What are the best SSO providers and software?
Here are the best single sign-on software, ranked according to the criteria outlined above.
1. Microsoft Azure Active Directory.
Best for those looking for integration with countless other software.
The corporate identity service Microsoft Azure Active Directory (also known as Azure AD) offers SSO services, as well as multi-factor authentication (MFA), to secure your users against most cyberattacks.
Azure AD is one of the most influential single sign-on solutions because of its cross-platform support, which allows users to sign in with their corporate credentials on any device or application.
It offers tight integration with over 90 different third-party applications and software suites, such as Salesforce, Office 365, Box, DocuSign.
If you want a single platform that can protect your business by allowing you to connect multiple systems, Azure AD is the ideal solution.
Conditional access and multi-factor authentication are two tools that help secure and regulate access, which can help your business ensure that only authorized users can access data.
Additionally, developers will appreciate the inclusion of developer tools that make it easy to integrate identification into your applications and services.
Features
- Connect your team by providing single sign-on to over 90 third-party applications and software suites.
- Access identity-based security, policy management, productivity tools, and analytics services all in one place.
- Choose from thousands of SaaS applications to deliver to your user base.
- Protect and govern access to corporate data with conditional access and multi-factor authentication tools.
- Integrate identity into your applications to verify users and provide SSO.
2. Ping Identity smart platform.
Best solution for those looking for a secure SSO solution.
The Ping Identity Platform brings all the tools together in a single platform to help you increase security and engagement in your digital business.
User experience is a major concern in today's business climate. It is therefore vital to be able to offer users a secure and convenient way to verify their identity.
The PingOne Cloud Platform can help you optimize the experience for your users through a comprehensive, standards-based platform that is tailored for hybrid, multi-generational, and multi-cloud IT.
Now you can enable all users and devices to securely access applications and APIs in the cloud, mobile, SaaS, and on-premises.
PingOne for Workforce helps you provide a consistent identity experience for your users while reducing total cost of ownership.
It guarantees scalable single sign-on for any cloud, on-premise, or mobile application, allowing company employees to easily and securely access all of their resources during working hours.
If you want your employees to be more engaged, more productive, and more secure in your business, PingOne could be the solution.
Features
- Manage access to applications and APIs securely by the user or dynamically by the device.
- Identity verification allows you to provide a consistent experience while improving security.
- Account provisioning tools allow you to automate and standardize the pace of change in your business.
- Centrally manage context-specific, fine-grained access restrictions to ensure that your users can interact with your application in exactly the way you intended.
- It is essential to detect fraud in real time on all your web and mobile channels.
- Artificial intelligence is used to secure sensitive data and business processes, ensuring the safety of your data.
3. Okta Identity Cloud
Best solution for managing all of your user groups from one place.
Okta Identity Cloud is an autonomous and unbiased platform that connects the right people to the right tools at the optimal time.
Okta single sign-on helps you manage your employees' access to apps and data no matter what device or application they're using.
Additionally, Okta Identity Cloud allows organizations to connect their users to the right tools, on any device, at the right time.
With flexible multi-factor authentication, Okta Identity Cloud makes it easy for employees to use their phones or wearables as additional authentication factors.
According to their studies, 81% of data breaches are due to weak or stolen credentials. It is therefore essential to have secure access for your entire business.
Okto provides a central location to manage all of your users, groups, and devices from one place.
You can also automate all stages of the lifecycle with any business process for external and internal consumers.
Features
- Okta's custom applications that use an API backend are more up-to-date, more flexible, and more innovative than traditional software.
- Users won't have to enter the same information multiple times, which means they'll save time while the organization improves security.
- Automate user lifecycle management to make it easier for users to apply, approve, and access the right applications.
- Advanced server access management is a transparent way to manage and control business data, including that found in CRM software, financial applications, or databases.
- Improve the login and registration process of your application to offer a series of features that facilitate the professional life of your employees.
4. OneLogin unified access management platform.
Ideal for those who want to get the most out of cloud computing.
