Unlocking secure, dynamic access with SGNL and Okta integration

Managing access to critical systems has never been more important—or more challenging. Identity-related breaches continue to rise, with more than 80% of organizations experiencing one in the last year. While identity providers like Okta offer robust tools for authentication, they often fall short when it comes to determining the right level of access, based on business needs. That’s where SGNL steps in.

In our latest demo, we show how SGNL integrates seamlessly with Okta to deliver dynamic, real-time access control, helping organizations protect sensitive systems such as AWS by enforcing zero standing privilege. Here’s how SGNL makes it happen.

The challenge: standing access and its risks

For many organizations, single sign-on (SSO) systems like Okta serve as the gateway to applications and services. While these systems excel at verifying user identities, they lack the necessary business context to make dynamic, real-time authorization decisions. Without data from critical systems like CRM and HRIS, SSO solutions often default to granting standing access—permissions that far exceed a user’s immediate needs. This gap leaves organizations vulnerable to insider threats and external breaches.

For example, an engineer might have full admin privileges in AWS simply because they belong to a certain group in Okta. This blanket access increases the risk of insider threats or external breaches, as attackers can exploit these broad permissions once they bypass SSO defenses.

The solution: SGNL and Okta working together

SGNL addresses these gaps by adding a layer of continuous access management on top of Okta’s SSO capabilities. Through integrations with systems of record like ServiceNow, HRIS platforms, and directories, SGNL ensures that access decisions are made based on the most current business context.

1. Continuous access management with real-time context

   Using data from systems of record, SGNL evaluates whether a user’s request aligns with current business needs. For instance, SGNL can confirm if an engineer has an active, approved emergency task in ServiceNow before granting them access to production resources in AWS.

2. Seamless integration with Okta single sign-on

   SGNL leverages Okta’s extensibility to participate directly in sign-in flows. This enables SGNL to enforce granular policies, ensuring that access is limited to specific systems or resources based on real-time context.

3. Access monitoring and revocation

   Access isn’t just granted dynamically—it’s continuously evaluated. If business context changes, such as the closure of an emergency incident in ServiceNow, SGNL automatically revokes access, ensuring no lingering permissions.

A use case: zero standing privilege in AWS

Let’s revisit the demo example. In an organization using SGNL and Okta, an engineer trying to access AWS must meet specific conditions:

• They must have an active emergency change assigned in ServiceNow.
• The change must be approved and marked as high-priority.

If these conditions aren’t met, SGNL denies access. Once the engineer is assigned and approved for the emergency task, SGNL dynamically grants access ensuring they have the precise level of access needed to complete their task. When the task is marked as complete, SGNL revokes access immediately—even during an active session—because the engineer no longer has a valid business justification for AWS access. This ensures that access is tightly aligned with real-time needs, minimizing unnecessary exposure to critical systems.

Why this matters

By combining Okta SSO with SGNL’s continuous access management capabilities, organizations can:

• Eliminate standing access: Minimize risk by granting temporary, just-in-time access instead of broad, always-on permissions.
• Enhance security without compromising efficiency: Automate access decisions while maintaining seamless user experiences.
• Simplify auditing: Centralized logs in SGNL make it easy to trace why access was granted or revoked, helping meet compliance requirements.

Watch the demo

Want to see this integration in action? Our demo video walks you through a real-world scenario, showcasing how SGNL protects AWS by adding dynamic authorization to Okta’s sign-in flows. Watch the video now. SGNL’s integration with Okta empowers organizations to move beyond authentication and into truly dynamic, context-aware access management. By leveraging real-time data and enforcing zero standing privilege, SGNL helps you stay one step ahead of threats while simplifying access control processes. For more details on SGNL and how it can transform your identity management strategy, visit SGNL.ai.