Top Benefits of Single Sign-On (SSO) for Higher Ed

What is Single Sign-On (SSO)?

Single sign-on, or SSO, is being widely adopted across the higher education industry, especially at larger education institutions.

SSO solutions provide a secure method of user authentication, allowing staff to log into multiple apps and software services with a single credential managed by the institution.

How Does Single Sign-On Work?

A single sign-on system (SSO system) relies on a single set of user credentials (username and password) stored in a system managed by your school, known as an identity and access management (IAM) provider.

A common IAM provider on campus might be Microsoft’s Active Directory, Shibboleth, or Okta. These SSO providers help streamline the authentication process and improve user access by eliminating the need for multiple logins.

Once a user logs in, the SSO system ensures they remain authenticated across all connected platforms. This federated approach means users can seamlessly navigate different apps without repeatedly entering their credentials.

A Higher Ed Use Case

A member of your admissions team starts their morning by opening your school’s CRM. They are immediately redirected to a login process for your identity and access management system, provide their user credentials, and are brought back to the CRM, ready to work.

That staff member is now automatically logged into all connected apps that support SSO solutions, reducing password fatigue and improving the overall user experience.

How Colleges and Universities Benefit from Single Sign-On

1. SSO Enhances Cybersecurity and Reduces Security Risks

Colleges and universities are trusted with a massive amount of sensitive data. Security and privacy concerns are paramount to staff, faculty, current students, and vendors alike. SSO solutions add a layer of cybersecurity, helping mitigate security risks such as phishing and cyber-attacks.

Benefits of SSO include:

• Centralized access control to prevent unauthorized entry.
• Reduced security measures related to weak passwords.
• Lower risk of hackers exploiting multiple logins.

2. SSO Saves Time and Cuts IT Helpdesk Costs

Reducing the number of user accounts requiring password resets significantly lowers IT costs. According to Gartner, 20-50% of all IT department help desk requests involve password resets.

With single sign-on work, your staff spends less time dealing with logins and more time on important tasks. This efficiency directly impacts service providers, ensuring secure access without unnecessary downtime.

By minimizing the number of credentials, SSO implementation strengthens regulatory compliance for frameworks like HIPAA and security policies required for healthcare and cloud-based services.

3. Improve Speed and Efficiency Where It Matters Most

Staff at higher education institutions are more time and resource-constrained than ever. Efficiency is essential for teams managing student success, admissions processes, and campus operations.

SSO provides:

• One login for all connected apps, reducing login delays.
• A seamless user experience, improving productivity.
• Integration with modern authentication methods, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) and biometrics for additional security.

With support for OAuth and OpenID Connect, SSO implementation also enhances integrations with SaaS and on-premises applications, optimizing workflow across campus.

SSO for Higher Ed Engagement Platforms

SSO solutions are one of the most critical features to look for in a higher education Conversation Intelligence Platform. While it may not be at the top of your list, enabling SSO providers can significantly enhance identity and access management while ensuring secure access for staff and faculty.

When evaluating vendors, ensure they:

• Support security assertion markup language (SAML) and OAuth authentication protocols.
• Offer permissions management for different end users and administrative roles.
• Provide federated login support for multiple service providers.

Enable Single Sign-On (SSO) for Mongoose

SSO for Mongoose adds an extra layer of cybersecurity while streamlining the login process for your team. If your IT department is looking to integrate an SSO system that enhances user authentication, reduces security risks, and improves user experience, reach out to us today.

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