One key to access multiple doors -

With single sign-on, you can access multiple applications using one ID and password.

A single sign-on solution allows us to connect single or different applications, acts as a token, handshakes, authenticates in the backend when you sign in from a system.

Today, many online tools or applications encourage users to sign up with social media accounts like Google, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.  

Let's take two good single sign-on examples. One is using Google account to subscribe to The New York Times, and the other is, using business email to gain access to all the productivity tools in Office 365.

In the first example, The New York Times account creation works by handshaking with your Google account using an authentication mechanism, so the signup process is quick. Likewise, there can be many such subscription registrations possible using just one of the social accounts.

In the second example, the setup process is different. An Office 365 administrator creates a user, say john.d@yeticompanies.com in the admin center. 

Once the setup is complete, user John can log into Office 365, and access outlook web app, and several other tools he has permissions to work. Because Office 365 has a built-in single sign-on functionality for all the Microsoft productivity apps and other partner productivity applications, organizations find it useful.

Similarly, for an enterprise organization with several business applications, an administrator creates a user in the active directory of the respective domain, say yeticompanies.com, and with SSO implementation, no more multiple IDs, and passwords.

Benefits of Single Sign-on

• Simplifying access

• Security

• Meeting Industry Standard Compliance

Simplifying Access

The core benefit of a single sign-on solution for enterprises is to simplify access and improve efficiency. Ideally, it helps two different roles, to a user, ease of access to business applications, productivity goes up and for administrators, tighter user management.

Security

Besides, security is another aspect to consider single sign-on implementation.  Because only one set of credentials and IT would manage strict policies implementing healthy password standards. Further to enhance the security, multifactor authentication on top of SSO can be safer.

Meeting Industry Standard Compliance

The third benefit of single sign-on is meeting industry standard compliance requirements. Sarbanes–Oxley (SOX) Section 404: Assessment of internal control is a great example. It requires design and operating effectiveness on selected internal controls, including IT aspects primarily focusing on protecting any financial information.

It includes access to necessary software applications through which creating and modifying financial information takes place.

Single Sign-On Requirements

Single sign-on requirements are where the IT organizations must streamline identity and access management for a large user base with several business applications.

Another scenario to consider is where there are multiple domains. a) a hosted solution managed by a third-party service provider b) SaaS c) on-premise.

Implementing SSO works the same, and connecting all the three domains to one Active Directory is a task. 

Due to the advantages of a hosted software model, it is usually quick to set up authentication between a hosted site and on-premise.

With a SaaS model, as it originates from a software vendor, authenticating to go through your primary domain depends upon the vendor's API policies.

However, most SaaS vendors are open to working with single sign-on requirements.

Azure Active Directory is one such solution that allows creating a hybrid system wherein only registering the devices would suffice instead of the domain itself.

Summarizing

Single sign-on solution enables users to access different business applications securely by using one username and a password, whereby increasing efficiency and productivity.

Nevertheless, a dilemma exists in how to deliver the applications?

Because each of the business applications is independent by nature and to access, you'd either need a web link or a remote desktop shortcut. But none of it can provide seamless access.

AECCloud's portal provides capabilities to aggregate and manage multiple applications. With custom launch apps and single sign-on, we solve issues around enterprise application provisioning and user management. Contact us to learn more.