Single Sign-On (SSO)
Also known as: SSO, SAML login
Single sign-on, or SSO, lets employees sign in once with their existing company account and reach other systems, including the LMS, without a separate password. SAML is the common standard that makes this work between systems. For a training team, SSO means people get into their courses with the login they already use, and IT keeps control of access from one place.
What SSO does
With SSO, an employee logs in to their main company account, such as Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) or Google Workspace, and can then open connected apps without logging in again. The LMS trusts that identity provider instead of keeping its own separate password.
That removes one more password to remember, and it means access follows the company account. When someone leaves and their main account is switched off, their LMS access goes with it.
SSO and SAML: how they fit together
SSO is the outcome: one login for many systems. SAML is one of the standards that make it happen, a common language identity providers and apps use to confirm who someone is.
You will also see OpenID Connect, which does a similar job, and SCIM, which automatically creates and deactivates user accounts so you do not add and remove people by hand.
Why SSO matters for an LMS
For employees, it removes friction. Training that is one click away from the tools they already use gets completed more often than training behind another login.
For IT and HR, it means central control, better security, and clean offboarding. There is no separate list of LMS passwords to manage, and access is granted and removed with the main account.
SSO and local login in the Baltics
Baltic organisations often expect more than a corporate directory login. Support for national eID methods such as Smart-ID, Mobile-ID, and the ID-card matters, especially in finance and the public sector, where these are the normal way people prove who they are.
When you evaluate an LMS, check both the corporate SSO it supports and whether it handles the local login methods your people already use.
Frequently asked questions
What is SSO?
Single sign-on lets employees log in once with their existing company account and reach other systems, including the LMS, without a separate password.
What is SAML?
SAML is a standard that lets an identity provider and an app confirm who a user is, which is what makes single sign-on work between systems.
What is the difference between SSO and SAML?
SSO is the result, one login for many systems. SAML is one of the standards used to achieve it. OpenID Connect is another common option.
Why use SSO with an LMS?
It removes a login barrier so more people finish their training, and it gives IT central control: access follows the main company account and is removed automatically when someone leaves.
What is SCIM?
SCIM is a standard for automatically creating and deactivating user accounts across systems, so you do not add and remove LMS users by hand. It often works alongside SSO.
Can employees log in to an LMS with Smart-ID or Mobile-ID?
That depends on the LMS. In the Baltics, support for national eID methods like Smart-ID, Mobile-ID, and the ID-card is worth checking, especially in finance and the public sector.