Okta on Thursday launched a self-service feature to its application network that will allow users to customize single sign-on tools for enterprise as well as consumer cloud services.
The self-service addition to the Okta Application Network allows the information technology department to publish an app catalog and let users pick and choose what applications they want as single sign-on.
Okta, which plugs into 1,200 cloud and Web apps, said the effort is designed to make adoption easier as well as give the IT department insight on what is being used by workers. With that data, a company can negotiate better deals. On the flip side, companies can also get a view on what consumer apps are being used at work assuming users connect them with single sign-on.
For what it’s worth, Okta is very clear that connecting single sign-on would give the company a view into your Facebook habits at work.
Todd McKinnon, CEO of Okta, said he expects that users who goof around too much on a cloud service won’t opt into the single sign-on. “The main goal is to bring cloud administration to the users. The end users can pick anything they want from the company’s catalog,” he explained.
In the end, the self-service option can give companies insight to what cloud apps are used the most. Okta can facilitate a cloud popularity contest. From there, enterprises can negotiate better pricing or cut subscription costs. “IT can now have visibility on what services are actually being used,” said McKinnon.
Here’s what the end user sees:
And the IT admin view:
