Single Sign-On Design¶
Overview¶
Single Sign-On (SSO) enables users to access multiple applications with one set of credentials, improving user experience while centralizing security management and simplifying administration.
Open Source SSO Solutions¶
Seven major platforms compete in this space:
| Solution | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Keycloak | Most popular and widely adopted; supports OIDC, SAML, OAuth2, LDAP, social logins and enterprise features |
| Authentik | Modern interface with OIDC, SAML, LDAP support; gaining popularity for flexibility |
| Authelia | Lightweight authentication portal focusing on MFA and access policies |
| Gluu | Enterprise-ready with strong federation capabilities but more complex setup |
| Zitadel | Cloud-native, developer-friendly, modern approach to SSO |
| IdentityServer | Popular in .NET environments for API and microservices |
| CAS (Apereo CAS) | Mature platform with strength in academic and enterprise sectors |
Why Authentik¶
TAPPaaS uses Authentik as the preferred SSO solution due to its:
- Modern, user-friendly interface
- Comprehensive protocol support (OIDC, SAML, LDAP)
- Flexibility and ease of configuration
- Active development and growing community
- Lightweight resource requirements suitable for self-hosted environments
Bitwarden/VaultWarden Integration¶
Bitwarden functions as a secure password manager that integrates with the SSO solution, allowing centralized authentication while maintaining a secure vault for credentials that cannot yet leverage SSO.
Combined Strategy¶
Using both platforms creates a complete identity solution:
- Authentik manages modern SSO access across compatible applications
- VaultWarden securely stores credentials for legacy systems and external services lacking SSO support