Top 10 Single Sign-On (SSO) Software Platforms in 2021

Single sign-on (SSO) is defined as a service that allows users to log in to multiple platforms and websites using a single set of credentials via secure session and user authentication. An SSO platform helps to deploy and manage SSO credentials, services, and access for multiple users. This article discusses the top SSO platforms available today and the features that should be present on your assessment checklist. 

What Is a Single Sign-On (SSO) Platform?

Single sign-on (SSO) is a service that allows users to log in to multiple platforms and websites using a single set of credentials via secure session and user authentication. An SSO platform helps to deploy and manage SSO credentials, services, and access for multiple users. 

SSO has several benefits. In terms of user experience, it saves you the effort to remember multiple passwords and user IDs for different software and online services. It also enables stringent security as there is no risk of weak passwords and unauthorized access. The key reasons for using an SSO platform include: 

• Strengthen password policies: As users don’t have to remember multiple passwords, they are more likely to select a strong and difficult-to-guess set of credentials for SSO. 
• Reduce the risk of the data breach: Credentials are stored off-premise, on a cloud-based or remote SSO platform, instead of the user’s local device. This reduces vulnerabilities arising from localized storage of sensitive data. 
• Centralize access control: Enterprises can use an SSO platform to maintain visibility into access rights, login privileges, and the user management lifecycle. 
• Reduce IT workloads: Queries and employee service requests around forgotten passwords or lost credentials are eliminated so that IT can focus on more value-adding tasks. 

For these reasons, SSO has emerged as a top priority for employees and enterprises alike. As per a 2021 study by Auth0 and YouGov, more than four in ten (44%) users will be more likely to sign up for an app if they can log in via SSO. 

See More: What Is Password Management? Definition, Components and Best Practices

Key Must-Have Features of SSO Software

An SSO software enables secure authentication when users sign into multiple software systems, online apps, or databases using the same credentials. It achieves this by connecting these disparate systems with the user’s identity information, credentials, and passwords through a process known as a secure federation. 

While this is happening at the backend, SSO software platforms must also provide a stellar experience to end-users (i.e., enterprise employees using SSO for business app access) and admins (i.e., IT and security teams responsible for orchestrating the identity and access management landscape). 

Therefore, it must include the following key features: 

1. Centralized governance

An SSO platform must allow you to create and connect user identities in a centralized space with easy governance. You should be able to provision new credentials with ease and retire the ones that are no longer in use. 

2. Third-party integrations

Third-party integrations are at the heart of any SSO platform’s functionalities. It means that you can link the platform with a wide variety of applications from different vendors, either through native integrations or application programming interfaces (APIs). Users will be able to apply the same set of login credentials across all these applications. 

3. Cloud-readiness

The SSO platform should support federation with software systems hosted in the same environment and on the cloud. If your SSO software solution is hosted on a private server, it must connect with apps residing in a different hosting environment. 

4. End-user UX

The end-user experience of an SSO solution makes a massive difference to adoption rates. End-users – i.e., your employees or employees working at a client organization if you provide IT managed services – should be able to add new accounts with ease, access credentials from any device, view usage histories, and ask for support. 

5. Stringent security

Finally, the precise security protocols for authentication and SSO governance also matter. For example, you might want to ensure support for security assertion markup language (SAML), an open standard for authentication.

See More: Top 10 Multi-Factor Authentication Software Solutions for 2021

Top 10 Single Sign-On (SSO) Providers to Check Out

Globally, SSO is a large and mature market, expected to reach $1.36 billion in valuation by 2025, as per recent research by 360 Research Reports. Indeed, it has been a $1+ billion market since 2019, underscoring its maturity. Several leading companies cater to enterprise SSO users worldwide – here are the top ten, arranged in alphabetical order. 

Disclaimer: This list is based on publicly available information and includes vendor websites that sell to mid-to-large enterprises. Readers are advised to conduct their final research to ensure the best fit for their unique organizational needs.

1. AuthPoint SSO

Overview: AuthPoint SSO is a single sign-on and multi-factor authentication tool by cybersecurity company WatchGuard. It allows you to set up custom SSO portals to manage multiple resources, user groups, and identities. 

Key features: The key features of AuthPoint include:

• Centralized governance: Can be easily managed through the AuthPoint SSO admin portal and dashboard 
• Third-party integrations: Native integrations with a massive variety of apps including Dropbox, G Suite, Tableau, Splunk, Office 365, Salesforce, and more
• Cloud-readiness: Cloud-native platform that can be fully managed in WatchGuard Cloud; supports all major cloud apps 
• End-user UX: Offers a white label (branded) interface where users can access all their necessary business apps
• Stringent security: Integrates with a wide range of security services for holistic enterprise protection 

USP: AuthPoint’s USP is that it is easy to implement, set up, and use. Further, it can connect with virtually any SaaS platform in your existing stack without any dev hassles. 

