Behind the Click: How SSO Works

Have you ever wondered how Single Sign-On (SSO) works behind the scenes?

We all use Single Sign-On (SSO) daily, logging into tools like Slack, Microsoft EntraID, Wiz, AWS, or Google Workspace without thinking twice.

It's smooth, fast, and saves us from juggling passwords. But have you ever paused to wonder what’s happening behind the scenes when you click Login with SSO?

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Here’s an image and the breakdown of how it works under the hood:

1. User Access – You try to access an SSO-enabled app.

2. Redirect – The app says, “I don’t handle logins—go check with the Identity Provider (IdP).”

3. Authentication – You’re sent to the IdP (like Okta, Azure AD, or Google), where you log in with your credentials.

4. Token Issuance – The IdP verifies your identity and issues a secure token.

5. Token Validation – The app checks the token to make sure it’s legit.

6. Seamless Access – You’re in! And now, you can access other apps without logging in again.

This token-based handshake behind the scenes is what makes SSO feel so seamless. It’s a simple flow, but it packs a lot of security and user experience value.

Many engineers and professionals interact with SSO all the time, but forget the mechanics powering it. Understanding it helps when troubleshooting access issues, evaluating identity providers, or securing enterprise applications.

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Security doesn’t have to be complex. Sometimes, it’s just a clean flow done right.