Why You Need Single Sign-On

Posted on 10 January 2020

Fragmented login processes, forgotten passwords, username troubles… logging in isn’t easy these days. Thankfully, Single Sign-On (SSO) is here to make life easier.

 

After a year where data breaches seemed to never be out of the headlines, it’s safe to say that password security is something of a hot topic at the moment. Acting as the key to every organisation’s vault of sensitive data, password credentials easily find themselves as the focus of many a cyber-criminal.

But the threat to passwords doesn’t just come from external ne’er-do-wells: password fatigue, over-complicated processes, and the gathering of multiple sets of credentials means that the threat can just as easily come from within.

 

A prime example would be the report of outdated NHS systems resulting in staff regularly having to log into up to 15 different systems to do their jobs. Separate credentials are often needed to access lab results, order x-rays, checking records, and organising rotas – all of which adds a considerable strain on hospital staff.

It’s a relief, then, that the government has granted the NHS funding to make crucial upgrades, allowing hospitals and clinics to introduce single-system logins – or as we know it, Single Sign-On (SSO).

 

What is Single Sign-On?

Whether you’ve realised it or not, you’ve likely encountered SSO in some capacity – most often in the way your Facebook account can be used to sign up for and log into other accounts across the internet, saving you time (and ensuring you don’t have to remember lots of different passwords). Similarly, there are many great opportunities for SSO to do the same within your organisation.

With SSO, your employees only need to enter one set of credentials in order to access all of their web apps in the cloud and behind the company firewall. When your team access multiple sites on a daily basis, it’s easy for them to fall foul of password fatigue, and there are plenty of nefarious parties waiting in the wings to take advantage. If you want to guard your corporate data from sophisticated hackers, SSO is a great addition to your password management policy and can take authentication to the next level.

 

What’s So Good About SSO?

Using an SSO portal to manage logins has plenty of benefits – here are just a few:

  • Increases efficiency and productivity – all apps are housed in one convenient portal, saving users time when accessing resources.
  • Reduces risk – SSO greatly minimises bad password habits by replacing them with a secure login function.
  • Reduces IT help desk costs – rather than dealing with numerous password resets, SSO frees up your IT team to focus on more meaningful work.
  • Accelerates user adoption of company-approved apps – users are more likely to use readily available apps that are pre-approved by your IT team, rather than turning to Shadow IT.

Partnering with OneLogin

We see SSO as an important part of password management, and in order to strengthen our IAM offerings, we partnered with SSO experts, OneLogin.

OneLogin’s IAM solutions are a great step towards building trusted experiences for your workforce, customers, and partners. With more and more companies reaping the benefits of cloud computing, managing the use of numerous cloud apps poses a huge security challenge. OneLogin’s SSO solution is designed to be dependable and easy-to-use, while also ensuring secure access for organisations and their users.

 

Is SSO the Future?

In an increasingly cloud-based, perimeter-less world, Single Sign-On offers businesses clear cyber security benefits that cannot be overlooked.

OneLogin’s SSO portal allows you to shine a light on Shadow IT and steer your employees towards safer, company approved apps. Add to this, SSO’s streamlined user experience, productivity, and cost-saving benefits, and you’re on to a winner, improving usability, employee satisfaction, and boosting corporate agility.

 

If you’d like to know more about how we work with OneLogin to enable Single Sign-On, feel free to contact a member of our dedicated team.

 

 

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