Pricing: Pricing starts at $12.90 per user for 5001+ users for a year with volume-based discounts.

Editorial comments: AuthPoint SSO is a good fit for small to mid-sized companies that need a cloud-native SSO and cybersecurity solution that’s integration-first. 

2. AWS Single Sign-On

Overview: AWS Single sign-on is the SSO service from Amazon Web Services (AWS). It’s designed for the AWS cloud environment so you can manage workforce identities and enable unified access for apps hosted on the cloud. 

Key features: The key features of AWS Single sign-on include:

• Centralized governance: Central admin dashboard to manage AWS accounts, AWS apps, and SAML apps 
• Third-party integrations: Natively connected with tools like Amazon SageMaker Studio, AWS Systems Manager Change Manager, and AWS IoT SiteWise; supports all SAML apps and several cloud apps like Salesforce, Box, and Microsoft 365
• Cloud-readiness: Designed entirely keeping the needs of public and private cloud users in mind 
• End-user UX: Allows users the freedom to log in via a personalized user portal, command-line interface (CLI) or SDKs
• Stringent security: Security policy enforcement based on user attributes like a cost center, title, or locale

USP: AWS SSO’s USP is that it is cloud-first and can connect with a variety of identity sources, including its built-in database, SAML, and Azure Active Directory. 

Pricing: AWS SSO is available at no additional cost for existing AWS users. 

Editorial comments: Companies with an established AWS-based infrastructure landscape should definitely consider AWS single sign-on as a preferred solution. 

3. Azure Active Directory 

Overview: Azure Active Directory or Azure AD is among the most popular SSO solutions used – either as a standalone platform or as an integrated identity source. It integrates with nearly every SaaS app natively. 

Key features: The key features of Azure Active Directory include:

• Centralized governance: Automated provisioning workflows, self-service, and centralized management via Azure 
• Third-party integrations: Thousands of prebuilt app integrations, accessible from the app gallery, along with custom integrations through the Microsoft identity platform
• Cloud-readiness: Purpose-built for the cloud; enables legacy app migration to the cloud through Azure AD domain services
• End-user UX: Centralized and branded portal for secure access to business apps from any device 
• Stringent security: Risk-based security policies for every individual app, powered by Azure AD conditional access

USP: Azure active directory’s USP is that it makes it easier to scale your It landscape. You can reduce efforts through self-service tools and automation and simplify setup with prebuilt integrations. 

Pricing: This SSO platform is available in 4 tiers – free, bundled with Office 365, Premium P1, and Premium P2, starting at $6 per user per month for paid versions. 

Editorial comments: Azure AD can be instrumental in powering cloud-led digital transformation as it unlocks efficiency gains as you scale. 

See More: Top 10 Privileged Access Management Solutions in 2021

4. Duo 

Overview: Duo security is a user authentication and access control software powered by Cisco. Its key focus areas include MFA, remote access, device trust, and adaptive access policies, in addition to SSO. 

Key features: The key features of Duo include:

• Centralized governance: Centralized provisioning, policy enforcement, and credential management from the Duo central portal 
• Third-party integrations: Integrates with SSO and other identity provider tools using a zero-trust platform architecture; prebuilt integrations and custom integrations are available 
• Cloud-readiness: Cloud-based SSO hosted by Duo; ensures secure access for both cloud and on-premise applications 
• End-user UX: Seamless end-user experience; employees can access all apps from the cloud-based Duo central website 
• Stringent security: Zero-trust platform, MFA protected dashboard, and customizable access policies 

USP: Duo’s USP is its zero-trust platform architecture that employs MFA to protect every user session. It also offers FedRAMP authorized authentication. 

Pricing: Duo is free for up to 10 users, and the SSO capability is available with paid tiers starting at 43 per user per month. 

Editorial comments: Duo is an excellent option for companies that need an affordable yet powerful SSO solution – especially if they are public sector or regulated organizations with FedRAMP requirements. 

5. Okta

Overview: Recognized several times by the Gartner magic quadrant, Okta is now almost synonymous with single sign-on. This market leader also has an identity directory, user management, and MFA capabilities. 

