SSO and MFA: How They Differ and Why Organizations Should Use Both
Summary
SSO streamlines access to multiple applications through one login, while MFA adds identity checks. The article recommends combining them, favoring passkeys, biometrics, or push factors over SMS and one-time codes.
Key points
- SSO lets users access multiple applications after authenticating once through a trusted identity provider.
- MFA requires two or more verification factors, such as knowledge, possession, or biometrics.
- SSO improves convenience but creates reliance on the identity provider as a potential single point of failure.
- Using MFA with SSO can help protect accounts if a password is compromised.
- The article recommends stronger MFA methods such as passkeys, biometrics, and push verification over SMS, voice verification, or one-time passcodes.
- It also advises enabling MFA for critical services, training users, and regularly reviewing access policies.
Article Details
- Topic
- Comparison of single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA), with guidance on using them together to improve authentication security.