Last Updated on August 14, 2025 by Arnav Sharma
Remember the days when you had sticky notes plastered around your monitor with different passwords for every work application? Those days are thankfully behind us, thanks to technologies like SAML and SSO. But here’s where it gets confusing: people often use these terms interchangeably when they’re actually quite different.
Let me break this down in a way that actually makes sense.
What is SSO Really?
Single Sign-On (SSO) is the experience, not the technology. Think of it like having a master key that opens multiple doors in your office building. You unlock once at the front entrance, and suddenly you can access the break room, conference rooms, and your office without fumbling for different keys.
In the digital world, this means logging in once and getting access to Slack, Google Workspace, your CRM, and whatever other tools your company uses. No more password fatigue.
SSO works through a simple dance between two players:
- Identity Provider (IdP): The bouncer who checks your ID (like Okta or Azure AD)
- Service Provider (SP): The individual apps you want to use (like Salesforce or Jira)
When you try to access an app, it basically asks the IdP, “Hey, is this person legit?” The IdP responds with either a thumbs up or thumbs down.
Enter SAML: The Technical Backbone
SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) is one way to make SSO happen. If SSO is the master key experience, SAML is the specific lock mechanism that makes it work.
SAML uses XML-based messages to pass authentication information between systems. When you successfully log into your IdP, it creates what’s called a “SAML assertion” – basically a digitally signed note saying “This person is who they claim to be, and here’s what they’re allowed to do.”
How SAML Works in Practice
Here’s a real-world scenario: You’re trying to access your company’s Salesforce instance.
- Salesforce redirects you to your company’s IdP login page
- You enter your credentials once
- The IdP creates a SAML assertion and sends it back to Salesforce
- Salesforce reads this assertion and logs you in automatically
- For the rest of your session, you can jump between SAML-enabled apps without re-authenticating
The beauty of SAML is that it’s standardized. Whether you’re using Microsoft’s identity system or Google’s, the SAML protocol works the same way.
The Key Differences
Here’s where people get tripped up:
SSO = The goal (one login for multiple apps)
SAML = One method to achieve that goal
You can actually implement SSO without SAML using other protocols like OAuth 2.0 or OpenID Connect. But SAML remains popular for enterprise environments because it’s mature, secure, and handles both authentication and authorization well.
Why This Matters for Your Business
The SSO Benefits:
- Users love the convenience (no more password reset tickets!)
- Better security since people aren’t reusing weak passwords
- IT teams get centralized user management
The Potential Downsides:
- If someone’s main account gets compromised, they potentially have access to everything
- Setting up SSO requires some technical expertise and planning
OAuth: The Third Player
You might also hear about OAuth in these conversations. While SAML is great for logging into web applications, OAuth shines when you want to give limited access to your data.
For example, when you let a fitness app connect to your Google Calendar to schedule workouts, that’s OAuth in action. You’re not giving the app your Google password – you’re just granting specific permissions.
SAML says “This person is authenticated.” OAuth says “This app can do these specific things on behalf of this person.”
Making the Right Choice
If you’re building enterprise applications, SAML is probably your best bet for SSO. It’s well-supported, handles complex authorization scenarios, and plays nicely with existing corporate identity systems.
For consumer applications or situations where you need more granular permissions, OAuth (often combined with OpenID Connect) might be the better choice.
The bottom line? SSO makes everyone’s life easier, and SAML is one of the most reliable ways to implement it. Just remember: they’re partners, not competitors.