SSO stands for Single Sign-On. It is a technology that allows users to authenticate once and access multiple applications or systems without needing to provide credentials again. With SSO, users can log in to one application and then access other applications without having to enter their username and password again.
SSO works by using a central authentication server that handles the user’s credentials and verifies the user’s identity. When a user logs in to an application, the application sends a request to the authentication server to authenticate the user. If the user is authenticated, the authentication server generates a token or a session ID that the application can use to identify the user.
The user can then access other applications that are part of the SSO network without having to provide credentials again. When the user accesses a new application, the application sends a request to the authentication server to verify the user’s identity. If the user is already authenticated, the authentication server sends a new token or session ID to the application, and the user is logged in automatically.
SSO has several benefits, including increased security, improved user experience, and reduced administrative overhead. SSO can reduce the risk of password fatigue and increase the adoption of strong passwords, as users only need to remember one set of credentials. Additionally, SSO can simplify the management of user accounts and access permissions, as changes can be made centrally and propagated to all applications in the SSO network.
How SSO increases security?
SSO can increase security in several ways:
- Reduced password reuse: With SSO, users only need to remember one set of credentials, which reduces the likelihood that they will reuse passwords across multiple systems. Password reuse is a major security risk because if one password is compromised, all accounts that use that password are at risk.
- Stronger passwords: SSO can encourage users to adopt stronger passwords because they only need to remember one set of credentials. Strong passwords are harder to guess or crack, making them more secure.
- Centralized access control: SSO allows for centralized access control, which means that access permissions can be managed from a single location. This reduces the risk of errors or inconsistencies in access control settings and makes it easier to revoke access when an employee leaves the organization or when access is no longer required.
- Reduced phishing risk: SSO can reduce the risk of phishing attacks because users only need to enter their credentials once. Phishing attacks rely on tricking users into entering their credentials on a fake login page, but with SSO, users are less likely to fall for these attacks because they only need to enter their credentials on the official login page once.
- Improved visibility: SSO provides better visibility into user activity across multiple systems. This allows organizations to detect and respond to security threats more quickly and effectively.
Overall, SSO can help to improve security by reducing the risk of password-related vulnerabilities, improving access control, and providing better visibility into user activity.
SSO token refreshment
Yes, SSO tokens are typically refreshed periodically to maintain the security of the authentication session. When a user logs in to an SSO system, the authentication server generates a token that is used to identify the user for a certain period of time, known as the token’s validity period.
As the validity period approaches its expiration, the SSO system will generate a new token for the user and send it to the user’s browser or application. This process is known as token refreshment, and it is done to ensure that the user remains authenticated and that the token remains secure.
Token refreshment is usually done transparently to the user, so they don’t need to log in again manually. Instead, the new token is sent automatically by the SSO system and is used to update the user’s authentication status across all applications that are part of the SSO system.
The frequency of token refreshment can vary depending on the specific implementation of the SSO system and the security requirements of the organization. In general, shorter token validity periods and more frequent token refreshment can provide better security, but can also increase the burden on users to re-authenticate more frequently.