SSO
What is a single sign on?
A single sign-on (SSO) is an identification management structure that allows your startup to use a third-party to verify logins. This way, your startup doesn’t need to hold passwords on its databases, cutting down on login troubleshooting and decreasing the damage a hacker can cause.
When you manage user login credentials from your website or application, hackers have easy access to vital data that they can use to conduct fraudulent activities. However, when a third-party hosts 60% or 80% of your user data, hackers won’t bother hacking your site as login details aren’t accessible on it. SSO also makes it easy for your users to sign up.
How does a single sign on work?
Authentication with a single sign-on usually relies on a trust relationship between your websites. When you try to log on to a website or app with single sign-on this is what happens:
- Your site first checks to see whether a user is authenticated by your SSO solution, and gives them access to your website if they are.
- If they aren’t, it sends your user back to log in.
- Your user then enters the password/username they use for access.
- Next, the single sign-on requests authentication from the authentication system you use. It verifies your user’s identity and notifies the single sign-on solution.
- The single sign-on solution passes authentication data to your website and returns your user to your site.
- Once logged in, your users can navigate through different web pages since your single sign-on authenticates their logins.
Startups and small businesses can benefit from single sign-on solutions to protect vital information and increase their competitive edge.