Microsoft Entra Single Sign-On (SSO) Explained
Protecting your businesses data is vital, not just for your business but also for your employees and customers. With cyber-attacks on the rise, and many SME’s paying victim to the evolving threats by hackers, investing in cyber security technologies has never been so important.
The simplest ways to protect your business has traditionally been via passwords. However, with a multitude of technologies and apps at our fingertips, creating and remembering strong passwords has certainly become challenging, resulting in weaker passwords, making yourself and your business more vulnerable.
One of the best methods to enhance the security that strong passwords bring is by implementing Single Sign-On (SSO). Microsoft version of SSO is Microsoft Entra, assisting businesses to remain safe from anyone attempting to gain credentials and access to your business.
If you’re looking to get started with Microsoft Entra SSO but need a helping hand, reach out to us today. We’re here to get you started and will make sure that you have the gold standard of security for your business’s needs.
What is Microsoft Entra Single Sign-On (SSO)?
Single sign-on is an authentication method that basically lets you use one set of credentials, i.e. username and password, to log into multiple accounts, applications, and websites. This means that you only need to login to one portal to access all your connected accounts.
Microsoft Entra is essentially Microsoft’s SSO app, it can connect to both Microsoft applications such as Microsoft 365, and any other external applications you use such as a CRM portal. You can use Microsoft Entra to log into your system, and all the above — all using one login.
Forget trying to remember numerous different passwords, variations of the same password, or even having a spreadsheet with all your password in – please don’t ever do this! Microsoft Entra SSO offers a seamless way to login to all your applications throughout your day, removing the headache and time spent inserting them and changing them.
How Does it Work?
Microsoft Entra Single sign-on (SSO) works in four simple steps:
- Login: You log in using your username and password on your main authentication system (such as Microsoft Entra).
- Authentication: The portal verifies your identity using credentials. Sometimes you’ll also use other factors of authentication such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to confirm the login.
- Token Generation: Upon verification, a token is generated. This token is a unique, secure token that will be used to log into other applications.
- Access: Whenever you go to sign onto an application that supports SSO, the token is given instead and saves you from having to log in manually.
Benefits of Microsoft Entra for Businesses
Amongst the many benefits that come with introducing Single Sign-On into your business, not having to remember a billion different passwords for all of the applications used in day-to-day has to be the top of everyone’s list. It will mean that you can focus on having just one highly secure password that you can actually remember, saving multiple login time throughout your day.
Time
Using Microsoft Entra SSO means you only need to remember one password, and once you’re logged in you can just open the applications you need, and it will automatically log you in.
Security
Microsoft Entra gives you the ability to remove the number of ways that you can be vulnerable to credential theft. After all, the more passwords you create, the more of a chance there is that you could give access to your organisation through one of those passwords. This form of cyber attack is growing, with many employees unfortunately falling victim when a hacker poses as a trustworthy party leading you to a fake ‘reset your password’ screen.
Experience
Not only does it reduce the headache of remembering multiple passwords, but SSO eliminates the need to spend time making passwords that are secure enough when using apps.
How to get started with Microsoft Entra SSO
Technologies such as Microsoft Entra SSO are helping businesses around the world become more secure. As passwords become a thing of the past, passwordless authentication and SSO are simply the future of authentication.
Using tools like Microsoft Entra and taking a modern approach to authentication will let you take advantage of these benefits, and will take your business to the next level.
Get in touch with us now and see how we can help to protect your employees, customers and business.
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