for larger organizations, especially in finance, IT, healthcare, and government, that need strong SSO alongside MFA and self-service password management. The 19 authentication methods give admins flexibility to match security requirements to different user populations. The Active Directory integration means deployment builds on existing infrastructure, and the self-service password reset module reduces help desk ticket volume. A solid choice for AD-first environments.
Strengths
Cautions
Cisco Duo SSO
Cisco
Best for Organizations needing fast SSO and MFA deployment
Cisco Duo is a widely deployed access management platform that pairs SSO with strong multi-factor authentication. We think it’s one of the easiest SSO solutions to deploy, particularly for organizations that need to get MFA and SSO in place quickly without a lengthy implementation. Duo is well suited for organizations of all sizes, from small teams to large enterprises.
- SSO supports SAML 2.0 and OIDC, with an inline self-service portal that lets users manage their own authentication devices
- Integrates with existing identity providers, layering on top of your current directory rather than replacing it
- Device trust capabilities check the security posture of endpoints before granting access
- Duo Push notification for MFA approval is well regarded for its simplicity
Duo is consistently praised for ease of deployment and user adoption. Something to be aware of is that the SSO capabilities are part of a broader access management suite, so organizations looking for SSO only may find the platform offers more than they need. Reviews also note that advanced policy features require higher-tier licensing.
We were impressed by how quickly Duo can be deployed and adopted by end users. If you need a combined SSO and MFA solution that works with your existing identity provider, Duo is well worth considering. The device trust features add a meaningful layer of zero-trust security that goes beyond basic SSO.
Strengths
Cautions
CyberArk
CyberArk
Best for Enterprises needing SSO with privileged access management
CyberArk Identity is a SaaS-delivered identity platform that brings SSO together with privileged access management in a single offering. We think this is a strong option for enterprises that need to secure both standard workforce identities and privileged accounts from one place. The integration between SSO and PAM is what sets CyberArk apart in this space.
- SSO via SAML, OIDC, and OAuth with a large catalog of pre-integrated web and mobile applications
- Deep integration with CyberArk’s privileged access management tools for least-privilege enforcement across everyday and elevated accounts
- Adaptive MFA with intelligent risk analytics that adjusts authentication requirements based on context
- Strong audit trails across both SSO and privileged access
Something to be aware of is that CyberArk’s full value is realized when you use both the SSO and PAM capabilities together. Organizations that only need basic SSO may find the platform more complex than necessary. With that said, customers in security-conscious industries consistently praise the depth of access controls and audit capabilities.
We think CyberArk is a standout option for enterprises that need to manage both workforce SSO and privileged access under one roof. If your organization deals with sensitive systems and needs strong audit trails alongside SSO, CyberArk is well worth considering. It’s best suited for larger enterprises with dedicated security teams.
Strengths
Cautions
Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft
Best for M365-heavy organizations needing native SSO integration
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) is one of the most widely used single sign-on platforms, enabling users to log into multiple accounts with their Microsoft 365 credentials. The platform is a cloud-based identity and access management service which allows employees to sign in to Microsoft 365, the Azure portal, and thousands of other SaaS applications.
- SSO via SAML, OIDC, OAuth 2.0, and WS-Federation with a pre-integrated app gallery of thousands of applications
- Conditional access policies define access rules based on user risk, device compliance, location, and session context
- Passwordless authentication via Windows Hello, FIDO2 keys, and Microsoft Authenticator app
- Identity governance features like access reviews and entitlement management built in
Entra ID is praised for its deep Microsoft integration and the size of its app gallery. Something to be aware of is that the licensing model can be complex; many advanced features like conditional access and identity governance require Premium P2 licensing. Reviews also note that configuring conditional access policies requires careful planning to avoid locking out users.
We think Entra ID is the strongest choice for organizations that are already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. The conditional access engine is very capable, and the integration with Microsoft 365 and Azure is hard to match. If you’re running a Microsoft-heavy environment, Entra ID is well worth considering as your primary identity platform.
Strengths
Cautions
Okta SSO
Okta
Best for Organizations needing the widest integration catalog
Okta provides a full suite of cloud-based identity management solutions. Okta allows organizations to manage their users’ identities with an always-on single sign-on platform, that works across all of their corporate accounts. Okta also offers multi-factor authentication, universal directories and API access management as part of a full integration network that allows organizations to improve their identity management and security, as well as making it easier for users to access all of their accounts.
