This allows for Single Sign-On (SSO) across multiple cloud applications, which plays a critical role both in terms of designing the user onboarding and creating a single centralized method to control access rights gaining all security benefits and also enhancing end-user experience by providing one set of login credentials that gives users seamless multifunctional service access. This is how you can provide an easy way to secure SSO across your cloud environment.

1. Know the Advantages of SSO

• Centralized Authentication: Single sign on login to many applications removing the need of repetitive logins.
• Increased Security: With fewer passwords to handle, SSO alleviates password fatigue and limits the exposure to phishing attacks.
• Better User Experience: By allowing a consistent login experience for all applications you can smoothen your workflow and enhance productivity.

2. Selecting the IdP (Identity Provider)

User identities are also managed by an Identity Provider(IdP). Some of the most commonly-used cloud-based IdPs:

• Azure Active Directory: Best for Integrating with Microsoft services.
• Okta: Much more flexible, widely adopted and other third-party plugins
• AWS IAM Identity Shell (Formerly AWS SSO): For AWS-centric environments.
• Google Identity: Good if you are within the Google Workspace ecosystem.

3. SSO for Your Cloud-native Apps

• OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect (OIDC): SSO with cloud apps often leverages these protocols for authentication / authorization layers.(Single-Sign-On)
• SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language): A traditional protocol for enterprise applications.

For example, to integrate with AWS services:

Create AWS IAM Identity Central (Part 1)

• Step 1: Development of AWS IAM Identity central
• Step 2:  Set single sign-on settings for each AWS account and service
• Step 3: User Add users and configure permissions depending on role.

4. Configure Access Policies

Role based access policy creation: After setting up SSO, it’s important to define policies that limit what certain users can do in what applications. You can:

• Grant permissions using Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
• Create group policies for a collective of users with similar requirements.

5. Test and Validate the Setup

Test thoroughly before systemwide deployment of SSO:

• Make sure the integrations are compatible with all devices.
• Look for application specific restrictions.
• Testing the user experience of logging using different scenarios

6. Keep an Eye on Your SSO System

• Audit Logs: Access and authorization activities, Check logs of login attempts frequently
• Regular Review of Permissions and Access Levels: Make sure user roles and permissions are current.
• Continuously Scan for Security Gaps: Layer MFA (Multifactor Authentication) with SSO provision.

With thoughtful SSO deployment for your cloud applications, you can deliver an integrated and secure login process to your users as well as achieve considerable control in the way of cloud access management.