Single sign-on enterprise protection| WatchGuard Blog

Enterprises today are facing a complex working environment, where digitalization is advancing by leaps and bounds and technological tools are multiplying. This change has brought with it a key challenge: protecting and managing access to sensitive data. IT teams are overloaded with password-related tickets, while employees are dealing with multiple credential-management fatigue, a problem that affects both productivity and security.

By simplifying authentication and elevating organizational cybersecurity, single sign-on is emerging as a powerful and necessary solution.

Reliance on multiple passwords creates an environment conducive to human error and security breaches. On average, an employee uses up to 27 different passwords, which not only increases the risk of credential reuse, but also encourages the practice of using weak or easy-to-remember passwords. This creates serious vulnerabilities, an issue surveys such as the Verizon report have stressed by highlighting that 86% of data breaches in 2023 involved the use of stolen credentials, including misuse of credentials.

The growing adoption of the hybrid work model adds a further layer of complexity. Employees need secure access to resources from multiple locations and devices, intensifying the pressure on IT infrastructures to ensure secure and efficient authentication.

Consequences of inefficient credential management

Operational overload for IT teams: password reset support tickets account for a significant portion of IT department time and resources, diverting them from strategic tasks.
Lower employee productivity: repeating logins, remembering multiple credentials, and time spent on account recovery consumes time and generates frustration.
High security risks: password reuse, which makes it easy for cybercriminals to compromise multiple accounts with a single password, coupled with the absence of clear access control protocols, significantly increases enterprise vulnerability to phishing and social engineering attacks. This risk is heightened in environments where Cloud applications are used regularly.

Single sign-on, a proactive and secure solution

Single sign-on (SSO) directly addresses these challenges, allowing users to access multiple applications using a single set of credentials. Apart from simplicity of use, the impact of SSO translates into tangible improvements in both operational and security terms, where it achieves:

Optimized user experience: by eliminating the need for multiple logins, SSO enhances user experience substantially and IT administrators reduce the time they spend on password reset issues.
Reduced security risks: by centralizing authentication, SSO facilitates the implementation of robust access controls, minimizing the chances of unauthorized access.
Regulatory compliance: with increasing demands to comply with regulations such as RGPD, HIPAA, or PCI DSS, SSO offers a centralized and easy-to-audit solution that ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive data.

SSO is much more than a tool to simplify access. It represents a strategic step toward a more secure and productive work environment. By adopting this technology, enterprises can effectively address operational and security challenges, creating a seamless user experience and elevating their cybersecurity posture.

Although the market offers multiple solutions, it is crucial to choose a provider that facilitates SSO integration and offers comprehensive and specialized support. Investing in SSO represents a commitment to the future of secure digital access. Learn more about all the benefits that SSO delivers to enterprises in our white paper.