Gaining access to multiple resources and applications within your organization may be accomplished through single sign on. This type of authentication stores the user’s name and password, after they enter it a single time. Whenever a user accesses a secure resource, their system automatically authenticates with the resource and grants them access. The user is not prompted for their user name or password, as the system handles authentication in the background.
Advantages for Using Single Sign on Authentication Also Carry a Security Risk
There are both advantages and disadvantages for using single sign on authentication, which organizations need to keep in mind. One of the most obvious is that it cuts down on the number of user ids and passwords users need to remember. It also cuts down on the amount of time your help desk has to spend resetting forgotten passwords and locked-out accounts. But, there is a price for using this method, as it carries a higher security risk. For instance, if someone were able to obtain your human resource manager’s user name and password, they would have complete access to all of your employee data, including personal information, like social security numbers and pay grades.