Top 15 Best Single Sign On Solutions for Applications (Pros and Cons)
Top 15 best Single Sign On Solutions for Applications. This article will compare the top SSO solutions altogether with is pros and cons. Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions provide users with an easier way to access all of their accounts. Implementing these solutions allows access to all accounts with one set of login credentials.
Single Sign On (SSO) is SaaS essential tool. It is an authentication method that lets companies to use trusted third parties to authenticate users easily. SSO providers then take care of the authentication activities and save the business time and resources.
What Is Single Sign On (SSO)?
Firstly let’s think how easy it is to remember different passwords for multiple accounts?
It isn’t easy hence where the single sign on comes into the picture. SSO, or single sign on makes it easier for users to access all their accounts without having to remember all the passwords. All you need is to enter a set of information once and the next time you want to login into any of your accounts, you can do so with a single password.
With single sign on solutions, you can have access all your official accounts by just signing into your SSO service provider. The process works this way: You log in to a website or an application and the system will check if you have signed in through an SSO service provider. The application or the website will ensure that you are an authorized account with the SSO and then sign you in information.
Once the SSO service provider has authenticated you, you can you can use particular site or sites and switch from one user account to another without having to log in repeatedly. No more needing to remember multiple passwords. Additionally it helps the IT department to save time by allowing admins to manage all users through a centralized admin control panel.
Now that we know how important single sign on service providers are, we will explore the best Single Sign On (SSO) service providers in the market that can help the smooth functioning of the business.
SSO tools can be used with multiple protocols: Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) or OpenID Connect.
This article will talk about the features of the best 15 single sign on solutions for businesses.
Pros of SSO
- Ease of use for end users, leading to enhanced satisfaction.
- Less IT resources to create new authentication solutions.
- Improved security and compliance.
- A simply flowing experience that is easy to introduce.
- Easier to manage, especially while scaling the business up.
Best Single Sign On Solutions for Applications
1. Okta
Okta is one of the most popular cloud based single sign on solutions, providing customer satisfaction over the years.
Okta provides a full cloud based identity management solutions. It allows organizations to manage their users’ identities with an always on single sign on platform, that works across all accounts. Okta offers multi factor authentication, API access management to improve their identity management and security.
This identity management vendor is capable of integrating all end user mobile and web apps through their own IdP so you can use one account across mobile and desktop applications. The management of passwords is completely self service. Okta is suited to multiple industries, from education and non-profits to financial services and government use.
Pros of Okta
- End to end cloud hosting.
- Centralized governance and dashboards.
- Very secured
- Excellent integration capabilities
- Works across devices so one account across mobile and desktop.
- Self service password reset, so no need for IT admin.
- Okta SSO offers 2FA.
Cons of Okta
- Loads of learning needed before you start.
- It is expensive when scaling up.
- Lacks an on premise offering as it is only available as a SaaS solution (Software as a Service).
2. Azure Active Directory Service
Next on the list of our comparison of top 15 single Sign On Solutions for Applications is Azure active directory service. It is considered to be the standard in the user management industry. Microsoft has created a fully loaded user management software with all features in one place with their Office 365. Azure AD can be easily merged with the .net web applications and supports OAuth for web apps. It manages all the users easily and integrates directly into other Microsoft applications.
Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)a cloud based identity and access management (IAM) solution. Azure AD supports multi factor Authentication (MFA) and also self service password. The authentication between client and server is through protocols: Open authentication (OAuth), OpenID and Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML).
Pros of Azure Ad
- Easy management of users and group assignments.
- User-friendly if familiar with Azure and Active Directory
- Self-service password reset and passwordless authentication.
- Multi factor authentication.
- Conditional Access policy.
- Easy web application integration with OAuth.
- It can be easily extended with on premise AD.
- SSO authentication for multiple applications.
- Easy management of groups and user assignments.
Cons of Azure Ad
- Third party tools cannot be integrated easily.
- Longer synchronization time.
- Azure AD has less administration flexibility than on-prem AD.
- Integration with MacOs is not as smooth as it is with Windows OS.
- Failing to connect to Azure AD means that users cannot access any applications or services dependent on AAD authentication.
- Authentication and identity data is stored on the cloud, not locally.
