An Introduction to Multi-Factor Authentication & Single Sign-On

If you’ve spent any time in recent years using personal applications like social media platforms or accessing your work via a network, the terms Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) or Single Sign-On (SSO) might be familiar to you. The terms have become commonplace amongst IT Teams and Software Developers the world over as descriptors for security and accessibility.

A quick definition

In short, MFA ensures secure access to your software applications whilst SSO makes it easier to access the applications you use. Combined MFA and SSO not only make it easier to use products from the same supplier, suite or in-house technology stack but also ensure the applications are more secure. Neither of these solutions are new, but in recent years they have become essential tools to protect user data and IT systems. For example, there is a growing series of legislation and procurement rules that treat MFA as a standard security practice (in the UK the Governments Cyber Essentials accreditation is just one example of how it is becoming “standard” to assume MFA is in place).

Introducing MFA

Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) is a multi-step process to enable users to access their software applications. It requires a user to enter more than just a password. For example, along with their password, a user might be asked to enter a code sent to their email, enter a code or confirm they want to access the application via a mobile ‘authenticator’ app, or scan a fingerprint. Applying MFA and the need for a second form of authentication increases security and can help prevent unauthorized account access, especially in the situation that a system password has been compromised. You will most likely have experience of MFA in your personal life when accessing online banking, transacting online or accessing other apps.

Introducing SSO

Single Sign On (SSO) is a user authentication method that makes it easy to centrally manage application access and enables users to securely authenticate with multiple applications by using just one set of credentials. SSO not only makes it easy to centrally manage access to multiple applications or user accounts, but it also enables users to sign into a user portal with their existing corporate credentials and access all their assigned accounts and applications from one place.

Advanced's approach to MFA and SSO

Some of our products (like Care Cloud, Advanced Financials and Advanced HR) have SSO already. You may hear this referred to as Advanced SSO or ASSO. We will be shortly introducing MFA via our MyWorkplace platform. For our broader portfolio of products, we continue to assess the adoption of both these technologies on a product-by-product basis and will ensure clear and timely communication to customers if and when they are implemented.