Managing numerous usernames and passwords in today’s digital landscape can be overwhelming. Each application or service often requires its own set of credentials, leading to password fatigue and potential security risks.
This is where Single Sign-On (SSO) comes into play, offering a streamlined solution to access multiple applications securely with a single set of credentials.
Let’s delve into how SSO can revolutionize your organization’s access management and security protocols.
What is single sign-on (SSO)?
Single sign-on (SSO) is an authentication method that allows users to log in once and gain access to multiple applications without needing to re-enter their credentials.
Instead of managing multiple usernames and passwords, users authenticate just once, and the system grants them access to various connected services.
SSO simplifies access while improving security and user experience. It eliminates password fatigue and reduces the chances of weak passwords being reused across different platforms. This approach is widely used in organizations that manage multiple applications for employees, students, or customers.
How single sign-on works
SSO relies on a trust relationship between an identity provider (IdP) and multiple service providers (SPs). When a user logs in, the IdP authenticates their user credentials (such as username and password) and generates a secure token. This token is then shared with the SPs, allowing the user to access various applications without needing to log in again.
Here’s how a typical SSO authentication process works:
- User logs in – The user enters their username and password on the SSO login page.
- Identity provider validates credentials – The IdP verifies the user’s identity. If authentication is successful, it creates a token containing security details.
- Token is sent to applications – The token is passed to different connected applications, granting the user access without requiring additional logins.
- User gains seamless access – Once authenticated, the user can switch between multiple applications without entering their credentials again.
SSO commonly uses security assertion markup language (SAML), an open standard that enables secure authentication and authorization across multiple platforms. This ensures that credentials remain protected while allowing seamless access.
Benefits of single sign-on
Implementing SSO provides multiple advantages for organizations and their users:
- Improved user experience – Employees, students, and customers no longer need to remember multiple passwords, making login processes faster and more convenient.
- Stronger security – Since users only need to remember one strong password, they are less likely to reuse weak passwords across different platforms. This enhances malware protection and reduces the risk of data breaches.
- Reduced IT workload – IT teams spend less time dealing with password resets, account lockouts, and other authentication-related issues.
- Better software license management – Centralized authentication helps organizations track access to applications, ensuring compliance with software as a service (SaaS) subscriptions and licensing agreements.
- Simplified access control – Administrators can manage user permissions and revoke access when employees leave, improving security and compliance.
The role of single sign-on in cybersecurity
Single sign-on (SSO) plays a critical role in strengthening security by reducing password vulnerabilities and improving identity management.
How SSO enhances cybersecurity
- Minimizes password fatigue and reuse
When users are required to remember multiple passwords, they often resort to using weak, easy-to-guess credentials or reusing passwords across different applications. This increases the risk of credential-stuffing attacks. SSO eliminates the need for multiple passwords, encouraging stronger password policies and improving overall user identity security. - Supports multi-factor authentication (MFA)
SSO works best when combined with multi-factor authentication (MFA), which adds an extra layer of security. Instead of relying only on a username and password, MFA requires additional verification, such as a one-time code sent to a registered device. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access even if login credentials are compromised. - Protects against phishing and malware attacks
Cybercriminals often use phishing emails to trick users into revealing login credentials. Since SSO reduces the number of times users enter their passwords, it limits exposure to phishing attempts. Additionally, integrating SSO with malware protection tools helps detect and block malicious activity in real-time. - Ensures compliance with cyber hygiene best practices
Many organizations implement cyber hygiene best practices to protect sensitive data. SSO simplifies compliance by centralizing authentication, enforcing security policies, and ensuring that inactive user accounts are deactivated promptly. - Provides centralized access control
Businesses often use multiple cloud-based applications, making it difficult to manage user permissions. With SSO, IT administrators have better control over access control, allowing them to monitor, modify, or revoke access as needed. This is particularly useful when employees leave a company, ensuring they no longer have access to corporate systems. - Reduces IT support workload
One of the most common IT support requests is password resets. SSO reduces the number of passwords employees must remember, leading to fewer reset requests and allowing IT teams to focus on more strategic security initiatives.
The risk of single sign-on and how to mitigate it
While SSO improves security, it also introduces a potential risk: if a cybercriminal gains access to an SSO account, they could access multiple applications at once. To mitigate this risk, organizations should:
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) – Adding an extra verification step prevents unauthorized access even if credentials are stolen.
