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6 Reasons to Deploy an SSO Solution

Authentication for application access is an essential element, subject to numerous requirements in various current directives related to IT systems security.

For example, the NIS 2 Directive (Network and Information Security), published in the Official Journal of the European Union in December 2022 and set for national transposition by October 2024, includes requirements for the “use of multi-factor authentication solutions or continuous authentication.”

Similarly, DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act), the European cybersecurity directive for financial entities, which will apply to EU member states from January 2025, states in Article 9 the necessity to protect assets by implementing tools and processes that minimize the risk of data corruption, loss, or unauthorized access.

But what is an SSO authentication solution? Why is it recommended to deploy such a solution?

What is an SSO Authentication Solution?

SSO (Single Sign-On) authentication is a unified authentication solution that allows a user to be automatically authenticated across multiple applications, resources, or websites after performing a single login.

When a user accesses one of these resources, if their Windows session authentication has already been validated, the system grants direct access without requiring additional credentials.

The user’s authentication secrets are securely stored in a “vault”, and the SSO solution acts on behalf of the user, injecting their access credentials into on-premises applications within the organization’s datacenter or SaaS applications.

6 Reasons to Deploy an SSO Authentication Solution

Implementing an SSO (Single Sign-On) authentication solution addresses several key challenges related to information system security, operational efficiency, and cost reduction.

  • Strengthening Security

The proliferation of passwords often leads users to reuse the same password across multiple applications, simplify them, or even write them down on paper or store them insecurely on their workstation. By implementing an SSO authentication solution, users only need to authenticate once to access all their applications. This allows IT teams to enforce stronger password policies, requiring complex passwords that are frequently updated—all without burdening users with multiple logins or increasing the risk of forgotten passwords.

Additionally, an SSO authentication solution can be integrated with physical authentication and access control systems, further enhancing overall information system security.

  • Compliance with information system security regulations:

An SSO authentication solution, often coupled with a strong authentication solution, makes it possible to meet compliance requirements, such as NIS2 or DORA for the financial sector. In fact, it allows centralized management of password policies, the elimination of generic accounts by facilitating the use of individual accounts, and provides complete traceability of actions performed.

  • Improvement of user experience:

Single sign-on authentication results in a better user experience, as switching from one application to another becomes simpler and faster. Furthermore, an SSO authentication solution can offer a self-service or self-recovery feature, allowing users to perform certain operations autonomously and in a controlled secure manner: unlocking a smart card, resetting their Windows password, or authenticating on their workstation using an alternative login method to the primary session access.

  • Operational efficiency:

The improvement in user experience translates into better operational efficiency for both users and IT support. With a more ergonomic access to applications, users save significant time in their daily tasks. Likewise, thanks to the Self-Service feature, IT support is much less contacted for password resets, allowing teams to focus on tasks that optimize the organization’s performance.

  • Cost reduction:

An SSO authentication solution integrating a Self-Service feature significantly reduces the cost of managing related incidents.

  • Adapted to mobility challenges:

An SSO authentication solution addresses remote working challenges by remaining operational outside the organization’s network, allowing users to continue accessing company applications from their workstation. This ensures that users benefit from the same access ergonomics and operational efficiency whether they are within the organization or working remotely/on the move.

Deploying an SSO authentication solution increases the security level of information systems, thus meeting the requirements of various cybersecurity directives, while also improving organizational performance.
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