What is Single Sign On (SSO)? How does SSO Work?

SSO or Single Sign On is an advanced user-login technology where the user needs to put their login credentials on only one screen, but they gain access to multiple applications and sessions. It works by combining several login screens into one single screen, and hence the user needs to enter their login credentials on only one screen.

Though it seems very simple, technically, it is an extremely complicated process, with multiple benefits. In this blog, we will explain the technology behind SSO in detail, understand how SSO works, why SSO is important for security, and how it can benefit both businesses and users. So, let’s get started!

SSO stands for “Single Sign On”. It is often used by businesses or IT teams that manage multiple SaaS applications. The main motive for implementing this technology is to ease the login process for users without compromising on security.

The technology is based on a very simple logic of one-time authentication and multiple access. Let’s understand it using an example. Suppose you visit a restaurant regularly. But every time you need to show your ID card and go through the authentication process, that takes a lot of time. Also, you need to go through the same process whenever you visit any other restaurant of the same restaurant chain. This process is hectic not only for you but for the restaurant admins as well!

So, to simplify the process, the restaurant admins can grant you an access pass once, after authenticating your identity. Whenever you visit any restaurant run by the same chain next time, you just need to show that already authenticated pass, and you are allowed to enter without further authentication. This process simplifies work for both users and admins.

Implementation of a similar process in the digital world can be done using SSO. In the Single Sign On technology, the users who log in to any app are asked to enter their login credentials only once. Thereafter, they can access multiple SaaS platforms, applications, and services related to the mother app where they logged in before. They don’t need to enter their login credentials again and again.

Whenever you try to log in to any application, the app first authenticates you before granting access. When SSO technology is implemented, it authenticates the user, who is trying to log in, for all the applications the user has been given rights to, at a single authentication session. Hence, it eliminates further login prompts if the user switches applications till the original session has not expired.

There are many ways to implement SSO, IP Networks using cookies being the easiest one amongst them. But, we will also cover the more complex ones in this blog later on.

Any SSO system depends on two major components:

The entire process of Sign Sign On depends on this assertion-based connection between identity providers and service providers.

The Single Sign On (SSO) technology can be represented using the technical diagram given below:

Now you