Social Login Service That You Might Have Used At Least Once!

You may have tried ‘Social Login’ when using a third party website or application.
This function allows you to easily sign up and log in by connecting your existing social media accounts
such as Google, Facebook, and Twitter after simply agreeing to the personal information collection statement.

▲ An example of login using social media

It is said that such Social Login is a form of Single Sign-On(SSO), but what exactly is SSO?

SSO stands for Single Sign-On, an authentication scheme that allows a user to access various services using a single ID.
In the past, signing in to multiple websites or applications required the tedious process of entering individual IDs and passwords for each service.
However, SSO enables users to log in with a set of credentials to multiple accounts
without repeating the login process once the user authentication is done on a designated platform.

The three components in SSO refers to the user, the Identity Provider (IdP), and the Service Provider (SP)
which works based upon a trust relationship.
The workflow of SSO is as follows. (*SSO processes in the same way on RemoteView)

▲ SSO Workflow

*IdP(Identity Provider): An authentication intermediary service that verifies user information and provides access authorization
when a user requests to access SP. e.g. IDaaS (Identity as a Service) solutions.
*SP(Service Provider): A web or app service provided to users. e.g. RemoteView, Google Workspace, etc.

● Step 1: The user attempts to access a service at the SP(Service Provider) end, such as RemoteView.
● Step 2: The user is automatically redirected to the IdP(Identity Provider), which serves as the SSO authentication agent.
● Step 3: The user is authenticated(logged in) on the IdP. (Delegated authentication)
● Step 4: The user is redirected back to the SP from the IdP, and the user’s information(ID, password, email address, etc.)
used in the authentication process is also transmitted to the SP.
● Step 5: The SP completes the login process, and the user can now use the service.

There are three main benefits: greater security, higher productivity, and enhanced user experience.
Let's take a closer look at each benefit.

As more people use cloud computing services such as SaaS(Software-as-a-Service) and IaaS(Infrastructure-as-a-Service),
the number of login credentials used by an employee for each service continues to grow.
It is definitely not easy to remember and manage multiple accounts created in this way.
However, SSO allows users to log in to multiple services with a single set of authentication credentials,
eliminating the security risks associated with repeated or lost passwords.

SSO can help improve the productivity of IT managers in the business.
Instead of establishing authentication systems for each service used by employees,
managers can control users who access multiple services, systems, and other important resources with just one set of credentials(ID and password).

SSO simplifies the login process, allowing instant access to the services they need.
Users do not need to perform multiple login operations to use multiple websites or applications.
When implemented correctly, SSO services can significantly elevate user experience and customer satisfaction.

SSO allows convenient access to multiple services with a single set of login credentials, while reducing the risk of lost credentials.
However, security vulnerabilities also exist that once users pass the initial authentication process,
they can freely access the webpage or web server.
To address this issue, the 'Zero Trust’ security model is being used.

Zero Trust is a security model based on the principle of ‘Never trust, always verify first!’ and thoroughly verifies the identity of users.
When SSO is paired with Multi-Factor Authentication(MFA), a representative Zero Trust solution,
security can be improved while maintaining convenience.
To implement SSO more securely, additional authentication such as one-time password(OTP) or
facial/biometric recognition should be required
when accessing important resources from an untrusted network even after passing initial authentication.

With SSO, businesses can achieve convenience, security, and productivity all at once if implemented correctly!
Try SSO-integrated RemoteView based on the Zero Trust security model, and enjoy remote access in a streamlined and safe environment!