Key features: The key features of Okta include:

• Centralized governance: Centralized dashboards to view, manage, and secure access internal employees and external partners; includes admin self-service, data reports, and Okta HealthInsight to provide recommendations
• Third-party integrations: Prebuilt (native) integrations for 7000+ apps and an integration wizard feature for custom development
• Cloud-readiness: End-to-end cloud hosting service; connects with on-premise applications as well as hybrid cloud
• End-user UX: automated user onboarding and offboarding, self-service password resets, and custom end-user dashboards 
• Stringent security: Adaptive security policies and Okta Insights to identify and block suspicious login attempts 

USP: Okta’s USP is its rich admin experience. IT personnel can gain from insights generated across Okta’s global presence while enjoying reduced workloads, thanks to automation and self-service. 

Pricing: Okta SSO starts at $2 per user per month. 

Editorial comments: Mid-sized to large organizations should definitely consider Okt as a leading choice. Keep in mind that it might get a little expensive as you scale to over 2000-3000 users. 

6. OneLogin

Overview: OneLogin is an identity-based access control software with solutions for both internal employees and external customers. The OneLogin SSO solution enables secure access to cloud-based and firewall-protected apps. 

Key features: The key features of OneLogin include:

• Centralized governance: Streamlined governance through OneLogin’s Trusted Experience Platformâ„¢; delegated admin rights and programmatically assigned privileges 
• Third-party integrations: Integrates with nearly every SaaS app and cloud-based solution, including personal apps like Facebook or Twitter.
• Cloud-readiness: Ideal for cloud environments as well as on-premise apps protected by a local firewall. 
• End-user UX: Several UX enhancements like SSO login when signing in from an embedded link, shared logins, and multiple languages 
• Stringent security: Enables endpoint management, MFA, and context-aware access management 

USP: OneLogin’s USP is the seamless user experience that it provides. To take a simple example, employees already logged in do not have to log in again.

Pricing: OneLogin starts at $2 per user per month, with dedicated small business solutions. 

Editorial comments: OneLogin provides a variety of features and a stellar UX at an affordable price – ideal for mid-sized to large organizations. 

See More: What Is Web Application Security? Definition, Testing, and Best Practices

7. Oracle Enterprise SSO

Overview: Enterprise Single Sign-on (ESSO) is oracle’s SSO solution for desktop and cloud environments. It is meant for enterprise users and can integrate with any identity source, including lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP), active directory, and SQL databases.

Key features: The key features of Oracle Enterprise SSO include:

• Centralized governance: The ESSO Provisioning Gateway for system admins integrates Oracle identity management or third-party apps. 
• Third-party integrations: Connects with a wide range of apps through APIs and SDKs 
• Cloud-readiness: Suitable for applications situated on desktops, on-premise servers, host-based mainframes, clod, and hybrid environments 
• End-user UX: Seamless UX on every device, including kiosk workstations via the ESSO Kiosk Manager
• Stringent security: Customizable policy creation and enforcement (including encryption) as per enterprise requirements 

USP: Oracle ESSO’s USP is the sheer degree of flexibility that it provides. It provides coverage for applications in any environment and on any device, including kiosks. You can gain from highly customized security policies and IT integrations. 

Pricing: Oracle ESSO is custom-priced. 

Editorial comments: Large organizations with a sprawling digital environment (e.g., retail chains) can leverage Oracle ESSO to meet their unique business requirements. 

8. PingIdentity

Overview: PingIdentity offers workforce and customer identity services to enterprises of every size. The PingOne for Workforce platform provides employees with one-click access to business apps and services. 

Key features: The key features of PingIdentity include:

• Centralized governance: Centralized access control for multiple apps, directories, cloud environments, and business scenarios 
• Third-party integrations: Connects with all major SaaS apps via the federation hub 
• Cloud-readiness: Equipped for private, public, and hybrid cloud environments with support for all major cloud providers 
• End-user UX: End-user access on multiple devices and in varied environments; consistent experience across web and on-premise apps 
• Stringent security: Built on open standards for identity federation in environments with high levels of complexity and risk 

USP: PingIdentity’s USP is that it has separate platforms for customers and your workforce. Also, IT administrators can use APIs to build simple automations that reduce workloads. 

Pricing: The solution is custom priced, and here is a free trial available. 

Editorial comments: PingIdentity recently announced a product enhancement that would allow the entire suite of SSO and other functionalities to be delivered via a unified cloud. This makes it accessible for cloud-first organizations and those not ready to spend on on-premise infrastructure. 

9. SAP Single Sign-On

Overview: SAP SSO is the company’s dedicated single sign-on service for SAP and partner products, although it also supports third-party apps. It is compatible with the full range of SAP solutions and can be deployed on-premise. 