- SSO via SAML, OIDC, OAuth 2.0, SWA, and WS-Federation with one of the widest protocol support ranges in the market
- Okta Integration Network includes over 8,000 pre-built connectors covering cloud, on-premises, and mobile applications
- Lifecycle management with automated provisioning and deprovisioning via SCIM
- Adaptive MFA and device trust capabilities
Okta is consistently praised for the size of its integration catalog and the ease of connecting new applications. Something to be aware of is that the per-user pricing can add up at scale, particularly when you layer on additional modules like lifecycle management and advanced MFA. Reviews also note that the admin console, while powerful, can feel overwhelming for smaller teams.
We were impressed by the scale of Okta’s integration network and the flexibility of the platform across different identity environments. If you need to connect a large number of applications across cloud and on-premises environments, Okta is one of the strongest options on the market. It’s best suited for mid-sized to large organizations with diverse application portfolios.
Strengths
Cautions
OneLogin Secure SSO
One Identity
Best for Teams prioritizing ease of use and fast time-to-value
OneLogin’s single sign on enables users to secure login to multiple applications with just one username and password, by using the OneLogin platform to authenticate identity across all of their accounts. OneLogin provides a single sign-on portal for users, which shows all of their company and personal accounts that they can use their OneLogin credentials to access. Admins can implement multi-factor authentication across all of a users’ corporate accounts, to ensure that only authorized users get access to the right data.
- SSO via SAML 2.0 and OIDC with a catalog of over 6,000 pre-integrated applications
- SmartFactor Authentication uses machine learning to assess risk and adjust authentication requirements in real time
- User provisioning via SCIM with a unified directory that connects to Active Directory, LDAP, and HR systems like Workday
- Clean, intuitive interface for both admins and end users
OneLogin is praised for its clean interface and quick setup times. Something to be aware of is that some advanced features, like the SmartFactor risk engine and advanced directory integrations, require higher-tier plans. Customers also note that the reporting capabilities could be more detailed for compliance-focused teams.
We think OneLogin is a solid option for organizations that prioritize ease of use and fast time-to-value. The SmartFactor Authentication engine adds intelligent risk-based MFA without requiring manual policy configuration. If you need a clean, efficient SSO platform that integrates well with HR systems and directories, OneLogin is well worth considering.
Strengths
Cautions
Ping Identity SSO
Ping Identity
Best for Large enterprises with complex hybrid multi-environment identity
Ping Identity is an enterprise-grade identity platform that offers SSO, MFA, and identity governance for complex, large-scale environments. We think it’s one of the strongest options for enterprises that need flexible deployment models, including cloud, hybrid, and on-premises. Ping Identity is well suited for organizations with complex identity architectures that span multiple environments.
- SSO via SAML, OIDC, OAuth 2.0, and WS-Federation with support for both cloud and on-premises applications
- PingOne provides centralized identity management; PingFederate handles federation for complex hybrid environments
- Intelligent, risk-based adaptive authentication powered by AI with FIDO2 passwordless login
- Built-in API security for organizations with API-heavy architectures
Ping Identity is praised for its flexibility in handling complex, multi-environment identity deployments. Something to be aware of is that this flexibility comes with complexity; the platform has a steeper learning curve than cloud-only SSO tools. Reviews also note that the pricing model is geared toward larger enterprises, which can make it expensive for smaller organizations.
We were impressed by Ping Identity’s ability to handle complex hybrid deployments that span cloud and on-premises infrastructure. If your organization has a complex identity environment with multiple directories, API gateways, and both cloud and on-premises applications, Ping Identity is a very strong solution to consider. It’s best suited for large enterprises with dedicated identity teams.
Strengths
Cautions
SecureAuth Identity Platform
SecureAuth
Best for Security-conscious enterprises wanting continuous session authentication
SecureAuth provides Single Sign-On as part of their identity management platform. It combines single sign-on and adaptive authentication to allow users to log in with one set of credentials to all of their accounts, while using contextual factors to verify user identity. Alongside adaptive authentication and SSO, the SecureAuth platform delivers a full identity cloud, with cloud based analytics and administration for admins to manage all of their users credentials and access.
