Understanding MFA vs SSO – Avela

Multifactor Authentication(MFA) and Single Sign On(SSO) are two ways to keep web applications like Avela secure for your users.

Avela offers MFA for admin users and SSO for both admin and parents at an additional fee. Please contact your account manager or customer support representative if you would like these added or discuss further which one is best for your organization.

What Are These Technologies?

Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

Also known as two-factor authentication, this is a security mechanism that requires users to provide two (or more) verification factors to access a system, application, or account. This approach significantly increases security by ensuring that even if one factor is compromised, unauthorized access is unlikely. Avela offers two forms of MFA:

One-Time Password (OTP) for Phone Login, via one-time passcode sent to their mobile number for parent/guardian login.
Time-Based One-Time Passwords (TOTP) for email+password login, accessible via authenticator apps like Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, or Authy. (We have found this approach is complicated, so do not recommend it for parents.)

Single Sign-On (SSO) is an authentication process that allows a user to access multiple applications or systems with one set of login credentials (e.g., a single username and password). Once authenticated, the user can seamlessly move between different services within your district without needing to log in again for each one. Avela supports the SAML 2.0 (Security Assertion Markup Language 2.0) open standard for securely exchanging authentication and authorization data between parties. SAML 2.0 is by far the most widely used enterprise SSO, which includes Rapid Identity Federation (RapidID), Okta Identity Cloud, Microsoft Azure AD, and Google Workspace SAML.

Choosing the Right Solution

Both MFA and SSO offer enforced security controls.

When MFA makes sense

MFA is ideal when:

Your district doesn't have existing SSO infrastructure
You need a quick-to-implement security solution

When SSO Makes Sense

SSO works best when:

Your district already uses SSO for other applications
You want to reduce password-related support tickets
Minimizes likelihood of weak passwords across multiple systems
Provides single point of control for access management

Implementation Considerations

MFA Challenges

Requires all users to have smartphones or authentication devices
Some users may struggle with authentication apps
Additional step in login process can frustrate users
Need to handle lost device scenarios
May require additional training for less tech-savvy staff

SSO Challenges

Higher initial setup cost and complexity
Requires technical expertise to implement
If SSO is down, access to all applications is affected