SSO authentication for business apps (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

SSO (Single Sign-On) unifies access to your applications via an identity provider (Azure AD, Google Workspace, Okta), using the SAML 2.0 or OIDC protocols and mandatory MFA. Integration costs in 2026 between 4,000 and 12,000 EUR excl. tax over a 2 to 4 week timeframe, depending on the number of applications and provisioning complexity. The return is immediate: -50 % password tickets, instant access revocation and centralised audit.

What SSO integration costs

Price depends on the protocol, the number of applications to connect and the provisioning automation level (automatic account creation/deletion).

On top of this comes the identity provider licence: Azure AD Premium P1 at around 5.50 EUR/user/month, Okta from 6 EUR/user/month, Google Workspace included in Business plans.

SAML or OIDC: which to choose

Both protocols are mature in 2026. The choice depends on your ecosystem and application type.

In 2026, OIDC is preferred for new applications (lighter, mobile-first), while SAML remains essential for integration with large accounts still standardised on that protocol.

Mini case study

Karim is CIO of a 120-employee logistics SME in Marseille. Before SSO, support handled 180 password tickets/month, each taking 15 minutes, i.e. 45 h/month at a loaded cost of 35 EUR/h: 1,575 EUR/month. He integrates SSO via Azure AD with SCIM provisioning for 10,000 EUR excl. tax (4-week timeframe) plus 120 P1 licences at 5.50 EUR/month (660 EUR/month). Tickets drop by 50 %, saving 787 EUR/month. Net of licences, the operational gain covers the integration in about 20 months, without counting stronger security and instant revocation when an employee leaves.

FAQ

Is MFA really mandatory with SSO?

In 2026, yes in practice: cyber insurers and large accounts require it. SSO without MFA concentrates risk on a single password. MFA (app or hardware key) is the indispensable complement.

How long to connect an existing application?

Allow 2 weeks for an OIDC app, 3 weeks for SAML with Azure AD. Automatic provisioning (SCIM) adds about a week but eliminates manual account management.

Does SSO work with custom applications?

Yes, that's the most common case. Any business app can integrate an OIDC or SAML library. That is precisely what the integration service delivers.

What happens if the identity provider goes down?

Without the IdP, no login: hence the importance of a highly available IdP (Azure AD, Okta offer a 99.9 % SLA) and a documented break-glass emergency account.

Does SSO really reduce support tickets?

Yes, a 40-50 % drop in reset requests is consistent. A user manages a single identity, mechanically reducing forgotten passwords.

Let's scope your project. Specify your identity provider (Azure AD, Google, Okta), the number of applications to connect and your provisioning needs, and we'll cost the right SSO integration. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.