Salesforce Certified Identity and Access Management Practice

How does the single sign-on process work in Salesforce?

1. Username validation

2. Direct password authentication

3. Access token retrieval

4. Web Services call to SSO service

The correct answer is: Web Services call to SSO service

The correct answer highlights the function of the single sign-on (SSO) process within Salesforce. When utilizing SSO, Salesforce does not manage user authentication directly. Instead, it relies on an external identity provider (IdP) to authenticate users. The process involves making a web services call to the SSO service provided by the identity provider. After the user successfully authenticates with the IdP, an access token is generated, which allows the user to gain access to Salesforce without needing to re-enter their credentials. This seamless integration enhances the user experience by minimizing login steps and increasing security since credentials are handled by a trusted service. The other options represent aspects of authentication but do not capture the essence of how Salesforce performs SSO. Username validation and direct password authentication suggest a more traditional account management approach that Salesforce aims to avoid by utilizing an IdP. Access token retrieval is indeed a part of the SSO workflow, but the primary mechanism of SSO in Salesforce is predicated on the interaction with the SSO service through web services calls.