- Monitor login activity – Regularly review login attempts and detect suspicious behavior, such as logins from unfamiliar locations.
- Implement session timeouts – Automatically logging out inactive users reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
- Educate users on phishing attacks – Training employees to recognize phishing attempts helps prevent credential theft.
By integrating SSO with strong authentication and monitoring tools, businesses can maximize security while maintaining a seamless user experience.
Common single sign-on issues & fixes
While single sign-on (SSO) simplifies access to multiple applications, users may occasionally encounter login issues. These problems can stem from incorrect credentials, expired sessions, or system misconfigurations.
1. Incorrect username or password
Problem: Users may enter the wrong username and password, leading to failed login attempts.
Fix:
- Double-check the email address or username being used for login.
- If you’ve forgotten your password, use the password reset feature provided by the SSO service.
- Ensure that Caps Lock is not enabled, as passwords are case-sensitive.
2. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) issues
Problem: If multi-factor authentication (MFA) is enabled, users may not receive their authentication code or may have trouble verifying their identity.
Fix:
- Ensure your registered device (phone or email) is accessible.
- Check spam or junk folders if using email-based MFA.
- If using an authentication app, make sure the app is updated and synced correctly.
- If still facing issues, contact your IT administrator to reset your MFA settings.
3. Expired or invalid SSO session
Problem: Some SSO systems require users to re-authenticate after a period of inactivity. If your session expires, you may be logged out unexpectedly.
Fix:
- Refresh the login page and attempt to sign in again.
- If possible, extend session timeouts in the SSO service settings to avoid frequent logouts.
- Clear your browser cache and cookies, then retry logging in.
4. SSO service not recognizing user credentials
Problem: Sometimes, an organization’s SSO service may not recognize user credentials due to an update or configuration change.
Fix:
- Verify that your credentials are correct and have not been changed by the administrator.
- Ensure your user profile is still active and hasn’t been disabled.
- Contact IT support if the issue persists, as it may require an admin reset.
5. Security assertion markup language (SAML) errors
Problem: Organizations using security assertion markup language (SAML) for authentication may encounter misconfiguration errors.
Fix:
- Ensure that the SSO provider’s settings match the required SAML configuration.
- Ask your IT team to check certificate validity and metadata configuration.
- If you are an administrator, update any expired certificates and verify SAML assertion parameters.
6. Access denied to multiple applications
Problem: Even after a successful login, some users may find they cannot access specific applications.
Fix:
- Ensure your account has the necessary permissions for those applications.
- Check if the application requires a separate login in addition to SSO.
- Ask IT support to confirm that your account is correctly linked within the SSO system.
7. Browser-related login problems
Problem: Some login issues stem from browser settings, cached data, or compatibility issues.
Fix:
- Clear browser cache and cookies to remove outdated session data.
- Try logging in using a different browser or incognito mode.
- Disable browser extensions that may interfere with authentication.
8. Software license management conflicts
Problem: Some companies use software license management tools that limit access based on user roles. If your role changes, your SSO access might be restricted.
Fix:
- Contact IT to verify that your role and permissions are correctly assigned.
- Ensure that your account is included in the correct software as a service (SaaS) license groups.
By addressing these common issues proactively, organizations can ensure a smooth and secure SSO experience for their users.
Secure your remote workplace beyond password protection
Like any authentication system, SSO needs to be implemented correctly to prevent vulnerabilities. Integrating multi-factor authentication (MFA), ensuring proper access control, and following cyber hygiene best practices are essential to keeping systems secure.
However, SSO is just one piece of the security landscape. While it simplifies and secures authentication, your business still needs a comprehensive IT security strategy to protect devices, data, and systems from cyber threats.
For remote teams, an efficient IT infrastructure is crucial. Esevel helps organizations streamline IT management by offering comprehensive security solutions that go beyond SSO, including:
- Device security – Encryption, firewalls, and endpoint protection to safeguard company devices
- Identity & access management – Single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to control access
- Cyber hygiene best practices – Security policy enforcement and compliance tracking
- Malware protection – Proactive monitoring and mitigation of threats
- Software license management – Ensuring secure and compliant software usage
- Automated onboarding & offboarding – Secure provisioning and de-provisioning of employee accounts and devices
