Company
Date Published
Author
Andrew Israel
Word count
1032
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Single sign-on (SSO) provides users with the convenience of accessing multiple services with a single login, and Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) is a key protocol enabling enterprise-level SSO. While consumer SSO options like "Login with Google" allow access through any Google account, business-to-business (B2B) applications often require a more secure, customized SAML setup that only permits company employees to access services. This setup typically involves configuring an Identity Provider (IdP) such as Okta or Azure AD to manage employee access to necessary applications like Salesforce, either through an IdP-initiated flow or a Service Provider-initiated flow. These configurations ensure that once an employee is added to a specific group, they can immediately gain access without additional invitations, as the SAML connection identifies the user's organization. To establish a SAML connection, service providers and identity providers exchange specific identifiers and URLs, and tools like PropelAuth offer guides to facilitate the setup process efficiently, minimizing the need for extensive communication.