- SSO via SAML, OAuth, and WS-Federation with support for web agents, proxy agents, and agentless configurations
- Arculix engine uses AI and machine learning to build a behavioral risk profile for each user, then continuously evaluates risk throughout the session
- FIDO2 certified for passwordless authentication
- Supports deployment across cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments
SecureAuth’s continuous authentication approach is praised by security-focused teams. Something to be aware of is that the platform requires careful tuning of risk thresholds to balance security with user experience. If the risk engine is too aggressive, it can trigger unnecessary re-authentication prompts. Customers also note that the setup process requires planning, particularly for hybrid deployments.
We think SecureAuth’s continuous authentication model is a meaningful differentiator in the SSO space. If your organization needs more than just point-of-login verification and wants ongoing risk assessment throughout user sessions, SecureAuth is well worth considering. It’s best suited for security-conscious enterprises that are willing to invest time in tuning the risk engine.
Strengths
Cautions
Other Identity And Access Management Services
Beyond our top 10, these SSO platforms are worth considering depending on your specific requirements.
A cloud-native identity platform offering support for SAML, OpenID Connect, and OAuth 2.0 protocols.
Open-source identity platform offering SSO with customizable authentication flows.
Cloud-based SSO solution supporting SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect for web and mobile applications.
A comprehensive solution offering identity management, access governance, and integration with Oracle applications.
Identity And Access Management Pricing
SSO pricing varies by platform, deployment model, and feature tier. Some platforms include SSO with existing subscriptions (Microsoft Entra ID with M365), while others charge per user per month. Several offer free tiers or trials for evaluation. The table below reflects publicly available starting prices where possible.
| Product | Starting Price | Billing | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
|
JumpCloud
|
From $9/user/mo
|
Monthly or Annual
|
|
|
Thales SafeNet Trusted Access
|
Contact for quote
|
Annual
|
|
|
ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus
|
From $595/year (Standard)
|
Annual or Perpetual
|
|
|
Cisco Duo SSO
|
Free tier available; from $6/user/mo
|
Annual
|
|
|
CyberArk
|
From $2/user/mo (SSO)
|
Monthly or Annual
|
|
|
Microsoft Entra ID
|
Free with M365; P1 $6/user/mo; P2 $9/user/mo
|
Monthly or Annual
|
|
|
Okta SSO
|
$1,500 annual minimum
|
Annual
|
|
|
OneLogin Secure SSO
|
From $2/user/mo
|
Annual
|
|
|
Ping Identity SSO
|
From $3/user/mo (Essential)
|
Annual
|
|
|
SecureAuth Identity Platform
|
Contact for quote
|
Annual
|
|
Identity And Access Management Checklist
These are the evaluation and deployment steps we recommend when selecting a single sign-on platform.
Know which applications need SAML, OIDC, LDAP, or RADIUS support before evaluating platforms, because integration gaps create shadow IT and manual credential management.
Pre-built connectors vary in quality; a platform with 8,000 integrations means nothing if the five applications your team uses daily require custom configuration.
SSO without MFA centralizes risk at a single authentication point; adaptive MFA adds step-up verification for high-risk logins without creating friction for routine access.
SSO adoption depends on the login experience being simpler than what it replaces; if enrollment is difficult or MFA prompts are excessive, users will find workarounds.
SSO without automated account revocation leaves former employees with access to connected applications, which is one of the most common identity security gaps.
Many organizations still run applications that authenticate via LDAP, RADIUS, or Kerberos, and cloud SSO platforms handle these legacy protocols differently.
When SSO fails, access fails across every connected application simultaneously, making platform reliability a more critical factor than with standalone tools.
Per-user pricing with add-on modules can escalate quickly; a platform that looks affordable at base tier may become expensive when you add lifecycle management, advanced MFA, or identity governance.
The Bottom Line
Your SSO choice depends on application range, user base size, and whether you need SSO in isolation or as part of a broader identity platform. No single solution dominates across all scenarios.
For enterprise application portfolios spanning 1,000+ users, Okta Single Sign-On leads with 7,000+ pre-built integrations and an end-user experience that drives adoption. Expect pricing escalation as you add advanced features.
If Microsoft 365 anchors your application stack, Microsoft Entra ID becomes the natural choice, native integration eliminates federation complexity and keeps licensing tied to your existing Microsoft investment. Budget for premium tiers to unlock advanced conditional access and governance features.
