Status: Final Blueprint
Author: Shahab Al Yamin Chawdhury
Organization: Principal Architect & Consultant Group
Research Date: March 23, 2024
Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Version: 1.0
1.0 Strategic Imperative
This document outlines a blueprint for deploying a robust Single Sign-On (SSO) solution centered on Active Directory. The initiative’s primary goal is to enhance enterprise security, streamline IT operations, and significantly improve the end-user experience by unifying application access.
- Core Principles:
- Single Sign-On (SSO): Provide users with one set of credentials to access all necessary applications, eliminating password fatigue.
- Federated Identity: Establish a secure trust relationship between our central Identity Provider (IdP) and all integrated applications (Service Providers).
- Zero Trust: Adhere to a “never trust, always verify” security model, where every access request is authenticated and authorized.
- Business Case & Objectives:
- Enhanced Security: Centralize access control to uniformly enforce strong authentication policies, including a mandate for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
- Increased Productivity: Remove login friction for employees, allowing faster and more seamless access to critical tools.
- IT Cost Reduction: Target a >50% reduction in password-related help desk tickets.
- Business Agility: Accelerate the secure onboarding and integration of new cloud and SaaS applications.
2.0 Governance and Compliance
A robust governance framework will ensure the SSO service is managed securely and complies with all regulatory mandates.
- Guiding Policies:
- Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP): Users will be granted only the minimum level of access required to perform their job functions.
- Automated Identity Lifecycle: The Joiner, Mover, and Leaver (JML) processes will be automated based on HR system triggers to ensure access is provisioned and revoked in a timely manner.
- MFA Mandate: MFA will be required for all users accessing SSO-integrated applications. Phishing-resistant methods (e.g., FIDO2) will be enforced for privileged accounts and high-risk applications.
- Regulatory Adherence:
- NIST SP 800-63-3: The solution will be architected to meet Authenticator Assurance Level 2 (AAL2) as the minimum standard, with a clear roadmap to implement AAL3 for privileged access.
- GDPR: The system will enforce data minimization, transparent user consent, and the “right to be forgotten.”
- SOX: The platform will provide robust controls and immutable, detailed audit trails for all access events related to financial systems.
3.0 Technical Architecture
The solution will be based on a hybrid identity architecture that extends our existing on-premises Active Directory to the cloud.
- Architectural Model:
- On-Premises Active Directory (AD): Remains the authoritative source of truth for all workforce identities.
- Microsoft Entra Connect: A dedicated service will synchronize identity objects and password hashes (PHS) from on-premises AD to the cloud.
- Microsoft Entra ID: Will serve as the central cloud Identity Provider (IdP), handling modern authentication protocols, MFA, and Conditional Access policies.
- Application Proxy: Will be used to provide secure, SSO-enabled remote access to legacy on-premises web applications.
- Supported Authentication Protocols:
| Protocol | Primary Use Case |
| Kerberos | Seamless SSO for on-premises, domain-joined client-server applications. |
| SAML 2.0 | Enterprise web applications and B2B federation (e.g., Salesforce, Workday). |
| OIDC & OAuth 2.0 | Modern web apps, Single-Page Applications (SPAs), and native mobile apps. |
4.0 Phased Implementation Roadmap
The program will be executed in three distinct phases to deliver incremental value, manage risk, and ensure a smooth transition for the organization.
- Phase 1: Foundation & Pilot (Months 1-4)
- Goal: Establish the core technical infrastructure and validate all processes with a limited-scope pilot.
- Key Activities: Deploy Entra ID and Entra Connect, configure directory synchronization, integrate 3-5 pilot applications, and onboard a pilot user group (50-100 users).
- Critical Deliverable: A “Pilot Success Report” detailing technical validation and lessons learned.
- Phase 2: Enterprise-Wide Rollout (Months 5-18)
- Goal: Scale the SSO service across the entire organization in managed, wave-based rollouts.
- Key Activities: Onboard the full portfolio of applications in logical waves, execute a comprehensive change management and communication plan, drive mass user MFA enrollment, and decommission legacy authentication methods.
- Target Milestone: Achieve 90% user adoption and integrate 50% of target applications.
- Phase 3: Optimization & Maturity (Months 19-24)
- Goal: Enhance the service with advanced security features and transition to a continuous improvement model.
- Key Activities: Implement risk-based Conditional Access policies, deploy passwordless authentication options (e.g., FIDO2), and deepen integration with IGA and PAM solutions.
- Target Milestone: Achieve Level 4 in the IAM Maturity Model.
5.0 Risk Management Summary
Proactive identification and mitigation of key risks are critical to program success.
| Risk ID | Risk Description | Mitigation Strategy |
| R1 | Incompatibility of Legacy Applications | Leverage Application Proxy or password-based SSO; establish a formal application disposition process (Integrate, Modernize, Replace, or Retire). |
| R4 | Security Vulnerability in Implementation | Develop standardized, peer-reviewed integration patterns and conduct regular penetration testing of the SSO infrastructure. |
| R8 | Uncontrolled Scope Creep | Enforce a formal governance and application onboarding process to manage the rollout schedule and stakeholder expectations. |
6.0 Measuring Success: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
The success of the SSO service will be measured against the following data-driven KPIs.
| Category | KPI | Service Level Objective (Target) |
| Availability | SSO Service Uptime | > 99.95% |
| Performance | P95 Authentication Latency | < 1.5 seconds |
| Adoption | Percentage of Users Enrolled in MFA | > 98% |
| Efficiency | Reduction in Password Reset Tickets | > 50% |
| Security | Mean Time to Remediate High-Risk Sign-in | < 1 hour |
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