SSOjärjestelmä

SSOjärjestelmä, or Single Sign-On system, is a technology that allows a user to log in with a single set of credentials to access multiple independent software systems. Instead of requiring separate usernames and passwords for each application, an SSO system authenticates the user once, and then grants them access to all authorized applications without further authentication. This streamlines the user experience, reduces the burden of remembering multiple passwords, and can enhance security by simplifying password management policies.

The core principle behind SSO is the establishment of a trusted relationship between an authentication service provider and one or more service providers. When a user attempts to access a protected resource in a service provider, they are redirected to the SSO system for authentication. Upon successful authentication, the SSO system issues a security token or assertion that is sent back to the service provider. This token contains information about the authenticated user and their authorization, allowing the service provider to grant access. Common protocols used in SSO implementations include SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language), OAuth, and OpenID Connect.

From an organizational perspective, SSOjärjestelmä can simplify IT administration, improve compliance, and reduce help desk calls related to forgotten passwords. However, it's crucial to implement SSO securely, as a compromise of the central authentication system would grant an attacker access to all connected applications. Therefore, robust security measures for the SSO system itself, such as multi-factor authentication, are essential.