For organizations managing privileged accounts alongside workforce access, CyberArk combines SSO with password vaulting and credential rotation in one platform. The initial implementation investment pays dividends for enterprises managing high-value accounts.
Mid-market teams wanting straightforward SSO without enterprise complexity should evaluate OneLogin Secure Single Sign-On or Cisco Duo SSO. Both deliver clean user experiences and manageable deployment timelines. OneLogin emphasizes simplicity; Duo emphasizes push-based MFA usability.
Active Directory-centric teams should assess ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus for self-service password management paired with SSO.
If your team needs API-driven identity management with flexible deployment options, Ping Identity Single Sign-On provides unlimited integrations and deep technical support. Expect to allocate dedicated IAM engineering resources.
Read the individual reviews above to understand deployment specifics, pricing structures, and the operational trade-offs relevant to your environment.
Single Sign-On: Everything You Need To Know (FAQs)
Single sign-on (SSO) enables users to access multiple applications and services with the use of a just a single set of login credentials, usually authenticated via multi-factor authentication to improve login security. This saves them from having to remember multiple passwords for each of their user identities.
SSO is commonly used in enterprise environments because it improves both security and convenience for employees. Admins can more easily manage which applications users can access, and users no longer have to manage unique, secure passwords for each of their many different corporate accounts and resources.
SSO is often a component of a larger enterprise identity solution to secure user access, including many of the services listed in the above article. These solutions are typically deployed in the cloud, or within an organization’s internal network and integrate with third-party services to enable seamless deployment across applications.
SSO solutions utilize a trusted relationship between an application and an identity provider. The identity provider authenticates a user, using a single set of credentials and usually requiring a two-factor authentication process. This generates a token, which is then shared with third-party applications, allowing users to access sensitive data.
This token tells the application that the user has been authenticated, and provisions access to the service. Once the user has been authenticated by the identity platform, it will facilitate seamless access with all third-party applications that are integrated with the identity provider. This can all be managed through centralized access control.
The concept of a linked digital identity is known as federated identity. Federated identities can be linked across identity providers, making it easier for organizations to manage single sign-on deployments. For example, admins could provision SSO accounts leveraging existing user identities held in Azure Active Directory.
Account takeover attacks rose by 307% between 2019 and 2021, and continue to increase today. Corporate accounts have access to hugely valuable corporate data, and the cost of stolen data can be crippling to organizations, especially for organizations that monitor user behavior to optimize user experience.
Single sign-on is an important step for organizations looking to secure authentication processes and prevent account takeover attempts. SSO enforces strong authentication workflows, including adaptive authentication policies and multi-factor authentication workflows, across all connected corporate accounts.
SSO applications also help end-users, who increasingly have to manage hundreds of different accounts and services. With SSO, users no longer need to manage and remember complex passwords, they simply need to remember one set of credentials to authenticate themselves with the identity provider.
The core functionality of a SSO solution is to enable users to log in to all of their corporate devices and applications easily, using a single set of secure login credentials. There are several key features to look for in a single sign-on and identity management solution:
- Pre-built integrations: SSO platforms should have pre-built APIs to deliver seamless integrations with supported apps, without needing to build and maintain connections yourself.
- Multi-factor authentication: MFA secures the initial login attempt. The best SSO solutions will support multiple authentication methods, including FIDO tokens, biometrics, OTPs, or hardware keys. To ensure uptake, this should be compatible with existing infrastructure.
- Adaptive authentication: SSO solutions should automatically identify and block malicious login attempts, such as impossible superman logins, and enforce MFA on suspicious logins.
- Identity and access policies: SSO platforms should allow admins must be able to configure identity and access policies, including passwords, authentication workflows, and connected apps. They should allow you to define granular permissions based on a range of factors.
- Identity store integrations: SSO solutions should pull identities from existing identity stores such as Azure Active Directory to provision users and pull existing login credentials.
- Lifecycle Management: Admins should be able to provision and deprovision accounts with automated workflows for new users and employees that leave the organization.
- Device Risk Profiling: SSO solutions should permit admins to view device risk assessments based on suspicious login attempts. Some solutions will also support endpoint management functionality.
