Integrating SSO with JWT

1. Introduction

Single Sign-On (SSO) allows users to authenticate once and gain access to multiple applications without re-entering credentials. Integrating SSO with JSON Web Tokens (JWT) enhances security and user experience by enabling stateless authentication across applications.

2. Key Concepts

3. Step-by-Step Integration

Follow these steps to integrate SSO with JWT:

1. Setup SSO Provider:

   Choose an SSO provider (e.g., Auth0, Okta, etc.) and configure your application.

2. Obtain JWT:

   Upon successful authentication, the SSO provider will issue a JWT. This token typically includes user information and claims.

3. Store JWT:

   Store the JWT in local storage or a cookie for later use in API requests.

4. Attach JWT in Requests:

   Include the JWT in the Authorization header for API requests.

   
   fetch('https://api.example.com/protected', {
       method: 'GET',
       headers: {
           'Authorization': `Bearer ${yourJWT}`
       }
   })
   .then(response => response.json())
   .then(data => console.log(data));
                       

5. Validate JWT:

   On the server side, validate the JWT to ensure it is authentic and has not expired.

4. Best Practices

• Always use HTTPS to protect JWTs in transit.
• Set proper expiration times for JWTs to minimize risks.
• Use secure storage for JWTs (e.g., HttpOnly cookies if possible).
• Regularly rotate JWT signing keys to enhance security.

5. FAQ