When a company grows into a big enterprise having a large profit annually, with an increase in the revenue, there rises the company in growth and complexity. At this time, that kind of company needs to have an authentication system that is secure and efficient for the user of the company. It is an essential requirement for such a company. The SSO and LDAP are two systems used in a company.
SSO vs LDAP
The main difference between SSO and LDAP is that the SSO is a process that is authenticated, where a user can have accessibility to multiple systems by providing his credential at one time, and on the other hand, LDAP is a protocol that is authenticated and uses an application which would help to receive information from the server.
SSO is the short form of a single-sign-on system. The system helps the user by just logging in once to give access to multiple systems. This means that a user does not keep logging in again by giving his user ID for having access to every individual system. There is one more feature in this called the single sign-off system, which helps to log out at once from all the multiple accessed accounts by a user.
LDAP is the short form of Lightweight directory Access protocol. This is an adaptation of an x500 which is a directory system for complex enterprises. There have been upgrades from the first release of LDAP, and the Current latest version of LDAP is version 3. This protocol is a process used by users such as email, browsers, etc.
Comparison Table Between SSO and LDAP
| Parameters of comparison | SSO | LDAP |
| Meaning | SSO is a process wherein the authentication occurs by a user having the accessibility of multiple systems through a single login. | LDAP is a process wherein the authentication of that protocol occurs by using an application that helps in receiving information from the server. |
| Work | The SSO works like an application. | The LDAP works like a protocol for the user. |
| Full form | The full form of SSO is the single sign-on system. | The full form of LDAP is the Lightweight Directory Access protocol. |
| Function | SSO is whole big system software for access for providing access to systems. | The LDAP is a part of the SSO system. |
| Release date | The SSO system started back in June 2012. | The LDAP system was started in 1993. |
What is SSO?
SSO is the short form of a single-sign-on system. The system helps the user by just logging in once to give access to multiple systems. This means that a user does not keep logging in again by giving his user ID for having access to every individual system. There is one more feature in this called the single sign-off system, which helps to log out at once from all the multiple accessed accounts by a user.
In SSO, each system uses a different kind of mechanism for working.
Therefore during the initial authentication, the system uses these different mechanisms to operate multiple systems at one go through credentials. A person takes more advantage of using SSO by reducing the time required for doing a job, reducing the password stability, etc. This also includes reducing expenditure during the process of authentication.
A person using SSO at a company will always have a user name and a password in the form of a web. The software that is installed in SSO transfers this information at the same time to the security server, which follows the security server to send this same message to the LDAP server. After all this process, when the login is successful, the user gets authentication to access the systems.
What is LDAP?
LDAP is the short form of Lightweight directory Access protocol. This is an adaptation of an x500 which is a directory system for complex enterprises. There have been upgrades from the first release of LDAP, and the Current latest version of LDAP is version 3. This protocol is a process used by users such as email, browsers, etc.
The clients using their servers as LDAP can ask for their information from servers that run on LDAP in various ways. This information is later transferred to an organized set of records known as directories. In this kind of server, all data entered are indexed systematically. On the typing of a name group request, all the information related to that specific group is shown and presented.
Apart from information coming through contacts, this server is also used to have information about certificates using encryption, etc. The system of LDAP is also used in SSO software. In a company when all information is stored very rarely and must be looked upon from time to time, then at that time, the LDAP server is a must.
Main Differences Between SSO and LDAP
- SSO is a process wherein the authentication takes place by a user having the accessibility of multiple systems through a single login, and on the other hand, LDAP is a process wherein the authentication of that protocol takes place by using an application that helps in receiving of information from the server.
- The SSO works like an application, and on the other hand, the LDAP works like a protocol for the user.
- SSO is whole big system software for access for providing access to systems, and on the Other hand, the LDAP is a part of the SSO system.
- The SSO system started back in June 2012 worldwide, and on the other hand, the LDAP system was started in 1993.
- The full form of SSO is the single sign-on system, and on the other hand, the full form of LDAP is Lightweight Directory Access protocol.
Conclusion
With an increase in the revenue, there rises the company in growth and complexity. At this time, that kind of company needs to have an authentication system that is secure and efficient for the user of the company. It is an essential requirement for such a company. The SSO and LDAP are two systems used in a company.
One person should know how to use these two systems by having an insightful view of them. To know-how and in what context they are supposed to be used. Both are system operators, but they do have their differences in many aspects.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167739X10002554
- https://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-JSJY2008S1031.htm