What are the biggest challenges of implementing single sign-on in a large organization?

1 Compatibility issues

One of the main challenges of SSO is ensuring compatibility between different applications and systems that use different authentication protocols or standards. For example, some applications may use SAML, while others may use OAuth or OpenID Connect. To enable SSO across these applications, you need to use an identity provider (IdP) that can support multiple protocols and act as a bridge between them. Alternatively, you can use a federated identity management system that can link multiple IdPs together and provide a common interface for users.

2 Security risks

Another challenge of SSO is managing the security risks that come with centralizing user authentication. If the SSO system is compromised, attackers can gain access to multiple applications or systems with one set of credentials. Moreover, if users lose or forget their SSO credentials, they can be locked out of all their accounts. To mitigate these risks, you need to implement strong security measures, such as encryption, multi-factor authentication, audit logs, and regular backups. You also need to educate users on how to protect their SSO credentials and how to report any suspicious activity.

3 User adoption

A third challenge of SSO is ensuring user adoption and satisfaction. Some users may resist the change to SSO, either because they are used to their existing login methods, or because they are concerned about their privacy or security. To overcome this challenge, you need to communicate the benefits of SSO to users, such as convenience, productivity, and compliance. You also need to provide clear instructions on how to use SSO, and offer support and feedback channels for any issues or questions.

4 Legal and regulatory compliance

A fourth challenge of SSO is complying with the legal and regulatory requirements that apply to your organization and the applications or systems that you use. For example, you may need to comply with data protection laws, such as GDPR or CCPA, that regulate how you collect, store, and share user data. You may also need to comply with industry-specific standards, such as HIPAA or PCI DSS, that impose specific security and privacy rules for certain types of data. To address this challenge, you need to conduct a thorough assessment of your SSO system and the applications or systems that it connects to, and ensure that you follow the relevant laws and standards.

5 Maintenance and scalability

A fifth challenge of SSO is maintaining and scaling the SSO system as your organization grows and changes. For example, you may need to add or remove applications or systems, update or migrate your SSO platform, or integrate new features or functionalities. To cope with this challenge, you need to have a robust and flexible SSO architecture that can adapt to your evolving needs. You also need to have a reliable and experienced team that can monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize your SSO system.

6 Cost and complexity

A sixth challenge of SSO is managing the cost and complexity of implementing and running the SSO system. Depending on the size and scope of your organization and the applications or systems that you use, you may need to invest in hardware, software, licenses, or services to enable SSO. You may also need to hire or train staff, or outsource some tasks, to manage and support your SSO system. To overcome this challenge, you need to evaluate the return on investment (ROI) of SSO, and compare the costs and benefits of different SSO options. You also need to plan and budget your SSO project carefully, and track and measure your SSO performance and outcomes.