MFA vs SSO: Why enterprises need both for stronger security

When it comes to securing enterprise applications, two acronyms dominate the conversation: MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) and SSO (Single Sign-On).

While often mentioned in the same breath, many organizations think it’s an either/or choice, but that’s like asking if you want a seatbelt or an airbag. You really need both.

Let’s break it down.

SSO: Your digital master key

Single Sign-On lets users sign in once and instantly access all their work apps. Think of it as your digital master key: swipe once, and every approved door opens.

SSO is great for many reasons:

• Goodbye password chaos: Users no longer juggle logins for every app.
• Helpdesk tickets drop: Fewer “reset my password” pings.
• Centralized control: Admins can onboard or offboard users with one action.

But here’s the thing: if a bad actor gets hold of that master key, they can waltz right through every door. That’s where MFA steps up.

MFA: The security guard at every door

Multi-Factor Authentication adds a second (or third) lock to your login process. Even if someone has your password, they can’t just stroll in, they need to prove it’s really you.

MFA works by combining credentials from different categories of verification:

• Something you know: A password, PIN, or security question.
• Something you have: A phone, hardware token, or smart card used to receive or generate a one-time code.
• Something you are: Biometric identifiers like a fingerprint, facial recognition, or even voice patterns.

The key is mixing these factors. Using two passwords isn’t MFA, it’s just more of the same. True MFA challenges attackers because they’d need to steal not just your password but also your phone or replicate your fingerprint.

MFA is essential for several reasons:

• Blocks credential theft: Stolen passwords alone won’t grant access.
• Protects high-value actions: Like wire transfers or sensitive data downloads.
• Meets compliance needs: Required for many security frameworks.
• Flexible verification: OTPs, biometrics, tokens, choose what works.

Without MFA, even the best SSO setup can become a single point of failure.

SSO vs MFA: When to use what

SSO and MFA aren’t competing solutions, they serve different, complementary purposes:

• SSO is about convenience: Reducing password fatigue and streamlining access across dozens (or hundreds) of apps.
• MFA is about verification: Adding layers of security to confirm identity beyond a password.

Some typical usage patterns are:

• SSO Alone: Works fine for low-risk, internal tools but leaves you exposed if a single password is stolen.
• MFA Alone: Provides strong protection but forces users to repeatedly authenticate across multiple apps—slowing productivity.
• SSO + MFA: Best for enterprises that need both a frictionless user experience and hardened security posture.

Think of it this way:

• SSO = the main entrance with one strong lock
• MFA = the second lock and alarm system that confirms it’s truly you

For enterprise-grade security, especially in regulated industries or companies handling sensitive data, combining both is no longer optional; it’s the baseline.

Stronger together: The MFA + SSO combo

Here’s the misconception: you must choose between MFA and SSO. In reality, they’re teammates.

• With only SSO: Great UX, but a compromised account can be catastrophic.
• With only MFA: Secure, but users are stuck re-authenticating across every app.

Combine them and you get the best of both worlds:

• Smooth login: Users sign in once through SSO.
• Double-check identity: MFA steps in during sensitive actions or suspicious logins.
• Enterprise resilience: Centralized control with an extra lock to keep attackers out.

Together, they minimize breaches and make passing compliance audits far less painful.

Combined use cases: Real-world scenarios

Here’s how organizations typically combine SSO and MFA:

• Finance teams approving transactions: Employees log in once via SSO to access banking portals and ERP systems. When initiating a large transfer, MFA automatically prompts for a second factor to verify identity.
• Developers accessing cloud infrastructure: Engineers sign in via SSO to AWS, Azure, or GCP. Any attempt to access production environments triggers MFA for added protection against compromised credentials.
• Healthcare portals: Clinicians use SSO to navigate between patient record systems. MFA ensures that accessing highly sensitive medical data requires verification beyond a password.
• Workforce logins: Employees working from unknown devices or unusual geolocations are automatically challenged with MFA during their SSO login flow, mitigating phishing and session hijacking risks. Another common scenario is logging into your company’s SSO portal and authenticating with your fingerprint or Face ID instead of typing a password each time. This setup provides seamless access to all work apps (thanks to SSO) while using biometrics as a strong MFA factor to confirm it’s really you.

These examples show that SSO keeps workflows smooth while MFA strategically kicks in to safeguard high-risk actions and data.

WorkOS: Enterprise security without the headaches

Adding SSO and MFA to your app doesn’t have to mean building an entire security stack from scratch.

With WorkOS, developers can:

• Connect to every major Identity Provider (Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace, and more) with a single integration using our SDKs.
• Enable MFA out of the box, no custom security coding needed.
• Scale from startup to enterprise-ready within hours without slowing down development.

Security should be simple, seamless, and strong. With WorkOS, you get all three.

Sign up for WorkOS today.