3. Auth0 - Single Sign On Solutions for Applications
With over 100 million successful logins every day Auth0 has turned out to be one of the most reliable authentication management solutions for SaaS since it was developed in 2013. It is a platform that authenticates and authorizes, by providing secure access to applications, devices and users. The B2C client portfolio of Auth0 is very strong and includes names like Toast, Gymshark, Siemens, WeTransfer, and many more. The robust B2C authentication application with a strong SSO system has made Auth0 one of the most popular identity management applications in the world.
Pros of Auth0
- Security: AuthO added OAuth 2.0 authentication protocol allows the application to grant access rights to the user’s resources on another service.
- Push notifications to the user in cases the password was used on another site.
- UI options: built in and custom UI.
- Auth0 Analytics that tracks users on a website or in an application.
- Several social login options;
- Quality API.
- Superior documentation.
Cons of Auth0
- Complex B2B solution integration.
- Missing deep multi tenancy granularity.
- Does not have great customer service.
- Confusing auth0 connection configurations.
- Limited 3rd party compatibility.
- Prices escalates on scaling up
4. Duo
Duo Security is another market leading service provider in access management and user authentication. The software solutions have been a part of Cisco since it was acquired in 2018. With Duo, organizations are able to provide secure access to all corporate accounts. Duo also helps with granular visibility on a per user level authentication.
The Duo platform includes several features like device trust management and remote access, adaptive access policy configuration, and Multi Factor Authentication (MFA). With the help of a singular dashboard, Duo SSO users can access all of the cloud based and native work applications.
On the other hand, admins can customize basic access policies at an application level. This includes setting up risk based and adaptive multi factor authentication policies based on definitive user data like device, location, and role. What Duo does is create a risk score for every login based on the above factors.
If the login is a high risk, users are required to verify through the integrated MFA, ensuring only authenticated users are using the corporate accounts and thus streamlining the authentication system for the end users. Duo SSO is hosted by Duo and is a cloud based software. It is thus easy to deploy and is also flexible to scale up with any organization.
Pros of Duo
- Two factor authentication and secured credentials help in protected remote login.
- Access Management.
- Automatic User/Device Recognition.
- Privileged Account Management.
- The user interface is simple.
- Improves multi factor authentication and endpoint visibility for VPN connections.
Cons of Duo
- It is not very fast and can be painfully slow at times.
- There are issues with sign in and device syncing.
- Basic 2FA product with basic support
5. Ping Identity
Ping Identity currently manages over two billion user identities worldwide, including some of the biggest corporate names, thus making it a market leader in the access and identity management arena. The easy to access platform came into existence in 2002 and offers users a gamut of solutions like SSO, MFA, adaptive authentication policies, Directory, an admin portal, and many more.
Ping Identity is designed for limitless application integration and cloud deployment. It comfortably works across on premises, hybrid, and cloud environments for all employees, partners, and customers.
The single sign on solution from Ping Identity allows all users to access all apps: SaaS, cloud, enterprise, or mobile, with a single set of credentials through their centralized employee dock. The SSO is designed in such a manner that it can work from any device and anywhere. It includes support for standards like OpenID Connect Tokens and SAML. What’s more, this platform allows artificial intelligence to locate anomalies in logins and ask for more verification if there is any suspicion of an unauthenticated login attempt.
The main focus of Ping Identity is on performance, security, and scalability. This is very suitable for large corporate houses and SMBs as well. The major highlights of this product include a stress free setup.
Pros of Ping Identity
- Excellent integration with infrastructure.
- Stable and secure performance.
- Great interoperability with other apps.
- Great APIs for integration.
- Ease of use and simple configuration.
Cons of Ping Identity
- A learning curve is required.
- Custom attributes cannot be added directly.
- Difficult to diagnose issues post failure.
- The user interface is confusing and difficult to manage.
6. WorkOS
Next solution of the comparison of top 15 Single Sign On Solutions for Applications is WorkOS. It is a single sign on solution was launched in 2018 and since then, it has been one of the most recommended solutions for companies and developers. Although there are hardly any online user reviews of the product, the company has already made clients like WebFlow, AirBase and Eden. In WorkOS, you can access automated audit trails (SIEM) with HRIS integration and SCIM arming with Gusto, Workday, and more.
Pros of WorkOS
- Lucrative pricing
- Excellent integration qualities.
