Single sign-on (SSO) describes the ability to use one set of credentials, an ID and password or a passcode for example, to authenticate and access information across a system, application and even organizational boundaries. It may be called Web SSO when everything is accessed through a browser.

With SSO a person authenticates only one time for a particular working session regardless of where the information that they want to access is located. This process offers enhanced security over a simple synchronization of passwords.