SSO

Single Sign-On (SSO) is an authentication approach that lets users log in once and access multiple applications without re-entering credentials for each one. When a user authenticates through SSO, they gain access to all connected apps and services automatically. This is common in enterprise environments where employees use dozens of different tools—signing in once at the start of the day grants access to email, project management, CRM, and other business applications without repeated logins.

SSO works by centralizing authentication with an identity provider that issues security tokens after verifying user credentials. When users access an SSO-enabled app, it checks for a valid token from the identity provider rather than requesting a username and password. If a valid token exists, the app grants access immediately. If not, users are redirected to the identity provider’s login page, and successful authentication creates a token that works across all connected applications.

For businesses, SSO improves both security and user experience. Employees manage fewer passwords, reducing the likelihood of weak passwords or password reuse across services. IT departments can enforce strong authentication policies, including multi-factor authentication, in one place that protects all applications. When employees leave, disabling their SSO account immediately revokes access to all connected apps, improving security. For mobile apps, SSO is particularly valuable in B2B scenarios where business users expect seamless access to related applications or when building a suite of apps that should share authentication.