Security & Privacy

A typical work day often involves half a dozen logins before anything productive happens. One for email, another for documents, another for messaging, and more for tools that only get used once a week. Over time, passwords blur together, and security often takes a back seat to convenience.

Single sign-on, or SSO, changes that experience. It allows one verified login to unlock multiple applications, reducing repeated prompts and lowering the temptation to reuse passwords. Many people rely on SSO every day without realizing there is a system coordinating those logins behind the scenes.

What SSO Means in Practice

SSO stands for Single Sign-On. It is an authentication method that allows a user to log in once and gain access to multiple systems or applications that trust the same identity source.

In everyday use, this often looks like signing into your work account in the morning and then automatically accessing email, cloud storage, messaging tools, and internal dashboards without being asked to log in again. Popular SSO systems include consumer services like Google, Microsoft, and Apple, as well as workplace identity platforms such as Okta, Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory), Ping Identity, and OneLogin, which connect dozens of business tools behind the scenes.

Instead of creating separate usernames and passwords for every service, SSO centralizes authentication. One trusted system verifies who you are, and other connected apps rely on that verification rather than prompting for credentials each time.

It is important to understand what SSO is not. SSO is not a password manager, and it is not a VPN. It does not store passwords for you or encrypt your internet connection. Its role is strictly about identity and access.

How SSO Authentication Works Behind the Scenes

When SSO is in place, applications no longer handle login verification themselves. Instead, they rely on a trusted identity system to do it for them. At a high level, the process works like this:

• You attempt to access an application.
• That application redirects you to a central login system.
• You authenticate there, usually with a password, multi-factor authentication, or both.
• Once verified, the identity system confirms your identity to the original application, and access is granted.

Because the authentication happens centrally, the same confirmation can be reused across other connected applications. As long as your session remains active, you do not need to log in again.

Common SSO Models You Encounter Every Day

Consumer SSO

One of the most familiar examples of SSO is the “Sign in with Google” or “Sign in with Microsoft” button found on many websites. When you choose one of these options, the website does not receive your password. Instead, it trusts the identity provider to verify you and confirm that you are logged in.

This makes account creation faster and reduces the number of passwords users need to remember, though it also means access depends on the security of the identity provider account.

Workplace and Enterprise SSO

In work environments, SSO is often used to give employees access to email, file storage, collaboration tools, and internal systems with a single login. When someone joins a company, their account is created once. When they leave, access can be revoked centrally.

This reduces friction for users and gives security teams clearer control over who can access what.

Federated and Web-Based SSO Explained

Federated SSO allows identity systems from different organizations to trust one another. This is common when employees need access to partner platforms, third-party services, or shared portals without creating new accounts.

Web SSO refers specifically to SSO used in browser-based applications. It relies on web sessions and redirects to maintain authentication as users move between sites or services.

Both approaches are designed to extend SSO beyond a single application or organization while maintaining a consistent login experience.

Why SSO Matters in Cyber Security

From a cybersecurity perspective, SSO changes how access is controlled across systems. By centralizing authentication, SSO reduces the number of passwords users need to create, remember, and reuse. Fewer passwords means fewer opportunities for weak credentials, password reuse, or stolen logins to expose multiple accounts.

SSO also makes it easier to enforce stronger protections consistently. Security teams can require multi-factor authentication, set password policies, and apply conditional access rules in one place rather than configuring them separately for every application. When an employee changes roles or leaves an organization, access can be adjusted or revoked centrally, reducing the risk of forgotten accounts.

At the same time, SSO concentrates risk. Because many services rely on a single identity provider, compromising that account can grant access to multiple connected systems. This makes identity provider accounts a high-value target for attackers. For this reason, SSO should always be paired with strong authentication practices, such as multi-factor authentication, device security, and monitoring for unusual login behavior.

Benefits and Trade-Offs of Using SSO

SSO can improve daily workflows and strengthen access controls, but it also changes how risk is distributed across systems. The impact depends on how SSO is implemented and protected.

Key Benefits

For users, the most immediate change is a simpler login experience. For organizations, the benefits extend beyond convenience into more consistent security management.

• Fewer usernames and passwords to remember
• Less pressure to reuse credentials across services
• Faster access to work tools with fewer interruptions
• Centralized enforcement of security policies, including multi-factor authentication
• Easier onboarding and offboarding through a single access point

Key Trade-Offs

Centralization also means dependency. When multiple services rely on one identity system, problems in that system can have wider effects.

• A compromised account may grant access to multiple connected services
• Identity provider outages can temporarily block access across tools
• Security failures at the IdP level have broader consequences
• Strong endpoint security and account protection become more critical

How SSO Fits Into a Broader Security Strategy

Single sign-on changes how access is managed, but it does not change the fundamentals of security. It reduces friction, centralizes control, and makes stronger authentication easier to enforce, which is why it has become a core component of modern security programs.

At the same time, SSO is not a substitute for endpoint protection, software updates, or user awareness. It does not stop malware from running, prevent phishing from succeeding, or secure a compromised device on its own. When identity is the gateway to multiple systems, protecting that identity becomes critical.

Used in combination with multi-factor authentication, secure devices, and ongoing monitoring, SSO strengthens the entire security stack. Used in isolation, it simply concentrates risk. The difference lies in how well it is supported by the layers around it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an example of SSO?

A common example of SSO is using a Google account to sign into multiple websites or apps without creating new usernames and passwords. In workplace environments, SSO often allows employees to access email, collaboration tools, and internal systems with one login.

How do you use SSO authentication?

To use SSO authentication, you log in through a trusted identity provider instead of entering credentials into each application. Once authenticated, you can access connected services automatically as long as your session remains active.

What is the difference between SSO and direct login?

Direct login requires separate usernames and passwords for each application. SSO uses a centralized identity provider so users authenticate once and gain access to multiple services without repeated logins.

Is Microsoft Authenticator an SSO?

Microsoft Authenticator is not an SSO system. It is an authentication app that supports login verification, often as part of multi-factor authentication. It can work alongside SSO but does not provide SSO by itself.

How many types of SSO are there?

SSO can be implemented in several ways, including consumer SSO, enterprise SSO, web-based SSO, and federated SSO. The differences are based on use case rather than strict categories.

How do I know if SSO is working?

SSO is working if logging into one application automatically grants access to others without prompting for credentials again. You may also notice fewer password requests across connected services.

Is SSO the same as a VPN?

No. SSO manages authentication and access, while a VPN encrypts network traffic and controls network access. They serve different purposes and are often used together.

What is better than SSO?

SSO is not meant to replace other security tools. It works best alongside multi-factor authentication, endpoint protection, and monitoring rather than being compared as a replacement.

What is the most common SSO?

Consumer SSO using major identity providers like Google or Microsoft is the most common form of SSO people encounter today.

Is SSO expensive?

SSO costs vary. Consumer SSO is often free, while enterprise SSO may involve licensing costs. For many organizations, SSO reduces operational costs by lowering support and password management overhead.

What are the disadvantages of SSO?

The main disadvantages of SSO are risk concentration and reliance on the identity provider. If credentials are compromised or the provider is unavailable, access to multiple services may be affected.

About Shira Stieglitz