MFA vs. SSO: What’s the Difference?

Last updated on March 13, 2025

SSO and MFA are some of the hottest topics in cybersecurity and Identity and Access Management (IAM). But what’s the difference between SSO and MFA, and which one should you choose for your company? Let’s take a look at MFA vs. SSO.

MFA vs. SSO: Key Differences and Best Use Cases Explained

Understanding the distinctions between Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Single Sign-On (SSO) is crucial for implementing effective security strategies.​

Key Differences:

• Security Focus: MFA enhances security by requiring multiple forms of verification, making unauthorized access more difficult. In contrast, SSO streamlines the authentication process by allowing users to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials, which can pose risks if the identity provider is compromised.
• User Experience: SSO improves user convenience by reducing the need to remember multiple passwords, thereby enhancing productivity. However, if the SSO credentials are compromised, it can lead to unauthorized access to multiple applications.

Best Use Cases:

• MFA: A must for environments where security is a top priority, such as financial institutions, healthcare providers, and any organization handling sensitive data.
• SSO: Best suited for environments where user convenience and productivity are paramount, such as corporate settings with numerous internal applications.

What Is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is the process of verifying the identity of a user by asking them to demonstrate at least two distinct proofs of their identity. These proofs fall into three categories or factors: what you know (e.g., your password), what you have (e.g., your mobile phone), and what you are (e.g., your fingerprint).

Multi-Factor Authentication stringency comes with a set of benefits:

• MFA mitigates cyberattack risks
• Multi-Factor Authentication increases customer trust
• MFA helps a company abide by regulations and achieve compliance

If you wish to learn more about the intricacies of MFA, you can look up our detailed article on Multi-Factor Authentication.

What Is Single Sign-On (SSO)?

Single Sign-On (SSO) is a paradigm that allows users to access multiple applications using a single set of credentials without the need for re-authentication.

SSO reduces separate login credentials used to access various applications to just one login that gives users access to all integrated applications. In SSO, users use a single set of credentials to access multiple applications and do not have to reenter their passwords when switching between applications. 

Single Sign-On (SSO) can benefit your company in many ways:

• SSO ensures a seamless login experience
• Single Sign-On unifies login credentials to many cloud apps
• SSO eliminates the need to constantly enter the password during each login

But here comes a common SSO concern:

A user has to provide their password only once to access all applications. Consequently, a hacker only has to break a single password to access all applications integrated via Single Sign-On.

Well, this concern is not unfounded. Fortunately, you can bolster your SSO with MFA. As a matter of fact, SSO conjoined with MFA is a popular solution these days. But what does that mean? Are MFA and SSO fully compatible with each other?

MFA vs. SSO: How Do MFA and SSO Work Together?

MFA and SSO are not mutually exclusive. As a matter of fact, you can combine these two technologies to provide your users with high security while ensuring a good user experience. MFA can add an extra layer of protection to the SSO logins of your users. You get a significant boost in login security at the expense of just a tiny bit of convenience. MFA can prevent 99.9% of attacks on your accounts, which makes the trade-off more than worthy. In Rublon, you can select the Mobile Push authentication method as the extra layer of login security. Mobile Push is no more than just a single tap. Users will hardly see a difference during their daily logins, but their security will skyrocket.

If you would like to learn more about how SSO and MFA cooperate with the help of the SAML 2.0 protocol, refer to MFA for SAML.

Get started with phishing-resistant Rublon MFA – Free for 30 Days →

MFA vs. SSO: What’s the Difference?

Now that you know that you can use SSO and MFA simultaneously, let’s look at the differences between these two.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)	Single Sign-On (SSO)
Alleviates the low security of passwords	Mitigates the nuisance of reentering the password
Introduces more factors next to the password	Decreases the number of times a user has to enter the password
Focuses on user security	Focuses on user convenience
Used for various types of applications, VPNs, and services	Mainly used for cloud apps
Type of authentication	Cloud security technology

The main difference between MFA and SSO is that MFA is a type of authentication that alleviates the low security of passwords by introducing an extra layer of security, whereas SSO is a cloud security technology that mitigates the hassle of reentering the password by asking the user to type their password only once per login session.

So, MFA and SSO are two disparate technologies with different purposes. While MFA focuses on user security, Single Sign-On concentrates on the convenience of user logins. SSO is mainly used for cloud apps and integrated with a security provider using the SAML protocol. In contrast, MFA can protect a wide array of applications, VPNs, and services.

Cyberattack Vulnerabilities: MFA vs. SSO

Both MFA and SSO have unique vulnerabilities that organizations must address.​

• SSO Vulnerabilities: While SSO simplifies access by reducing the number of login prompts, it can pose risks if the identity provider is compromised, potentially granting unauthorized access to multiple applications.
• MFA Vulnerabilities: MFA that lacks phishing resistance can be susceptible to MFA fatigue and MFA bombing attacks.

Implementing MFA for SSO Solutions

Combining MFA with SSO offers a balanced approach to security and user convenience.​

Implementation Steps:

1. Continuous Monitoring: Regularly monitor authentication logs to detect and respond to any suspicious activities promptly.
2. Assess Security Requirements: Evaluate the sensitivity of the data and applications to determine the appropriate type of MFA to implement.​
3. Select Compatible Solutions: Choose MFA and SSO solutions that integrate seamlessly and support the necessary authentication protocols.
4. User Training: Educate users on the importance of multi-factor authentication and how to use it effectively within the SSO framework.

Enable MFA and SSO Now

Let’s summarize the most important points we touched on today.

MFA and SSO have essential differences in focus, use, and purpose. All things considered, SSO and MFA are not conflicting technologies. In many use cases, Single Sing-On and Multi-Factor Authentication can work in unison to give your users a streamlined and secure login experience.

For instance, the Rublon SSO Portal allows users to access cloud applications in a clean, simple way. With Rublon, users can enjoy complete Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) protection. Also, they do not have to reenter their identity provider password over and over again. Rublon takes the best of SSO and MFA and arrives at a solution that is both extra secure and extra convenient.

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