What technology should a corporation implement to enable Single Sign-On (SSO) for its cloud-based applications?

The implementation of Single Sign-On (SSO) for cloud-based applications is effectively supported by SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language). SAML is an open standard that allows secure web domains to exchange user authentication and authorization data. In the context of SSO, SAML enables a user to authenticate once and gain access to multiple applications without having to log in again for each one.

SAML works by using an identity provider (IdP) to verify a user's identity and then sending an assertion to the service provider (SP) to grant access. This process enhances user experience by streamlining authentication across various services while maintaining security.

While other technologies such as OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect also facilitate authorization and authentication, they serve slightly different purposes. OAuth 2.0 is primarily focused on delegated access, allowing apps to access user data without sharing credentials. OpenID Connect builds on OAuth 2.0 to support authentication, but it is often used in conjunction with OAuth rather than as a standalone SSO solution. Kerberos is a network authentication protocol that is not typically used for cloud-based applications in the same way that SAML is.

Thus, the decision to utilize SAML for enabling SSO is well-founded in its widespread