SSO - Build vs Buy: Making the Right Choice for Your Business
Tags: cybersecurity, authentication, sso, security
Published: 2023-04-19 10:12:28

**Single Sign-On (SSO) - Build vs. Buy is the decision-making process businesses undergo to determine whether to create a custom solution or purchase a ready-made one. This article explores the benefits and drawbacks of each approach, as well as key factors to consider when making this decision.**


Single Sign-On (SSO) is a popular authentication mechanism that enables users to access multiple applications with a single set of login credentials. SSO solutions have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they offer several benefits, including improved security, increased user convenience, and reduced costs.

When it comes to implementing an SSO solution, organizations have two main options: building an SSO solution in-house or buying an SSO solution from a third-party vendor. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, and organizations need to carefully evaluate their requirements, resources, and expertise before deciding which approach to take.

In this blog post, we will explore the advantages of buying an SSO solution over building an SSO solution in-house. We will examine how buying an SSO solution can offer faster time-to-market, lower costs, expertise, scalability, and integration.

Let’s dive in and explore the benefits of buying an SSO solution in more detail.


## **What is SSO?**

SSO stands for Single Sign-On, which is an authentication mechanism that enables users to access multiple applications or systems using a single set of login credentials. With SSO, users do not need to remember multiple login credentials for different applications, which improves user convenience and productivity.

In an SSO setup, a user’s login credentials are verified by a central authentication server, which then grants access to all the authorized applications or systems. This eliminates the need for users to log in separately to each application or system, saving time and reducing the risk of password fatigue, which can lead to weak or compromised passwords.

SSO can be implemented using various authentication protocols such as OAuth, OpenID Connect, SAML, and Kerberos. These protocols enable secure communication between the authentication server and the application or system, ensuring that only authorized users can access the resources.

SSO solutions have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they offer several benefits, including improved security, increased user convenience, and reduced costs. Organizations can either build an SSO solution in-house or buy an SSO solution from a third-party vendor, depending on their requirements and resources.

### **SSO : Build vs Buy**

Single Sign-On (SSO) is a popular method of authentication that allows users to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials. It eliminates the need for users to remember multiple passwords and improves security by reducing the risk of credential theft. When it comes to implementing SSO, organizations have two options: build it in-house or buy a third-party solution. In this blog, we will explore the pros and cons of each approach to help you decide which option is right for your organization.

## **Build SSO In-House**

Building an SSO solution in-house requires a significant investment of time, resources, and expertise. The process involves developing custom code, designing authentication protocols, and integrating with existing applications. Here are some of the pros and cons of building SSO in-house:

**Pros:**

**1. Customization:** Building an SSO solution in-house allows organizations to tailor the solution to their specific needs. They can design the authentication protocols, user interface, and integration points based on their unique requirements.

**2. Control: **Organizations have complete control over the SSO solution when they build it in-house. They can modify and update the solution as needed without relying on third-party vendors.

**3. Flexibility:** An in-house SSO solution can be updated and modified as needed to meet changing business needs or to accommodate new applications or systems. This flexibility can be particularly valuable for organizations that are experiencing rapid growth or change.

**4. Security:** An in-house SSO solution can be designed with security as a top priority. By controlling the design and implementation of the solution, the organization can ensure that the solution is as secure as possible, minimizing the risk of data breaches or other security incidents.

**Cons:**

**1. Expertise:** Building an SSO solution requires specialized expertise in security, authentication protocols, and application integration. Organizations may need to hire or train staff with these skills.

**2. Time:** Developing an SSO solution in-house can take months or even years, depending on the complexity of the solution and the resources available.

**3. Maintenance:** Once the SSO solution is built, organizations are responsible for maintaining it, including updates, bug fixes, and security patches.

**4. Cost:** While building an SSO solution in-house requires a significant upfront investment, it can require more investment in the long run.


## **Buy a Third-Party SSO Solution**

Alternatively, organizations can buy a third-party SSO solution. These solutions are typically cloud-based and offer a range of features and integrations. Here are some of the pros and cons of buying a third-party SSO solution:

**Pros:**

**1. Time-to-Market:** Buying a third-party SSO solution can significantly reduce the time-to-market compared to building a solution in-house. These solutions are typically pre-built and ready to integrate with existing applications.

**2. Expertise:** Third-party SSO vendors have expertise in security, authentication protocols, and application integration. Organizations can rely on their expertise instead of building it in-house.

**3. Maintenance:** Third-party SSO vendors are responsible for maintaining the solution, including updates, bug fixes, and security patches.

**4. Saves time and resources:** Implementing a third-party SSO solution can save an organization time and resources as it eliminates the need to develop and maintain a custom-built SSO system.

**5. Improved security:** Third-party SSO solutions are usually designed to provide a high level of security, such as encryption and multi-factor authentication, which can enhance security and reduce the risk of data breaches.

