Term of the Day

Cryptocurrency is a type of digital currency that uses cryptography for security and anti-counterfeiting measures.  Public and private keys are often used to transfer cryptocurrency between individuals.  As a counter-culture movement that is often connected to cypherpunks, cryptocurrency is essentially a fiat currency.  This means users must reach a...
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Single Sign-On (SSO)

Definition - What does Single Sign-On (SSO) mean? 

Single sign-on (SSO) is an authentication process that allows a user to access multiple applications with one set of login credentials.  SSO is a common procedure in enterprises, where a client accesses multiple resources connected to a local area network (LAN). 

Techopedia explains Single Sign-On (SSO)

With SSO, a user logs in once and gains access to different applications, without the need to re-enter log-in credentials at each application.  SSO authentication facilitates seamless network resource usage.  SSO mechanisms vary, depending on application type. 

SSO is not suited for systems requiring guaranteed access, as the loss of log-in credentials results into denial of access to all systems.  Ideally, SSO is used with other authentication techniques, such as smart cards and one-time password tokens.