Key features: The key features of SAP Single Sign-On include:

• Centralized governance: Managed via the SAP admin portal with advanced backend functionalities 
• Third-party integrations: Primarily meant for SAP and related software; can be used for cross-company scenarios 
• Cloud-readiness: Offers excellent feature parity on the cloud as well on-premise deployment 
• End-user UX: Simplifies the typical UX involved in using SAP tools while also navigating the company’s strict security policies 
• Stringent security: Two-factor and risk-based authentication, integration with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tokens, and industry expertise 

USP: SAP SSO’s USP is that it allows for cross-company unified login through SAML-based identity federation. This is useful for large companies with a sprawling partner network. 

Pricing: SSP SSO is custom-priced based on your enterprise size and existing SSO dependency. 

Editorial comments: SAP SSO uses Kerberos, a secret-key cryptography-based network authentication protocol by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This makes it ideal for companies handling sensitive information. 

See More: Top 10 Vulnerability Management Tools for 2021

10. Symantec SiteMinder 

Overview: Formerly called CA single sign-on, SiteMinder is a unified access management solution from Symantec. It offers a powerful SSO functionality, which also supports secure social login.

Key features: The key features of Symantec SiteMinder include:

• Centralized governance: Critical self-service and provisioning support through the Symantec Identity Management offering 
• Third-party integrations: Connects with a variety of cloud, mobile, and web applications through APIs and software development kits (SDKs). 
• Cloud-readiness: Compatible with the cloud and internet of things (IoT) as well as on-premise applications; load balancing capabilities for fast cloud connectivity 
• End-user UX: Users can log in via credentials in JSON, REST, and SAML formats or use social login credentials 
• Stringent security: Advanced session security with user monitoring across the web environment; a scalable identity store, which is a directory server for storing credentials. 

USP: SiteMinder’s USP is that it is easily extensible by connecting with the larger Symantec security solutions portfolio, powered by Broadcom. 

Pricing: Symantec SiteMinder is custom-priced, and you’d have to contact the company for a quote.

Editorial comments: Large organizations who need a comprehensive cybersecurity solution with powerful SSO should consider Symantec SiteMinder. 

Here are the product highlights at a glance: 

	Centralized governance	Third-party integrations	Cloud-readiness	End-user UX	Stringent security	Pricing
AuthPoint	YesÂ	Yes, excellentÂ	ExcellentÂ	GoodÂ	Yes, as part of the full AuthPoint value propÂ	$12.90 per user onwardsÂ
AWS Single Sign-On	YesÂ	Yes, but limitedÂ	ExcellentÂ	ExcellentÂ	Yes, through attribute-based access control (ABAC)Â	Free of cost for AWS usersÂ
Azure Active Directory	YesÂ	Yes, excellentÂ	ExcellentÂ	ExcellentÂ	Yes, through Azure AD Conditional Access	$6 per user per month onwardsÂ
Duo	YesÂ	Yes, excellentÂ	ExcellentÂ	ExcellentÂ	Yes, through a zero-trust platform architectureÂ	$3 per user per month onwardsÂ
Okta	YesÂ	Yes, excellentÂ	ExcellentÂ	ExcellentÂ	Yes, through adaptive security policies and Okta insightsÂ	$2 per user per month (minimum $1500 annual commitment)Â
OneLogin	YesÂ	Yes, excellentÂ	ExcellentÂ	Industry-bestÂ	Yes, through context-aware accessÂ	$2 per user per month onwardsÂ
Oracle Enterprise SSO	YesÂ	YesÂ	Excellent, environment-agnosticÂ	Good	Yes, flexibleÂ	CustomÂ
PingIdentity	YesÂ	Yes, via the Federation HubÂ	ExcellentÂ	GoodÂ	Yes, built on open standardsÂ	CustomÂ
SAP Single Sign-On	YesÂ	Yes, but limitedÂ	GoodÂ	GoodÂ	Yes, with 2FA, RFID tokens, and KerberosÂ	CustomÂ
Symantec SiteMinder	Yes, through Symantec Identity Management	Yes, using APIs and SDKsÂ	ExcellentÂ	GoodÂ	Yes, with session monitoring and identity storeÂ	CustomÂ

 

See More: Identity Management Day: Experts Outline Best Practices To Secure Online Identities

Takeaway

As workplace processes become increasingly more app-based, employees will demand convenience while enterprises push for security. The top SSO platforms we discussed strike a balance between these two equally important factors. They help you securely scale your digital landscape while enabling you to derive maximum ROI from your app investments. 

Do you agree that SSO is now an enterprise staple? Tell us on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We would love to hear from you!