- Passwordless Authentication.
- Rapid onboarding
Cons of WorkOS
- As a new enterprise, there could be certain risks associated, which has yet to see the light of the day.
7. CyberArk Workforce Identity
Some of you might know CyberArk Workforce Identity as Idaptive, which was its former name. It allows users to access multiple clouds, on premises and mobile applications with a particular set of credentials.
With CyberArk Workforce Identity single sign on, users can use their multiple accounts from anywhere without remembering the passwords and complete account security. CyberArk allows SSO solutions for both internal and external users. It is thus great for organizations with customers and associates who need to access single sign on solutions.
The best thing about CyberArk its simplified login process and single click access to multiple accounts. This helps to keep your accounts secured as users need not remember every password. CyberArk manages SSO with an adaptive multi level authentication that asks for identity verification in case of suspicious transactions.
Since CyberArk is cloud based, it provides users with easy access to their accounts, be it from any browser, custom apps, or mobile apps.
Pros of CyberArk
- Application management is easy.
- Biometric Authentication.
- CyberArk Vault (PAM) is great for compliance needs.
- CyberArk low costs.
- Integrates with On-premise and Cloud-based centres.
- MFA is excellent; It is easy to integrate with external applications
Cons of CyberArk
- There is no name recognition
- The re enrollment options are a little messy
8. SecureAuth
SecureAuth is an auth service provider; however, it offers a single sign on solution that is remarkable for internal use for SMBs and enterprise. It is a cloud security solution that helps secure user access and identity via authentication and single sign on, whilst maintaining security.
Pros of SecureAuth
- SecureAuth supports legacy systems.
- Has a high emphasis on security.
- Multiple Authentication Methods.
- Password Management.
- Privileged Account Management.
- Two-Factor Authentication.
Cons of SecureAuth
- The support system can be slow.
- The SecureAuth community is not that big
- Implementation is not easy.
9. FusionAuth
Another well known user management and authentication service provider for the enterprise is FusionAuth. It is a single tenant CIAM solution(on premises, private cloud, or fully managed FusionCloud). With FusionAuth, the customer gets advanced facilities like advanced detection, audit logs and entity management, multi factor authentication and single sign on services. FusionAuth also addresses multi tenancy requirements by providing diversified hosting features and flexible architecture.
Pros of FusionAuth
- User Management And authentication.
- The pricing options are flexible.
- Maximum users. FusionAuth was built from to handle any number of users.
- Fully featured identity tool: identity management( SSO, multi-factor authentication).
- Great customer support.
- Easily customizable ( support for web, mobile and desktop).
Cons of FusionAuth
- Issues with CI/CD.
- The interface is a little complicated.
- The documentation is average.
10. Lastpass Enterprise
Lastpass Enterprise is a market leader in single sign on, password management and multi factor authentication. Overall, it is a complete identity management suite. Lastpass bundles single sign on services as a component of enterprise and identity services, putting together directory integration, a password manager, an admin dashboard, and multi factor authentication.
Lastpass provides businesses with a single sign on environment with more than 1,200 app integrations. This lets the user log in to multiple applications without having to remember all the passwords. The admin console helps admins with complete control over account access and visibility, thus reducing the chances of unauthorized access. Lastpass Enterprise also helps with secure account sharing. You can manage the application through a mobile, desktop, and web browser, providing single sign on across devices.
Pros of Lastpass
- The free features are impressive.
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Automatic password changing.
- Password strength auditing.
- LastPass has a vault tour.
- It allows automatic synchronization across devices.
- Lastpass has a strong encryption and security framework.
Cons of Lastpass
- Customer support is not prompt.
- No easy way to import databases.
- LastPass Login Problems.
- Expensive when compared with the competitors.
11. Keycloak - Single Sign On Solutions for Applications
Another popular choice for Top 15 Single Sign On Solutions for Applications is Keycloak.It is as an access and identity management solution is open sourced, thus helping SaaS businesses to start with their management services. Besides the SSO features, Keycloak also provides services like clustering, social logins and identity brokering. It differs from its competitors through its user-authentication feature. Users only need to log in once, which is also the same for signing out. Keycloak also supports all essential protocols like OpenID Connect, SAML 2.0, and OAuth 2.0.
