Understanding SSO and its implications for your company

Tired of juggling 10 passwords a day, forgetting your HR app password or reconnecting to HubSpot after every coffee break? Rest assured, you're not alone. SSO (Single Sign-On) was created to help you cope with this digital fatigue. In this article, we explain simply what it is, why it's useful for your IT and HR teams, and above all, how to implement it without getting lost in the technical jargon.

What is SSO?

SSO definition

Single Sign-On (SSO ) is anauthentication method that enables a user to log on once to access a set of webapplications or services. Rather than memorizing multiple IDs and passwords, users enter their information once, via a central identity provider who manages access. This simplifies employees' lives, while strengthening IT security.

How does SSO authentication work?

SSO authentication is based on a dialogue between three players:

1. The user
2. The Identity Provider (IdP)
3. The service provider (SP)

In concrete terms :

1. Click on the URL of an application (HubSpot, for example).
2. You are redirected to your identity provider (such as Google).
3. You log in once.
4. An authentication token is sent to verify your identity.
5. Access other services without re-entering your login details

The benefits of integrating SSO in your company

The benefits are tangible for both technical teams and employees:

• Fewer passwords to remember, so less forgetting and less friction.
• Fewer tickets for IT supportwho are often swamped by reset requests.
• Improved employee experience, especially for onboarding.
• Greater security, with centralized authentication that's easier to control.
• Less shadow IT validated apps are more easily accessible.

In short, it's a small change that can transform the way your teams use their tools on a daily basis.

Implement SSO in your company

The different types of SSO

SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language)

The SSO veteran. Ideal for enterprise apps like Google Workspace or Salesforce.

OAuth (Open Authorization)

Not so much for authentication as for granting partial access to data to another application. Typically used on APIs or to connect via a Google or Facebook account.

OpenID Connect (OIDC)

The modern, secure version of OAuth. Perfect for web and mobile apps.

Kerberos

A Windows network classic. Less used in cloud environments.

Criteria to consider when choosing an SSO solution

Before taking the plunge, there are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Are your tools (HubSpot, Notion, Slack, etc.) compatible?
• What is your company's security policy?
• Do you want to keep control of identity in-house, or use a third party?
• Who will manage the connections? Your IT team, a service provider, or the rzilient platform?

SSO integration and deployment

Here's what a successful SSO deployment looks like:

1. Audit your applications and needs: to identify priorities.
2. Choice of identity provider: Google, Azure AD, Okta...
3. Configuration: certificate exchange, metadata, URLs...
4. Testing: leave nothing to chance.
5. Team training and support in case of problems.

With the rzilient platform, we're with you every step of the way to ensure smooth integration, without disrupting your business.

Comparing SSO with other access solutions

Federated identity management

The principle: we trust a third party to validate an identity (e.g. a B2B partner). This is a business-to-business approach.

Same sign-on

No single sign-on here. Just the same credentials synchronized across multiple applications. Less practical, more rigid.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

MFA adds a step to your login: an SMS, a validation app, a fingerprint... It is often used in conjunction with SSO for added security.

SSO isn't a luxury: it's a real security and efficiency reflex, especially for SMEs and scale-ups managing more and more online tools. It's also a concrete way of improving the lives of your teams, while keeping control of what counts: access, data and identities.

‍