**6. Integration with multiple applications:** A third-party SSO solution can integrate with a wide range of applications, including cloud-based and on-premises applications.

**Cons:**

**1. Limited Customization:** While third-party SSO solutions offer a range of features, organizations may be limited in their ability to customize the solution to their specific needs.

**2. Dependence on the third-party vendor:** When using a third-party SSO solution, organizations are reliant on the vendor for ongoing support, maintenance, and upgrades.

**3. Data privacy concerns:** When using a third-party SSO solution, an organization’s sensitive data may be stored in a third-party system, leading to potential data privacy concerns.

### **Advantages of buying SSO solution over building SSO in-house**

Buying a Single Sign-On (SSO) solution from a third-party vendor can offer several advantages over building an SSO solution in-house. Here are some of the key advantages of buying an SSO solution:

**1. Faster Time-to-Market:** Implementing an SSO solution can be a time-consuming process, requiring specialized skills and expertise. Building an SSO solution in-house can take several months or even years, depending on the complexity of the solution and the resources available. On the other hand, buying an SSO solution from a third-party vendor can significantly reduce the time-to-market. These solutions are typically pre-built and ready to integrate with existing applications, which means that organizations can implement SSO more quickly and efficiently.

**2. Lower Costs:** Building an SSO solution in-house can be expensive, requiring significant investment in resources, expertise, and infrastructure. Organizations need to hire or train staff with specialized skills, purchase software and hardware, and invest in ongoing maintenance and support. In contrast, buying an SSO solution from a third-party vendor can be more cost-effective in the long run. These solutions typically offer a subscription-based pricing model, which means that organizations can avoid upfront costs and only pay for what they use. They can also avoid ongoing licensing fees and vendor lock-in.

**3. Expertise:** Implementing an SSO solution requires specialized expertise in security, authentication protocols, and application integration. Building an SSO solution in-house can be challenging, particularly for organizations without this expertise. On the other hand, third-party SSO vendors have expertise in these areas and can provide organizations with the support and guidance they need. They can help organizations choose the right authentication protocols, ensure compliance with industry regulations, and provide ongoing maintenance and support.

**4. Scalability:** SSO solutions need to be scalable to meet the changing needs of organizations. Building an SSO solution in-house can be challenging to scale, particularly for organizations with limited resources. Third-party SSO vendors, on the other hand, have the infrastructure and resources to scale SSO solutions quickly and efficiently. They can provide organizations with the scalability they need to meet their changing requirements.

**5. Integration:** Implementing an SSO solution requires integration with existing applications, which can be a complex and time-consuming process. Building an SSO solution in-house requires expertise in application integration, and organizations need to ensure that their SSO solution integrates seamlessly with their existing applications. On the other hand, third-party SSO vendors have experience in integrating with a wide range of applications, and their solutions are typically pre-built to integrate with popular applications. This means that organizations can implement SSO more quickly and efficiently.

In conclusion, while building an SSO solution in-house may offer some advantages in terms of customization and control, buying an SSO solution from a third-party vendor can offer several advantages, including faster time-to-market, lower costs, expertise, scalability, and integration. Organizations should carefully evaluate their requirements, resources, and expertise before deciding which approach to take.

## **SSO with SSOJet**

Integrating SSOJets into your B2B SaaS product can provide your customers with a simplified and personalized Single Sign-On (SSO) experience. With just a few lines of code, your customers can configure their SSO solution on their own, without requiring extensive technical knowledge or additional support from your team.

SSOJets supports commonly-used authentication protocols like OIDC and SAML, which allows for easy integration with Identity Providers (IDPs). In addition, SSOJets also enables social login SSOs, which allows users to authenticate using their social media credentials.

To provide a seamless SSO experience, SSOJets offers customizable login boxes that can be embedded into your SaaS offering. These login boxes are designed to reduce in-app friction and enable users to authenticate smoothly, gaining quick access to your application. By leveraging SSOJet’s SSO components, you can customize the login box’s appearance, making it consistent with your brand’s identity and providing a personalized user experience.

SSOJet’s end-to-end SSO solution also ensures the security of user data by supporting multi-factor authentication and single logout, and adaptive authentication. This comprehensive solution minimizes IT overhead by enabling centralized user management and access control.

Overall, integrating SSOJets into your B2B SaaS product can help streamline the user authentication process, enhance user experience, and ensure the security of user data. With a customizable login box and a comprehensive SSO solution, SSOJets provides a complete end-to-end SSO solution for modern SaaS applications.

## **Conclusion:**

Both building an SSO solution in-house and buying a third-party solution have their pros and cons. Organizations need to evaluate their specific requirements, resources, and expertise before deciding which approach to take. In general, building an SSO solution in-house is best suited for organizations with specialized requirements and the resources and expertise to develop and maintain the solution. Buying a third-party SSO solution is best suited for organizations that require a fast time-to-market and a range of pre-built features and integrations. Whatever approach you choose, implementing an SSO solution can significantly improve security and user experience.