The OneLogin unified access management platform is designed for organizations that manage a complex application environment.
This solution is for those who have a portfolio of SaaS applications or commercial and custom web applications.
They can be hosted on premises, in remote data centers, or even in private clouds.
Conventional identity and access management solutions require businesses to manage access to distinct environments separately, resulting in a fragmented approach that can lead to complexity, waste, redundancy, and pricing.
With the OneLogin unified access management platform, you can manage your applications through a single primary administrator.
The complex, expensive, and disconnected access management systems of modern SaaS environments are a thing of the past, thanks to OneLogin Access.
OneLogin Unified Access Management brings you the benefits that cloud computing has to offer: easier administration, reduced IT expenses, stronger security, and a better user experience.
Users benefit from a simple and consistent experience with one-click access to SaaS and on-premise applications from any device through the OneLogin portal.
Features
- Simplify the management of your web access management system by eliminating unnecessary complexity.
- From a single dashboard, an administrator can give everyone access to the right applications while providing a unified user experience.
- Modernize access management with tools that are easy to deploy, configure, and manage.
- Get rid of old, expensive and time-consuming web access management systems.
- Eliminate the need to remember hundreds of passwords for each application and streamline end user provisioning.
5. Duo Single Sign-On (SSO)
Ideal for those looking for a secure login procedure without unnecessary steps.
Duo's two-factor authentication solution, Duo SSO, allows users to log in to any application using only their password.
It's easy to use with any software, whether internal or in the cloud.
Duo is ideal for anyone who needs safety without slowing employees down with extra steps.
It's simple, has a single dashboard for accessing applications, allows personalized access to different services, and works on any device.
Duo can be used for both new and existing SSO solutions, thanks to Duo's secure and easy login experience.
Features
- Log in once and work from anywhere with their single sign-on solution.
- Increase application security, access, and productivity with 2FA from Duo Security.
- Gain flexibility so your business can integrate with cloud-based applications, enterprise SaaS solutions, on-premise applications, or any other network service.
- Duo provides SSO for the modern workforce and allows you to manage innovative tools without sacrificing business security.
- Any security architecture is compatible with it, making Duo the most flexible SSO solution of its kind.
6. CyberArk Workforce Identity.
Best solution for those looking to eliminate the need for VPN access.
CyberArk Workforce Identity provides easy and secure access to company solutions, freeing up time for your employees.
If you want to grant secure access to cloud applications, avoid password proliferation, and eliminate the need for a VPN on devices, CyberArk offers a simple solution to meet your needs.
The CyberArk Workforce identity allows employees to work from anywhere without compromising security through a seamless connection.
Not only will it save you time, it's also secure, with the ability to control and track activity.
With adaptive access controls and granular policy management, you maintain tight control and visibility over who has access to what functions.
You can also make smart access choices based on AI-powered analytics.
Features
- Adaptive multi-factor authentication means that employees can log in with their standard password or use any device to provide multi-factor authentication.
- Protect sensitive business data while ensuring your employees can get the job done without unnecessary hassles.
- Make accessing cloud applications safe and easy, eliminating the need for a VPN on all devices.
- Lifecycle Management for credentials allows you to quickly and easily provision or deprovision users while synchronizing all of your access policies.
- Granular policy management allows you to stay in control by visualizing who has access to what.
- Manage user names, groups, and devices on-premises or in the cloud.
7. JumpCloud Directory-as-a-Service.
Best way to provide a personalized user portal to get things done.
JumpCloud Directory-as-a-Service provides access to a variety of corporate resources, including web and on-premise applications.
You can access it from anywhere thanks to encrypted and secure multi-factor credentials.
JumpCloud Directory allows you to give users single access to all of their web and on-premise applications, as well as any other applications they need, with just a few clicks.
You can use SAML JIT and SCIM to generate and manage user accounts in applications directly from JumpCloud and pass in user attributes to allow federated access.
