SSO vs. MFA: Understanding the difference

Identity security conversations often circle around single sign-on (SSO) vs. multi-factor authentication (MFA)—two approaches that appear similar but serve fundamentally different purposes. While both influence how users access resources, they solve distinct problems. Understanding SSO vs. MFA helps organizations design enterprise access policies that balance security, convenience, and productivity.

What is SSO?  

SSO enables users to authenticate themselves once and gain access to multiple applications, eliminating the need to reenter passwords across services. After a successful login, the identity provider issues a token that applications trust, creating a seamless experience.

Benefits of SSO  

  • Convenience: Users only needs to perform one login for all connected apps.

  • Better productivity: Users reduce the time spent on repeated authentications.

  • Fewer help desk calls: Fewer passwords mean users deal with fewer password resets.

  • Centralized oversight: Admins manage identity and access policies from a single point.

However, in the context of SSO vs. MFA, SSO alone doesn’t provide strong protection if a user's password is compromised. In fact, a breached password could mean the exposure of all the accounts. That’s where MFA strengthens the process.

What is MFA?  

MFA requires users to verify their identity through two or more factors—like a password along with a push notification, OTP, security key, or biometric scan. This makes authentication significantly harder to breach compared to passwords.

Benefits of MFA  

  • Stronger protection: User accounts are protected from unauthorized access even if passwords are stolen.

  • Support for modern authentication methods: Authentication methods like FIDO2 passkeys, TOTPs, biometrics, and push notifications are used to evade credential-based attacks, phishing, and more.

  • Compliance with regulatory requirements: NIST SP 800-63B recommendations and other compliance standards recommend employing MFA for comprehensive data security.

In the SSO vs. MFA context, MFA strengthens authentication, while SSO simplifies it.

SSO vs. MFA: Key differences  

Although SSO and MFA often work together, understanding the distinctions helps clarify their role in an organization's IAM strategy.

Aspect

SSO

MFA

Purpose

SSO provides 1-click access to multiple apps

MFA increases authentication security for endpoint and resource access

Authentication process

The user needs to perform 1 login to access multiple apps

The user performs multiple stages of authentication for each login

Benefit

SSO reduces password fatigue and login friction

MFA protects against stolen and weak password risks

Use case

SSO facilitates access management for an enterprise app suite

MFA provides strong protection for sensitive, critical resources

When comparing SSO vs. MFA, the takeaway is simple: SSO improves ease of access, while MFA strengthens authentication confidence.

How SSO and MFA work together  

Organizations do not contemplate whether to use SSO vs. MFA. Instead, they look for efficient systems to combine them. Used together, SSO and MFA deliver frictionless access and strong protection without overwhelming users.

Here’s how SSO and MFA complement each other:

  • SSO reduces password fatigue, improving usability and reducing credential sprawl.

  • MFA adds layered verification, ensuring that even if one credential is compromised, attackers can’t access the environment.

  • Risk-based controls plug the gaps, prompting users for MFA when login attempts look unusual.

This synergy supports a modern Zero Trust approach: Never trust users by default—always verify them based on the context.

A rollout plan for SSO and MFA   

1. Assess readiness and inventory applications  

  • Identify all cloud and on-premises apps that require SSO integration.

  • List user groups that need MFA and SSO first (for example, admins, remote workers, and security teams).

  • Review industry and compliance requirements.

2. Start MFA with high-risk accounts  

  • Enforce MFA for privileged users, VPN servers, and remote employees.

  • Begin with low-friction factors like push notifications or TOTP apps.

  • Encourage enrollment via login scripts or auto-enroll users via a CSV file or databases.

  • Provide user training and onboarding materials.

3. Configure SSO for priority applications  

  • Roll out SSO for widely used apps like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Salesforce.

  • Run a pilot test with a small group to validate the session behavior and token issuance.

  • Adjust configurations based on the test feedback.

4. Combine SSO and MFA  

  • Require MFA as part of the SSO login flow, especially for sensitive roles.

  • Apply conditional access policies based on the device, IP, location, and access time.

  • Monitor logs and fine-tune authentication requirements.

5. Monitor usage logs and optimize configuration

  • Track authentication failures, MFA fatigue, and user friction.

  • Refine policies based on usage patterns.

  • Regularly review settings to maintain a strong security posture.

Why modern enterprises need both—and how ADSelfService Plus delivers them  

With identity threats rising and hybrid environments becoming the norm, organizations can't rely on passwords alone. Attackers increasingly target credential-based vulnerabilities, making the combined strength of SSO and MFA essential.

ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus provides both SSO and MFA on a unified platform, helping businesses reduce complexity while improving security.

1. MFA across all critical access points  

ADSelfService Plus offers the following features to strengthen endpoint security:

The supported methods include FIDO2 passkeys, biometrics, push notifications, SMS or email OTPs, hardware keys, and authenticator apps. MFA ensures strong protection wherever authentication occurs.

2. SSO for cloud and enterprise applications  

Using SAML, OAuth, and OIDC, ADSelfService Plus provides seamless SSO access to more than a hundred established SAML, OAuth, and OIDC applications, including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, and custom applications. Users sign in once and enjoy frictionless access across their app suite.

3. SSO and MFA: Unified and adaptive  

Because both capabilities exist within one solution, ADSelfService Plus enables admins to apply MFA during SSO logins, enforce contextual rules, and adapt authentication based on the device type, IP range, location, and time of access. This unified approach creates a powerful identity security system where convenience doesn’t compete with security.

FAQ

Q: Is MFA required for SSO?  

A: MFA isn’t required for SSO to function, but it is highly recommended. SSO centralizes authentication, which means that if a user’s primary credential is compromised, an attacker could gain access to multiple applications. Enforcing MFA on top of SSO ensures that even if a password is stolen, the login cannot proceed without an additional verification factor.

Solutions like ADSelfService Plus enable MFA to be required during SSO authentication for added protection.

Q: Is SSO safer than MFA?  

A: No, SSO is not safer than MFA. SSO improves the user experience by reducing login prompts, but it does not make authentication stronger. MFA, on the other hand, adds layers of verification that protect against credential-based attacks.

Does SSO cover MFA?  

Q: No, SSO does not cover or replace MFA. SSO is an access management mechanism that lets users authenticate once and access multiple apps. MFA is an identity security mechanism that verifies a user's identity using multiple factors. They solve different problems and are designed to work together, not replace one another.

A: ADSelfService Plus enables MFA to be integrated directly into SSO flows so that users experience seamless access with enhanced security.