Pros of Keycloak
- Identity Access Management (IAM).
- Multiple Protocols Support (OpenID Connect, OAuth 2.0 and SAML 2.0).
- User Identity and Accesses.
- Supports LDAP and Active Directory.
- Clustering and HA.
- There are many customizable options and multiple themes.
- Documentation is good.
- Identity Brokering.
Cons of Keycloak
- Has issues with migration.
- Complex config.
- Yet to provide advanced features.
- No Social Login.
12. OneLogin
OneLogin is one of the top IAM (Identity and Access Management) software that’s designed for making it simple to log in band maintaining the security of the business systems. The secure single sign on login of OneLogin allows users to access several applications with just a single username and password. The authentication for multiple applications is done by OneLogin Secure Single Sign On seamlessly and allows the user to see all personal and company accounts in one place.
Admins can deploy multi factor authentication across all corporate accounts of the user and ensure that there is no unauthorized access to data. There are some really good features in OneLogin. The single sign on allows users to merge OneLogin across all the endpoint devices. It means if a user is using a laptop to log in with OneLogin, it will intuitively give the user access to all the applications under the OneLogin Single Sign On portal.
OneLogin also supports multiple user logins. So, if a user has multiple accounts for a particular application, you can integrate the same through OneLogin SSO. It also supports shared logins that allow users to share access to the same application with other users. This is a very popular feature of OneLogin, and for the admins, it passes the security roster.
OneLogin Secure Single Sign On is perfect for mid sized enterprises that require the ability to share SSO applications across teams and partners securely.
Pros of OneLogin
Cons of OneLogin
- Otp function does not work for many applications.
- Creating a customized landing page is not possible.
- Expensive.
13. Symantec VIP
Symantec Validation and ID Protection Service (VIP) is a robust authentication service that is cloud based and user friendly. It allows enterprises to access applications and networks securely without having any impact on productivity.
Symantec is easy to set up and provides safe access to accounts with few complications. It is a great tool for facilitating multi factor authentication for remote users. It is a great tool that is easy to deploy and implement.
Pros of Symantec
- The app is easy to access.
- Keeps information protected from people with malicious intent.
- It can be set up on any device easily.
Cons of Symantec
- The Symantec VIP crashes occasionally.
- There is a lot of scope for integration.
14. RSA SecureID Access
RSA SecureID Access is another popular enterprise level access management and multi factor solution. The main function of RSA is to provide companies with secure, risk free access to central functions. RSA achieves this through single sign on and multi factor authentication. It helps users manage all their accounts through just one web portal.
With the help of adaptive authentication, RSA verifies every single sign on login. It provides multiple facilities for the enterprise. The admin portal of RSA is simple and easy to manage. It allows the admins to integrate all SaaS applications and web based applications so that users can easily sign in across accounts. Its popularity is such that many government administrations and IT services are using the platform.
Pros of RSA SecureID
- Identity verification is secured.
- The application is easy to use.
- It is scalable and meant for large businesses.
Cons of RSA RecureID
- The support team is not very supportive.
- SecureID only allows tokens. Additional applications are required for passwords.
15. Cognito
Last of this comparison of Top 15 Single Sign On Solutions for Applications is Amazon Cognito. It is a secure and simple sign in, sign up and access control tool for your web and mobile apps. It can be scaled to millions of users and also supports sign in with social identity providers such as Google, Facebook, Apple, Amazon and other enterprise identity providers through OpenID Connect and SAML 2.0.
It supports multi factor authentication and encryption of data in transit and data at rest. Robust security is further backed with compliance to HIPAA, ISO/IEC, SOC and PCI DSS standards. Lastly, it also employs access control for AWS resources.
Pros of Cognito
- Customizable UI
- Easy configuration
- Pay for only what you use
- Secure user directory
Cons of Cognito
- API needs to be more detailed
- Needs expertise to use
Top 15 Single Sign On Solutions for Applications Conclusion
In this post, we talk about top 15 Single Sign On Solutions for Applications.All of these tools are secure and provide an exceptional set of features. You can now choose any of them as per your requirements.
Whichever SSO tool you choose make sure it is secure, compliant and versatile. The option of multitenant capabilities is more and more desireable.
Identity provisioning and user management are key features for most SaaS apps.