A centralized platform for registering and monitoring SAML applications is also included, as well as a SAML-based user portal login initiated by multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Features
- A single dashboard with unlimited applications gives you instant access to hundreds of cloud and on-premises applications.
- Create user accounts in a scalable and flexible manner, providing federated access with SAML 2.0.
- Customize your user portal experience to meet business needs.
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is used to protect the JumpCloud user portal.
What are SSO providers and software?
The acronym SSO stands for “single sign-on” and allows users to access all of their applications with a single set of login credentials.
This is done safely and directly.
Instead of having multiple user names and passwords, administrators can use SSO software to centralize the access process.
Using this method simplifies administration by removing the need to manage multiple credentials for each user.
In addition to having a central authentication platform, SSO also guarantees secure access to applications across platforms and devices.
Examples of these platforms include cloud applications, on-premises applications, SaaS services, mobile applications, and even virtual desktops.
Benefits of SSO
Here are some of the main benefits of SSO.
Reduced IT costs
With a single set of login credentials, SSO reduces the costs of managing user access to applications.
These include use cases to reduce the time spent resetting passwords following a data breach, to distribute application connections across staff, and to ensure that each member has their account activated in different systems.
Increased user productivity
Users can use a single set of credentials to access all applications, which can only increase productivity.
That means they have more time to focus on what matters most — their work.
In addition, the IT department will feel appreciated and valued because they do things right the first time. This could improve morale and reduce staff turnover.
Better security and compliance
A fundamental element of security is access control, which SSO facilitates. It also ensures SSO compliance with regulations. HIPAA, ISO 27001 and Sarbanes Oxley.
These regulations can be difficult and time consuming to maintain if each employee has a separate account for each application they need in the workplace.
Instead of having different credentials for each application, it makes sense to standardize a set of user credentials.
Centralized reporting and auditing
One of the main functions offered by SSO software is a centralized place to manage logins and passwords.
This makes it easy to report on user activity, including who has access to which application, when they last logged in, and where they are.
If you need to investigate possible data or policy breaches, the central reporting function will be indispensable.
It can also help IT staff quickly identify how different users are using storage space, allowing them to know when to take action.
User Management
User identities are managed by SSO software, another critical piece of the puzzle.
It controls the creation, modification, and deletion of user accounts in all applications integrated with the SSO software.
This allows access control practices to be standardized by eliminating exceptions to password policies, hard-coding user names, or using other mechanisms.
It also allows for granular connection reports based on individual user identities.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Many SSO providers include multi-factor or two-step verification options for connecting to their user portal.
In addition to entering a username and password, users typically need to enter a unique code sent by email/SMS to their device before being granted access.
The multi-factor part is designed to provide an additional layer of security.
Self-service password reset
Many organizations also use SSO software to allow users to reset their passwords themselves.
This is usually done through the user portal and is usually combined with the AMF for increased security.
It's worth noting that many SSO solutions don't offer self-service password reset features, even though they do offer other forms of MFA.
If your organization requires it, you should check whether the SSO software in question supports it or not before opting for one solution over another.
Ease of use
SSO providers offer online portals that end users can sign up for by completing a single form.
No technical knowledge is required; users enter their credentials only once and are assigned unique login URLs for each application they have access to.
It usually only takes one minute to self-register for an application once SSO is set up.
When single sign-on is enabled, users are also not required to create new passwords every time they switch from one application to another or to reset their credentials when they forget them.
This improves productivity and reduces the administrative efforts of IT departments.
Integration capabilities
SSO providers offer different integration options with other applications on the market, depending on the specific product you choose.
For example, some products can be configured by simply importing preconfigured XML files containing usernames/passwords.
In contrast, others support more advanced integrations via API connectivity with your identity management system.
The most advanced SSO providers have a wide range of applications that they integrate with so that users can access any application from a single portal interface.
They also support custom integration requirements and open source compatibility.
The more advanced products will also provide a good user experience on all browsers, including mobile devices.
This ensures compatibility regardless of what device your employees are using.
