SAML vs SSO: Differences between SSO and SAML authentication

If you're a SaaS company dealing with enterprise customers, you've probably encountered the terms SAML and SSO more than once (whatever your location). It usually starts when your sales team returns from a meeting with a hot lead and drops the bomb: "They want SSO authentication using SAML for their login process with us before signing the deal!"

Cue the questions. What's SSO? Isn't SAML the same thing? Spoiler alert: they’re not. While these two acronyms often appear together, they refer to different parts of the authentication puzzle. In this article, we’ll dive into the mechanics of SAML and SSO, break down how they work together, and clarify the key differences you need to know.

What is SSO authentication?

SSO is a broader concept, the acronym stands for Single Sign-On, an authentication method widely used by companies to enable employees to securely and efficiently access the applications they need for their day-to-day work.

SSO is an authentication process that simplifies login for users and is a game-changer for IT security. Think of it as a single key that unlocks all digital doors. Instead of managing multiple usernames and passwords, users log in once with SSO login credentials, granting them access to essential apps and services.

Technically, SSO service centralizes the authentication process. A user logs in via an Identity Provider (IdP) like Google, Okta, or Microsoft Entra ID. The IdP verifies their set of login credentials and signs assertions in an XML, similar to a digital passport, that’s shared with the needed applications or Service Providers (SPs), granting access without additional passwords.

For businesses, there is a lot of benefits of SSO : it's drastically cuts support tickets for forgotten passwords, it reduces headaches for users and admins. As SaaS adoption grows, SSO has become essential to meeting enterprise security demands and remaining competitive. In essence, SSO reduces the likelihood of account compromise by centralizing authentication and enhancing security.

In a nutshell, SSO delivers a seamless login experience, stronger security, and smoother user management, all wrapped up in a straightforward single login flow.

To dive deeper into SSO, feel free to check out our article**: what's Single Sign-one and what's so "singular" about it ?**

What is SAML?

SAML stands for Security Assertion Markup Language. Introduced in the early 2000s by OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards), SAML is one of the protocols that was designed to standardize authentication across platforms. The latest version, SAML 2.0, was released in 2005 (the year Youtube launched) and is now the primary protocol for federated identity management, especially among large enterprises and SaaS providers. It’s widely supported by identity providers globally.

Think of SAML as the “secret handshake” of authentication. This XML-based open standard allows IdPs to securely share authentication and authorization data with Service Providers. Essentially, SAML enables users to log in once with work credentials and access multiple apps without repeatedly entering passwords.

Here’s how it works: When a user attempts to access an app (the SP), the app requests verification from the IdP (like Google, Okta, or Azure AD). If authenticated, the IdP sends a SAML assertion essentially a “verified” token to the SP, allowing the user in without extra passwords.

SAML protocol excels at federated identity management across domains, making it ideal for large companies managing multiple cloud or internal applications. It reduces login prompts, boosting security and user convenience.

SAML is a common protocol used to implement SSO, and it's a game-changer for businesses, enhancing both the user experience and security through SSO. Additionally, OpenID Connect, built on top of the oauth 2.0, offers SSO for certain IdPs like Google, Microsoft, and Okta.

To dive deeper and learn how SAML, feel free to check out our article: what is SAML ?

Your customers will trust you through SAML assertions

SAML assertions are the backbone of secure, trust-based authentication in the digital world. When customers log in using SAML, the IdP generates a SAML assertion (a digital certificate) that confirms the user’s identity. SAML assertions contain key pieces of information, such as the user's ID, authentication status, and permissions or roles, which are securely sent to the Service Provider. The SP accepts this assertion as proof that the user is who they claim to be.

By using SAML assertions, businesses can ensure that user credentials remain secure and aren't shared directly with multiple applications. This added layer of security builds trust with customers, knowing that their data is being handled securely across platforms.

What are the key differences between SAML and SSO?

To understand the difference between SSO and SAML, think of SSO as your universal digital keycard. With SSO, you swipe it once, and suddenly, all the rooms (apps) you need are open without the hassle of juggling multiple keys (passwords). Imagine the simplicity: whether it’s your email, project management tool, or CRM, SSO provides a single, effortless entry into all your applications. Now, SAML is the behind-the-scenes system that verifies your identity every time you use that keycard. Each time you swipe, SAML confirms, “Yes, this person is legitimate,” ensuring each app knows you’re allowed in without needing separate checks for every room.

So, what’s the real difference here? SSO offers the smooth experience of logging in once and instantly gaining access to multiple applications, all about ease and convenience : one login, endless access. It’s designed to make life easier by reducing the need for repeated logins. On the other hand, SAML are used as the engine that powers this experience, the technology that makes SSO possible. SAML is a protocol, or a set of rules, that securely transfers authentication data. It allows an IdP, like Okta, Google, or Azure AD, to communicate with Service Providers (your applications) to confirm your identity.

