The verdict in three sentences
A custom SSO implementation (SAML/OAuth2) with MFA and GDPR compliance costs 6,000 to 18,000 EUR in 2026, or 3,000 to 9,000 EUR leaning on Keycloak/Auth0 (0 to 240 EUR/month depending on monthly active users). The timeline runs 2 to 5 weeks, EU hosting 100 to 500 EUR/month and security maintenance 500 to 1,100 EUR/month. Well designed, this foundation cuts password reset requests by 40 % and reassures enterprise CIOs on access governance.
Keycloak, Auth0 or custom: the 2026 ranges
The choice is between managed solutions (fast but billed by active users) and self-hosted open-source blocks (sovereignty, controlled cost but integration on you).
| Approach | Scope | 2026 implementation price (EUR) | Recurring cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted Keycloak | SSO + MFA, EU sovereignty | 4,000 - 10,000 | Hosting 100-400 EUR/month |
| Auth0 (managed) | Fast SSO + MFA | 3,000 - 8,000 | 0 - 240 EUR/month (MAU) |
| Full custom SSO | SAML + OAuth2 + provisioning | 6,000 - 18,000 | Maintenance 500-1,100 EUR/month |
| MFA add-on only | TOTP/SMS/passkey | 2,000 - 5,000 | Included in maintenance |
| Multi-IdP federation | Several client directories | 8,000 - 20,000 | Maintenance 700-1,300 EUR/month |
For a B2B portal serving enterprise clients, SAML federation with their directory (Azure AD, Okta) is often required: it's what unlocks enterprise contracts.
What GDPR compliance requires of the portal
Access security is only part of it; GDPR mandates verifiable measures on personal data. Here are the items to budget.
| GDPR requirement | Technical implementation | Budget/timeline impact |
|---|---|---|
| Consent & purposes | Register, banners, logging | Included, 2-3 days |
| Right of access / portability | User data export | 1,500 - 3,000 EUR |
| Right to erasure | Deletion/anonymisation | 1,500 - 3,500 EUR |
| Encryption at rest and in transit | TLS + DB encryption | Included |
| EU hosting / residency | OVH, Scaleway, Hetzner | 100 - 500 EUR/month |
| Access logging | Timestamped logs, retention | 1,000 - 2,500 EUR |
These items turn simple authentication into a compliant foundation, defensible during a data-protection review or client due diligence.
Mini case study
Marc, IT lead of a B2B services group (6 subsidiaries, 1,200 portal users), wants federated SAML SSO with his clients' Azure AD, MFA and full GDPR compliance. Chosen quote: 14,000 EUR (federated SSO + MFA + GDPR exports/erasure), EU hosting 300 EUR/month, security maintenance 900 EUR/month. On support, the portal generated ~600 reset requests/month at 8 EUR handling cost = 4,800 EUR/month. A 40 % drop via SSO/MFA saves ~1,920 EUR/month, ~23,000 EUR/year: the upfront investment pays back in about 8 months, before even counting the enterprise contracts unlocked.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Should I pick Keycloak or Auth0?
Keycloak (self-hosted) gives sovereignty and predictable cost at large volumes; Auth0 is faster to start but bills by active users (0-240 EUR/month). The choice depends on user volume and data-residency requirements.
Does SSO really reduce support costs?
Yes: fewer passwords to manage means fewer resets, typically -40 %. On a portal of thousands of users, the support saving alone funds a large part of the project.
What does MFA change in practice?
A second proof of identity (TOTP app, passkey, SMS) that blocks most password-theft attacks. It is increasingly required in tenders and enterprise contracts.
Must hosting be in the EU for GDPR?
Not strictly mandatory, but EU hosting (OVH, Scaleway, Hetzner, 100-500 EUR/month) simplifies compliance and answers the data-residency clauses imposed by many institutional clients.
How long for a compliant SSO portal?
2 to 5 weeks depending on federation and GDPR features (export, erasure). Multi-directory federation on the client side can extend it to 6-8 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Specify the number of users, the directories to federate and your GDPR requirements: we'll price SSO + MFA + compliance, a 2026 order of magnitude of 6,000 to 20,000 EUR. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