Self-service support portal integrated into the product
As part of their user portal, most SSO providers now offer a self-help feature built into the product, which allows users to ask questions about the service directly in the product itself, instead of seeking technical help elsewhere.
The idea is to reduce the workload of IT staff and make technical support more easily accessible to all users.
Customizing the user interface
As part of their user portal, SSO providers generally offer the option of customizing the UI/UX of your portal pages according to your preferences, brand image, or security requirements.
This includes customizing backgrounds, text colors, and buttons displayed on screens to better match your business identity.
If you don't want changes, you can also choose to create a page from a template.
Active Directory Federation Services
User authentication is the most critical part of Single Sign-On. If you're looking to invest in an SSO provider, this is where you should start your research.
The most common form of authentication in all SSO products is Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS).
This allows users to access applications without a password by signing in using their Windows credentials.
ADFS is very secure and widely supported, but it is relatively expensive to set up.
If not set up properly, it can also lead to a degradation of the user experience. Therefore, you should choose a product that offers a proven and reliable ADFS solution.
Identity in the cloud
Identity management is rapidly moving to the cloud, and most mainstream SSO providers support this trend.
Instead of having to install third-party software locally, cloud identity management services use OAuth APIs and methods to authenticate users across multiple products without requiring additional hardware or infrastructure investment on your part.
Most SSO providers offer a range of plans with varying levels of requirements depending on your budget and business needs.
Expect to pay between $5 per user/month for basic functionality and $500 or more if you need special features like SAML single sign-on.
API access management
An API allows users to communicate directly with your company's security software without going through the main web interface.
This has several benefits, including faster problem resolution, lower engineering costs on your end, and greater flexibility for users in how they want to access corporate resources.
For many businesses, an API access management solution is one of the most important aspects of their security application strategy, as it allows them to streamline all of their resources.
A look at remote user access
The single sign-on feature is just one of the benefits offered by SSO providers.
Beyond that, most businesses are looking for remote access tools that can help them save time and money by streamlining their application strategy.
Some products also provide audit logs if you want to examine user activity on your network in real time. This is useful to ensure that employees are not abusing their privileges or attempting to use company resources without being present in the office.
Who is SSO ideal for?
SSO is typically used by businesses that want to improve employee productivity and efficiency, reduce end-user support requests, and keep their data secure.
In addition, businesses that use SIEM tools to have real-time visibility of their organization can also benefit from SSO.
While it's not always necessary for every business, there are several specific sectors that will benefit from SSO.
These include educational service providers, health care providers, government institutions, or even certain types of non-profit organizations.
This allows them to manage all aspects of their application strategy in one place, instead of dealing with different products independently.
Other identity provider tools like SAML and SCIM are great for managing users across platforms.
However, they can become expensive and difficult to manage as the business grows.
In this situation, SSO is a better alternative that will allow an organization to save time and money by managing the single sign-on solution much more easily for administrators.
Customer identity management is an integral part of any company's application strategy. It allows the right people to provide users with the right level of access associated with their accounts.
If you're looking for a solution that increases productivity, SSO is a way to help your employees quickly access company resources without needing additional support.
Summary.
As cloud technology advances, businesses need scalable single sign-on solutions to meet their changing needs.
While it's true that password management is an easy way for IT administrators to allow users to access corporate resources, SSO is quickly becoming a popular alternative because it eliminates the problems associated with easy access to passwords.
At the same time, all of this is done without adding too much complexity to an organization's infrastructure.
The advantage of SSO tools is that they offer several benefits that will help you improve the security of your business and reduce support requests from end users all at once.
To summarize, the best SSO providers and software currently include:
Understanding if SSO is the right solution for your business is the first step in improving employee productivity and providing a better user experience.
Have you used SSO as an employer or employee before? Does a tool not mentioned above deserve to be on this list? Let me know if I've missed anything in the comments below.
Further reading: If online privacy is crucial for you, here is a list of best VPN services to be taken into account in your organization.
In addition, the VPS hosting services The following can help keep your data secure, especially if you need to host private information or ensure anonymity.
