Single Sign-On (SSO) for mobile app login and backend login
Single Sign-On (SSO) is an authentication process that enables users to access multiple applications or systems with a single set of login credentials. These credentials can be authenticated using various methods, such as the classical username-password pair via a login form, biometrics (fingerprint or facial recognition), or a temporary one-time code to achieve Multi-Factor Authentication.
SSO for mobile app
Charge point operators (CPOs) who require Single Sign-On services can be utilities, petrol retailers, OEMs, or large companies with established customer-facing business operations and a pre-existing customer base. CPOs use SSO to enable customers to access their EV charging app using login credentials that they have already created for other company applications and systems. By doing so, customers are relieved of the burden of creating new login credentials and remembering multiple passwords, thus lowering the risk of login-related errors.
Besides providing a better user experience, SSO gives CPOs full control over their user base, simplifying user management and improving data security by storing all data in one secure location. By adopting SSO, charge point operators may rely on their already established compliance with various regulations such as SOX, HIPAA, and PCI DSS, which demonstrates their commitment to data security, instills trust in customers, and helps to avoid compliance-related fines.
SSO also benefits network operators who want to start with AMPECO’s white-labeled mobile apps and later switch to their own mobile app. By implementing SSO from the outset, the transition to their own app, later on, is smoother with less disruption to existing users.
SSO for backend login
Integrating enterprise login mechanisms with AMPECO’s backend system streamlines the process for employees to access their accounts using their existing company credentials. Implementing SSO also helps CPOs enforce strict password policies consistently across multiple systems, reducing the risk of password compromise and ensuring that no user has more access than needed, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches. With centralized authentication and authorization, CPOs can easily manage access to different systems and track user permissions. This allows for efficient and secure access control, enabling CPOs to grant or revoke access to specific resources as needed. Additionally, SSO enables CPOs to utilize their existing secure authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) or two-factor authentication (2FA).
CPOs can simplify user management and enforce strict authentication policies across all their systems by implementing Single Sign-On (SSO) for both the mobile app for EV drivers and the backend for their employees.
The challenges associated with implementing SSO
While SSO offers numerous benefits, it has its fair share of challenges. The initial implementation of the identity provider may be a technical challenge for organizations due to the number of various (or legacy) systems it needs to integrate with. The efforts for this initial setup are later on greatly repaid by the simplification of centrally managing all identity and authentication functions. While centralizing authentication and identity management into a single system (the authentication provider) creates a single point of failure and a single attack target (if breached, could lead to unauthorized access to multiple applications), it also reduces the complexity of enforcing applicable security measures and makes for a single asset to protect. To ensure comprehensive integration converage, organizations should select a reputable provider who adhere to industry standards.
Even with this in mind, implementing SSO is considered a necessity for most large organizations. Many require SSO support as an essential feature, and the lack of it can disqualify software providers from consideration altogether by enterprise organizations looking for solid business partners. Ensuring security is vital as CPOs must comply with various regulations to protect user data and demonstrate their commitment to data security when applying for RFPs, tenders, financing, or when offering EV charging to certain government or state institutions. Building a proprietary SSO solution can be costly and time-consuming, which is why most organizations opt for third-party solutions based on industry-standard protocols.
Have control over your authentication and login processes
Charge point operators can customize their app and backend login process to suit their specific needs. They can use the default AMPECO login mechanism, mixed, or external login. CPOs can assign different roles to users in the Identity Provider (IDP) system and map them to specific roles in the AMPECO system, ensuring that users can access only the resources and data they need.
AMPECO’s EV charging management system enables users with specific access to sign in directly to the respective partner admin streamlining the login process. In most cases, all charging data is stored in AMPECO’s system to provide an efficient and seamless user experience, but CPOs can choose to store all user data separately, where our platform would only keep a unique user identifier to link the data.
AMPECO supports a range of industry-standard SSO solutions
For SSO in mobile applications, we offer integrations with Auth0 and KeyCloak. For the backend, we support Active Directory and SAML 2.0, an open standard created to provide cross-domain single sign-on utilized by Azure Active Directory and other Enterprise grade SSO solutions.
Our SAML 2.0 integration allows easy configuration with any SSO provider supporting this protocol. Our Auth0 integration offers a range of features to enhance user experience, including device locale detection, language localization for the login page, and support for social logins. We can also match existing Auth0 profiles with those in our platform. When Auth0’s API key is configured, we show the Change Password button in the app for the customers signed with email and password to allow customers to initiate a password reset through Auth0, providing a seamless and secure experience.
The business benefits of SSO
Mitigate security risks: Implementing SSO reduces the number of passwords employees must remember and manage. When employees are required to use separate passwords for each app, they often use the same or similar passwords across multiple accounts, making it easier for hackers to access sensitive corporate systems.
Cost savings: SSO reduces the total number of inbound password reset calls from employees and frees IT help desk teams to work on other tasks requiring attention.
Enhanced user experience: SSO eliminates the need to complete redundant sign-on attempts across applications by providing secure, one-click access to users’ apps.
Unified user management and regulatory compliance: SSO provides a unified user management system, allowing CPOs to centralize password and access management. This can be especially helpful for organizations that must comply with regulations like SOX, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.
The advantages of SSO for EV drivers and employees
For EV drivers using the mobile application, SSO provides one-click access eliminating the need to repeatedly enter login credentials, increasing security, saving time, and reducing frustration.
For employees, using SSO in the admin panels allows them to use a single identity to navigate multiple web and mobile domains or applications. In a typical business setting, employees need to access multiple applications and services multiple times a day. Manually logging in to each application can be very time-consuming, but SSO reduces user logins to just one, allowing them to accomplish tasks faster, with less hassle. Using SSO also minimizes the risk of identity theft by simplifying password management to the use of a single password, making it easier to generate, remember, and use stronger passwords.
SSO authentication with AMPECO
AMPECO supports a range of industry-standard protocols and providers for SSO for both mobile app and backend use cases. With our SSO integration, CPOs can easily configure their system with any SSO provider that supports the SAML 2.0 protocol, enhancing user experience with device locale detection, language localization for the login page, and support for social logins. By integrating their enterprise login mechanisms with the AMPECO backend system, CPOs can streamline access for their users, save time, and reduce the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.
