Standards-Based Authentication Protocols
SSO systems often rely on standards-based protocols such as SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language), OAuth, and OpenID Connect to securely transmit authentication and authorization data between identity providers and service providers.These protocols ensure secure, interoperable communication across different platforms and services, enabling seamless integration with various applications and systems.
Centralized ldentity Provider
The Identity Provider (IdP) is the central component of an SSO system that authenticates users and provides tokens or assertions that verify their identity to connected applications.The IdP is critical for managing user identities and authentication across multiple applications, providing a single point of control and simplifying user management.
Token-Based Authentication
SSO systems use tokens (such as JWT - JSON Web Tokens) to manage user sessions after authentication. These tokens are issued by the Identity Provider and are used by applications to validate a user’s identity without re-authenticating.Token-based authentication allows secure, stateless sessions that can be easily managed and revoked, enhancing security and scalability.
Integration with Directory Services
SSO integrates with directory services like LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) or Microsoft Active Directory to manage and authenticate users based on their organizational credentials.This integration ensures that SSO systems can leverage existing user directories, providing a seamless and consistent user experience while maintaining centralized control over user accounts and access rights.