In other words, SSO is all about the user experience, giving people the simplicity of signing in once to access everything. Meanwhile, SAML is the security mechanism behind the scenes. When you log in with SSO, SAML takes charge by enabling the Identity Provider to securely verify your identity and pass that verification along to each app. This ensures that every app trusts the original authentication without needing to prompt you again, creating a more seamless and secure process.

Together, SAML and SSO work in harmony to create a secure, user-friendly login process that streamlines access and protects sensitive information. SSO brings the convenience, while SAML provides the secure technology that makes it all possible.

How SAML and Single Sign-On are related ?

When you log in via SSO, SAML authentication plays a crucial role in making that seamless experience possible by securely transmitting your authentication data between an IdP like Google, Okta, or Microsoft Azure AD and each Service Provider you want to access. In other words, SAML enables SSO by acting as a bridge, allowing you to log in once and then move across multiple applications without needing to re-enter your credentials. SAML is essentially the messenger for SSO, telling each service, “This user has been verified, and you can grant them access!”

Imagine SSO as the front-of-house magic that users experience. For example, a team member logs into their company portal, and from there, they can instantly access their email, CRM, project management tool, and more, all with one set of logins credentials. This user experience feels like magic, but the magic has to be backed by a backstage system that ensures it’s safe. That’s where SAML steps in as the behind-the-scenes wizardry, handling the secure transmission of data, ensuring each application trusts the user’s identity without needing direct passwords.

Let’s break it down further. Suppose a user logs in via SSO on a company dashboard. SAML takes that login, verifies it through the IdP, and sends a secure token to each Service Provider, like their email system, HR portal, or analytics tools, saying, “This person is legit, let them in!” Each SP then accepts that verification without needing additional credentials. Without SAML securely carrying this data, SSO would be chaotic, like handing out universal keycards to everyone, compromising security.

In this way, SSO and SAML strike a balance between security and convenience. SSO brings the streamlined experience of one login for all apps, while SAML provides the technical foundation, ensuring each access point is verified. Together, they deliver a user-friendly experience that also meets security requirements, creating an efficient, protected, and frictionless system for navigating digital workspaces.

FAQ

How SAML work ?

SAML is an open standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data. The SAML authentication process involves SAML requests and responses exchanged between the identity provider and the service provider to verify user identity. It enables an Identity Provider to authenticate a user and securely transmit that data to a Service Provider through a SAML response. SAML simplifies the authentication process by allowing users to access multiple applications with a single login.

SAML vs OAuth 2.0: What’s the Difference?

SAML and OAuth 2.0 are both authentication protocols, but they serve different purposes. SAML is a specific protocol used for Single Sign-On (SSO) and exchanging authentication data, while OAuth 2.0 is designed for delegated access, allowing apps to act on a user’s behalf without sharing their credentials.

What are SSO and SAML used for?

SSO is a user authentication that allows a user to log in once and access multiple applications without re-entering credentials. SAML is the protocol that enables SSO by securely transferring authentication data between an Identity Provider and Service Providers.

What are the advantages of SSO for your application?

Implementing SSO in your application can offer powerful benefits: leverage the security of your client’s SSO system, drive upsell opportunities with an enterprise SSO feature, and shorten sales cycles to boost deals with larger clients. For more details, explore our article on the topic here.

What do you need to know before implementing saml-based SSO?

Many companies rely on SSO to give employees access to essential work apps. To attract these companies, your app should support SSO like the other tools they already use. Implementing SSO authentication comes with a big decision: build in-house or buy an existing solution. Each approach has its pros and cons, impacting development time, costs, and maintenance. Knowing these factors can help you choose the best fit for your business. For more details, see our in-depth article : what you have to know when adding sso authentication.

Your customers will enable SSO in 5 minutes

Thanks to our Universal SSO Connector, SaaS companies can easily and quickly integrate with the SSO systems of their enterprise customers, whether they use SAML, Azure AD, Okta, Ping Identity, or other identity providers.

With Cryptr’s IT Admin Onboarding, we simplify SSO Integration for SaaS Enterprise Customers.

Cryptr’s IT Admin Onboarding empowers the IT teams of SaaS customers with complete autonomy to configure SSO through an intuitive, step-by-step interface, significantly reducing the need for support interactions. This streamlined process takes as little as 5 minutes, saving time and enhancing the overall customer experience.

Implement complex SSO: fast and simple with Cryptr

With Cryptr, deploying SAML SSO is fast, simple, and requires minimal engineering effort. While building SSO integrations from scratch could tie up your engineering team for weeks (or even months), Cryptr streamlines this process. SSO can be implemented using only a few lines of code, allowing your team to focus on core product development. With Cryptr, you can connect seamlessly to any SAML identity provider, making your SaaS enterprise-ready in no time.

Start explore SSO with the Cryptr multi provider SSO with self service client configuration.