What is Single Sign-On (SSO) | How SSO works with SAML | SAML authentication with AD
This expert explanation introduces Single Sign-On (SSO) as a streamlined security process that uses an analogy of a wedding entrance to demonstrate the inconvenience of repeated identity verification. The workflow requires three main parties—the user, the Service Provider (the resource), and the Identity Provider—to validate and grant access, eliminating the need for constant password input. Central to this system is the use of an open standard called SAML, where the Identity Provider verifies the user and issues a secure, time-sensitive credential known as a SAML token. This token is presented to the Service Provider, which grants seamless access to the requested services without further authentication checks until the session expires.