Let’s face it – people are terrible at keeping track of passwords. Employees frequently use weak passwords, reuse the same passwords across multiple accounts, and store their passwords insecurely (ah hem, Post-it notes anyone?). According to a Keeper report, many use repeat variations of the same password (34%) or still admit to using simple passwords to secure their online accounts (30%). It’s no wonder 81% of data breaches involve weak or stolen passwords (Verizon 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report).
Credential tracking can get ugly for contractors who require access to not only internal systems like work email and HR systems, but external partners like suppliers, clients, and engineers. Thankfully, single sign-on (SSO, Traditional and Federated) allows you to access system(s) with a single set of credentials. We’ll dive into the downfalls of operating without an access management system, why SSO is essential for your data security and scalable operations, and how STACK allows seamless and secure access across organizational boundaries.
You are the Weakest Link: Human-Generated Passwords
Passwords created by people are weak and predictable, and come with high risks. Some of the issues with human-generated passwords include:
- Common Patterns and Limited Complexity: People often choose simple passwords like “123456,” “password,” or personal information like birthdays or names – patterns making it easy for attackers to crack.
- Same Password Across Multiple Accounts: If one account is compromised, all other accounts with the same password are at risk.
- Impact of Breaches: Password reuse amplifies the impact of data breaches and attackers can try it on other platforms, potentially gaining access to multiple systems.
- Poor Storage Practices: Passwords can be stored in insecure ways like saving them in unencrypted files or on paper.
- Inefficient Use of IT: Human-generated passwords can be difficult to remember. This burden typically falls on IT departments leading to temporary access issues, harming productivity, wasting money, and degrading security throughout the organization.
- Phishing Attacks: Human-generated passwords are more vulnerable to social engineering attacks like phishing. Attackers can trick users into revealing their passwords through deceptive emails, websites, or phone calls.
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Traditional SSO allows users to authenticate once and gain access to multiple applications within a single organization. Users log in with one set of credentials to access different services provided by the same company. This is suitable for companies where all systems and applications are within the same organization. For instance, employees in a company can access their email, intranet, and HR systems with one login. Benefits include:
- Intra-Organization Access: It works well for organizations that don’t need to provide external access or where all applications and systems are owned and managed by the same entity.
- Simplicity: Traditional SSO is typically easier to implement and manage, as it involves only one organization’s identity management system.
- Security: It enhances security by reducing the number of credentials users need to remember and manage.
Federated SSO is a system that allows users to access multiple systems or applications across different organizations using a single set of credentials. It involves the use of federated identity management, where multiple organizations trust each other to authenticate users.