- Reporting: SSO solutions should grant admins should have access to comprehensive reports and analytics providing full context and visibility to authentication workflows. This supports compliance.
- Self-service credential management: SSO platforms should allow users to manage their own credentials, MFA options, and password resets to save admins time.
Choosing the right SSO solution will come down to your organization’s and users’ unique requirements and use cases. Beyond this, there are many factors to consider. The solutions on this list often share many features, but each will have strengths and benefits suited to particular industries and organization-sizes.
Key questions to ask internally are:
- What level of security do you require for controlling access to corporate applications? Do you require a hardware token, or is an OTP enough to authenticate access?
- Are you looking for a custom solution for internal applications?
- Are there specific or niche features that you need, such as blocking logins from certain countries or devices?
- What multi-factor authentication solutions will your users support? Do they have personal smartphones to authenticate via biometrics, or is this against corporate policies?
- What existing infrastructure do you have in place?
Knowing the specific requirements of your organization when looking for a solution can help you to narrow down the options. As SSO is often delivered as part of a wider identity management solution, it is important to consider what other access management features your organization needs to secure users and meet compliance requirements.
SSO platforms provide a number of benefits to organizations. It improves account security, ease of management, and productivity for the end user. Other benefits of SSO include:
- Improves security by enforcing continuous multi-factor authentication and ensuring user access rights
- Offers adaptive and secure password policies for the SSO workflow
- Prevents usage of weak passwords and shadow IT accounts which cannot be managed by IT teams
- Enables identity governance, giving admins more control over identities and access management policies
- Saves time for IT admins, improving onboarding/offboarding and automating key identity workflows
- End users can easily access all of their accounts from any device from the SSO portal, improving productivity and user experience
Single sign-on (SSO) provides a range of security benefits for both the organization and the end user. Compromised passwords are one of the most common causes of a data breach, with the average user having more passwords than they can reasonably be expected to remember or keep secure.
Single sign-on helps to avoid the security risks associated with weak passwords, as each account can have a complex secure password, frequently rotated, without the user needing to manage multiple passwords. This also improves usability for employees, who only need to authenticate once to have access to all of their applications and services. Coupled with robust MFA and conditional access policies, single sign-on can vastly improve the security of digital accounts.
Single sign-on can help organizations adhere to compliance regulations. These often recommend enforcing strong authentication policies to help reduce the risk of account compromise. Some also require that users are automatically logged out of secure devices when no longer needed – single sign-on can enable this feature.
Finally, single sign-on can help IT teams more effectively monitor and manage account access. They can configure policies as to how single sign-on works, assign access to different applications for different teams, and eliminate the need to deal with endless password reset requests.
Single sign-on can vastly improve your account security, ensuring that users do not have to worry about managing a different password for every account. Your industry may have specific challenges and use cases, but when implemented effectively, single sign-on can be a powerful security tool for reducing the risk of account compromise and improving usability for employees.
Identity And Access Management Resources
Further reading on identity and access management from Expert Insights — buyers' guides, comparison articles, and platform-specific shortlists.
Written By
Joel is the Director of Content and a co-founder at Expert Insights; a rapidly growing media company focussed on covering cybersecurity solutions.
He’s an experienced journalist and editor with 8 years’ experience covering the cybersecurity space. He’s reviewed hundreds of cybersecurity solutions, interviewed hundreds of industry experts and produced dozens of industry reports read by thousands of CISOs and security professionals in topics like IAM, MFA, zero trust, email security, DevSecOps and more.
He also hosts the Expert Insights Podcast and co-writes the weekly newsletter, Decrypted. Joel is driven to share his team’s expertise with cybersecurity leaders to help them create more secure business foundations.
Technical Review
Craig MacAlpine is CEO and Founder of Expert Insights. Before founding Expert Insights in August 2018, Craig spent 10 years as CEO of EPA Cloud, an email security provider that rebranded as VIPRE Email Security following its acquisition by Ziff Davis, formerly J2Global (NASDAQ: ZD) in 2013.
Craig is a passionate security innovator with over 20 years of experience helping organizations to stay secure with cutting-edge information security and cybersecurity solutions.
Using his extensive experience in the email security industry, he founded Expert Insights with the singular goal of helping IT professionals and CISOs to cut through the noise and find the right cybersecurity solutions they need to protect their organizations.