In this article we will talk about key Single Sign-on benefits and how you can use VYou to create a seamless authentication process.
What is Single Sign-on
First of all, what is Single Sign-on? Single sign-on (SSO) is a user authentication tool that enables users to securely access multiple applications and services using just one set of credentials. Whether you use Slack, Jira or Zoom, SSO provides you with a pop-up widget or login page with just one password that gives you access to every integrated app. Instead of twelve passwords in a day, SSO ensures you only need one.
Single sign-on puts an end to the days of remembering and entering multiple passwords, and it eliminates the frustration of having to reset forgotten passwords. Users can also access a range of platforms and apps without having to log in each time. SSO is one of the pivotal aspects for many of the user management and access management system and security control solutions. Single Sign-On (SSO) implemented perfectly helps in improving productivity, management, and security control reducing the risk of lost, weak or forgotten passwords. Later in this article we will see other key benefits of the Single Sign-On solution.
For example, if you log in to a Google service such as Gmail, you are automatically authenticated to YouTube, AdSense, Google Analytics, and other Google apps. Likewise, if you log out of your Gmail or other Google apps, you are automatically logged out of all the apps; this is known as Single Logout.
In other words, SSO makes it easier to access the programs and data you need by removing the extra step of logging in and out of each separate application. Instead, a third party acts as the central authenticator, confirming the user’s identity automatically as they move from page to page and site to site.
From the end-user perspective, leveraging an Identity Provider (IdP) system capable of supporting SSO enhances the user experience because it drastically lowers credential entry fatigue. Additionally, using SSO means that the burden of remembering credentials for, potentially, dozens of accounts is removed. SSO provides a seamless experience for users when using your applications and services. Instead of having separate sets of credentials for each application or service, users can simply log in once and access your full suite of applications.
The importance of Single Sing-On
According to the Ponemon Institute,
- 53% of employees use their memory to save passwords: When you rely on your memory, you’ll often forget your passwords, use easier-to-remember, and less secure passwords, you might use the same passwords again and again.
- 32% of employees save passwords in a browser-based password manager: A potential problem with a browser-based password manager is that anyone who gains access to your browser, can access all of your passwords and accounts at once.
- 26% of employees save passwords in a spreadsheet: A cybercriminal could access the spreadsheet, or you might inadvertently erase it.
- 26% of employees write passwords in a notebook or sticky note: Someone could enter your office and see or steal your notebook and sticky notes.
We can clearly see that the issue exists and Sign Sign-on is the best solution to overcome this problem!
Single sign-on vs Same sign-on
It is important to mention that Single sign-on should not be confused with same-sign on. For clarity, a distinction is made between Same-sign on and Single sign-on: Directory Server Authentication ( Same-sign on) refers to systems requiring authentication for each application but using the same credentials from a directory server, whereas single sign-on refers to systems where a single authentication provides access to multiple applications by passing the authentication token seamlessly to configured applications.
The most popular Single sign-on services include Okta ( mostly among enterprises and VYou ( mostly among startups ). However, there are a number of other services and social media platforms (like Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) that offer SSO authentication services as well.
Single sign-on Benefits
There are a lot of benefits of SSO, let’s discuss them in a more detailed way:
- Password fatigue is gone
A recent Ponemon Institute survey on password management behaviors showed that 51% of respondents are struggling to remember the different passwords they need for work and home. Additionally, a study from Ping Identity showed that 60% of respondents can’t memorize all of their passwords for work and home. Baymard tested existing account users at two e-commerce sites (Amazon and ASOS) and found that 18.75% of users abandon their carts due to forgotten passwords or password reset issues. SSO does away with password fatigue and poor password practices, meaning your business is immediately less vulnerable to phishing. It enables users to focus on memorizing one strong, unique password and reduces time-consuming and costly password resets. - Empowered and productive users
Users increasingly demand quick and seamless access to the applications they need to get their jobs done. Managing requests manually is a painful process, SSO authentication removes the need for manual oversight, enabling immediate access to thousands of apps with a SSO. Signing in once also saves time, thus improving employee productivity. - Decreased costs
Given that 68% of employees switch between ten apps every hour, eliminating multiple logins can save a company considerable time and money. Also, SSO lowers IT costs by saving time on password resets. One of the biggest time-wasters is dealing with password problems. TechTarget cites the following statistics on this point:
- The average cost of one password reset by your IT department is approximately $70 (Forrester Research).
- 20% to 50% of IT help desk calls are for password resets (Gartner).
- SSO dramatically reduces these password-related IT help desk burdens because users are less likely to lose or forget their passwords. This means fewer password resets, and IT staff members will have more time to work on other tasks.
- Maintain centralized control of user access
SSO authentication gives companies centralized control of who has access to their systems. - Enforce better password policies
You can set rules that govern how often team members need to change their passwords, password length, and other standards that ensure team members use secure, quality passwords only.
- It streamlines the user experience
Enhanced user experience is one of the most valuable benefits of SSO. It helps to increase customer loyalty and have higher conversion rates.
- Increased Adoption Rates
There is no doubt that a new app that frustrates customers with a painful sign-on process will not enjoy as much success as one that offers an easier experience. Today’s competitive landscape ensures that there is always another option for customers to choose if yours presents them with too much friction or confusion. SSO increases the chance that users will choose your app and use it more frequently.
- Regulatory Compliance
Industry regulations require companies to implement security measures to protect data against cybercriminals and unauthorized use or disclosure. Single sign-on is often implemented as part of a broader user management and access management solution which can help you comply with regulations that require strong authentication and access control. IAM can also help businesses comply with other regulatory requirements pertaining to privacy, activity tracking and single logout.
SSO is only one aspect of managing user access. It must be combined with access control, permission control, activity logs, and other measures for tracking and controlling user behavior within an organization’s internal systems. Good news is that VYou solution has it all, all these features in a box, ready from day one!
Single Sign-On with VYou
Just like with many other authentication and authorization features, using VYou to implement Single-Sign On is extremely easy. And if you have two or more applications using the same VYou account, you will notice that users that sign in to one, they will be transparently signed into the other. You don’t have to do anything special on these applications to take advantage of the SSO session.
Another useful aspect of using VYou to enable Single-Sign On in your applications is in having a single point of control over access to resources, reducing IT help demands.
If you want to learn more about VYou, how it helps you implement Single-Sign On, you can refer to the docs and if you need help with integration, let us know!
