Understanding the SAML Single Logout (SLO) Mechanism

SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) is a widely adopted standard for Single Sign-On (SSO) in enterprise identity federation. Just as SAML SSO simplifies user authentication across multiple systems, SAML Single Logout (SLO) provides a standardized way to terminate sessions across those same systems. Let’s explore how it works and the critical differences between redirect vs POST bindings, SP-initiated vs IdP-initiated logout, and the essential role of the Session Index. 🔐 What is SAML Single Logout (SLO)? SAML Single Logout (SLO) allows a user to log out from one application (Service Provider, or SP) and have that logout propagated to all other applications that the user has accessed during their session. This prevents “orphaned sessions” and ensures consistent security behavior across systems. ...

3 min · 612 words · IAMDevBox