How many apps do users access every day? It could easily reach a dozen. From social media to leisure, online shopping, and important work-related apps, it is becoming harder to manage and remember so many login credentials. For both customers and employees alike, repeated login prompts are a hassle. It’s not a puzzle that so many users choose weak passwords or reuse the same passwords across multiple platforms. This poses security risks to individuals and organizations.

According to the 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, more than 70 percent of employees reuse passwords at work. On the other hand, a staggering 81 percent of security breaches are leveraged through “either stolen and/or weak passwords.” The increasing demand for better login security and user experience has spurred on SSO service providers. 

What is Single Sign On?

SSO or single sign-on, as the name implies is a user authentication platform which allows a user to utilize a single set of login credentials to access multiple applications. It helps users simplify their authentication process and reduce the number of their logins, thus lowering the chances of getting hacked.

For most consumers, SSO might mean signing-in through popular platforms such as Google, Facebook or Twitter, which enables access to a variety of third-party applications or websites. However, for organization or businesses, SSO unifies all enterprise applications hosted on an internal server or cloud. A well-executed SSO strategy can help organizations grasp control of user access, mitigate the risk of insider threats, improve user experience, and eliminate password-related downtime and password maintenance costs.

How it Works

SSO service providers use an identity provider or system which acts as intermediary on behalf of the end-user by providing websites or applications with an access token that authorizes the specific account information to be shared. During the first sign in, the login credentials such as username and password are directed to the system for verification. The authentication server then verifies the credentials against the directory and initiates an SSO session.

When the user tries to log in to another website or application linked with SSO, instead of requesting the login credentials from the user, the authentication server requests the system to confirm the user’s identity. SSO service providers eliminate future prompts for login credentials and grants access to the user without ever showing the sign-on screen.

How SSO Improves Security and User Experience

Employing an SSO service provider increases security and user experience. By unifying logins across multiple platforms, SSO reduces the number of required login credentials, provides a seamless experience. Simply put, it reduces the operating costs of the organization while maximizing the productivity of employees.

SSO promotes the use of a single strong password instead of multiple weak ones. SSO helps eliminate bad password habits such as password sharing and password listing, which reduces internal threats in the office. Single Sign On also helps reduce external threats from keyloggers and phishing. 

Security Risks of Single Sign On

However, although SSO gives convenience and security to users, it doesn’t cover all the bases. If an unauthorized user gains access over a user’s SSO credentials it becomes a single point of failure. This increases the potential damage caused by password leaks.

To avoid malicious access, SSO is often partnered with other security measures. Such as two-factor authentication (2FA) or multifactor authentication (MFA). 2FA or MFA requires users to provide two or more authentication factors during the verification process to improve security. This can be through the use of one-time passcodes, magic links, app push or physical authentication keys.

TraitWare, Passwordless SSO and MFA Solution

If you are looking for an excellent SSO service provider, try TraitWare, an enterprise-class SSO & MFA solution. TraitWare gives the highest possible security to your business online—through multi-factor up to 4-factor authentication and passwordless logins.  

There’s no need to worry about your passwords getting lost or stolen if you don’t have them. TraitWare eliminates the use of passwords. Instead, it uses your mobile device biometrics to transform your smartphone into your physical authentication key; and because your smartphone biometrics constantly changes with every new message or app usage, so does your password.

Unify all your favorite business apps including WordPress, Microsoft Office and more. TraitWare is very easy to customize and integrate with a lightweight plug and play implementation. Experience a secure and seamless experience from account enrollments, logins, to account management with TraitWare.