Association Single Sign-On (SSO)
Let your members log in once and access everything—your i4a membership platform, learning management system, community forums, job board, and other integrated services. One login. No friction. Better member experience.
One Login, Multiple Platforms
Members authenticate with i4a once and gain seamless access to all your integrated third-party services
Too Many Passwords Hurt Member Engagement
Your members use multiple systems—your AMS, an LMS for courses, a community platform, maybe a job board. Each requires a separate login. Each password gets forgotten. Each friction point reduces engagement.
Single Sign-On solves this by making i4a the central authentication system. Members log into i4a once, and they're automatically authenticated across all your integrated platforms.
The result: Better member experience, higher engagement, and less time spent on password reset requests.
Benefits of SSO for Associations
- Better member experience: One password for everything reduces friction
- Higher engagement: Members are more likely to use services they can access easily
- Reduced support burden: Fewer password reset requests for your staff
- Improved security: Centralized authentication with a single, secure system
- Real-time data sync: Third-party platforms pull current member data from i4a
- Membership gating: Automatically restrict access based on membership status
Single Sign-On with i4a as Your Identity Provider
i4a acts as the central authentication system for all your integrated platforms
Member Visits Third-Party Service
Your member tries to access an integrated platform like your LMS, community forum, or job board.
Redirected to i4a Login
The third-party service sends them to your i4a login page to authenticate with their i4a credentials.
i4a Authenticates Member
i4a verifies their identity and sends back their member information, including membership status and expiration.
Seamless Access Granted
The member is automatically logged into the third-party service with their current i4a profile data—no duplicate passwords.
OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and Custom SSO Solutions
Choose the integration approach that works for your third-party vendor
OAuth 2.0 / OIDC Integration
Most third-party platforms support OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect (OIDC), industry-standard authentication protocols. i4a acts as the Identity Provider using the Authorization Code grant type, with OIDC support for platforms that require it.
What's Included:
- Standard OAuth 2.0 endpoints (authorize, token, userinfo)
- OpenID Connect (OIDC) support with ID tokens and standard claims
- Secure client credentials (client ID and secret)
- Member profile data in JSON format
- Real-time membership status verification
- Custom field support (if additional data is needed)
Setup Time: Typically configured within 2 business days of your request
One-time setup fee: $250 per OAuth client
Custom SSO Integration
If your third-party vendor requires a custom authentication approach beyond OAuth 2.0, our team can build a tailored SSO solution specific to your needs.
When You Need Custom SSO:
- Third-party doesn't support OAuth 2.0
- Legacy systems with proprietary authentication
- Complex data mapping requirements
- Bidirectional sync needs
- Unique security or compliance requirements
Note: Custom SSO implementations require custom development. Contact us for a quote based on your specific requirements.
Pricing: Custom quote based on scope
What Member Data Is Shared via SSO?
i4a shares only the necessary profile information to authenticate members
Standard Profile Data
When a member authenticates via SSO, i4a provides the following member profile information to the third-party platform:
- Unique AMS ID
- First name, middle name, last name
- Email address
- Company name and title
- Mailing address (street, city, state, zip, country)
- Primary phone number
- Membership type
- Membership status (active/inactive)
- Membership expiration date
Custom Field Support
Need to share additional data beyond the standard profile fields? We can include custom fields in the SSO response:
- Custom member attributes
- Committee assignments
- Certification status
- CEU credits
- Special interest groups
- Any other data stored in i4a
Custom field mapping requires a brief configuration by our team and may include additional setup time.
Where Associations Use SSO
Popular third-party platforms that integrate with i4a via SSO
Learning Management Systems
Connect your LMS so members can access courses without separate logins. Restrict content based on membership status.
Community Platforms
Integrate discussion forums and member communities. Members log in once and participate seamlessly.
Third-Party Evaluation Sites
Integrate with evaluation and assessment platforms. Members access surveys, evaluations, and testing tools using their i4a credentials with automatic membership verification.
Event & Webinar Platforms
Connect virtual event platforms so attendees authenticate with i4a. Automatically apply member pricing.
Content Libraries & Resources
Gate premium content and resources behind membership. Members access everything with one login.
WordPress Integration
Already using WordPress? Our free WordPress SSO plugin works seamlessly with WordPress sites for unified authentication.
How We Set Up SSO for Your Association
Our team handles the technical configuration—you just provide us with the third-party vendor details.
The Setup Process:
- You tell us which platform needs SSO. Let us know the third-party service (e.g., "Higher Logic community" or "Thought Industries LMS").
- We configure the OAuth client in i4a. Our team generates secure credentials and configures the SSO endpoints—typically completed within 2 business days.
- We provide your vendor with technical details. We send the third-party vendor everything they need: authorization endpoints, credentials, and sample user data.
- The vendor completes their side of the integration. They configure their platform to authenticate with i4a using the credentials we provided.
- We test and launch. Once both sides are configured, we test the SSO flow with a test account to ensure everything works seamlessly.
What You'll Need from Your Vendor
To set up OAuth 2.0 SSO, we'll need the following information from your third-party vendor:
- The vendor's name and service being integrated
- The callback/redirect URI (where members return after authentication)
- Whether they support OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code flow
- Any specific member data fields they require beyond the standard profile
Pro Tip:
Most reputable third-party vendors have documentation on SSO setup. Share it with us—it speeds up the process significantly.
OAuth 2.0 / OIDC Technical Overview
What your IT team and third-party vendors need to know
Authentication Standard
i4a implements industry-standard OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect (OIDC) with the Authorization Code grant type, ensuring secure and reliable authentication.
- i4a acts as the Identity Provider
- Secure client credentials (ID and secret) provided per client
- Standard OAuth 2.0 endpoints for authorization, token, and user info
- OIDC support with ID tokens and standard claims
- All communication encrypted via HTTPS/SSL
Member Data Provided
When third-party platforms request user information, i4a provides member profile data in JSON format including:
- Unique member ID
- Name and contact information
- Membership status and type
- Membership expiration date
- Custom fields (if configured)
Complete Technical Documentation Available
Download our complete OAuth 2.0 technical documentation to share with your IT team and third-party vendors before purchasing. Includes endpoint URLs, authentication flows, sample API responses, and integration instructions.
Download Technical Documentation (PDF)SSO Frequently Asked Questions
OAuth 2.0 SSO setup is a flat $250 one-time fee per OAuth client. This covers configuration, testing, and coordination with your third-party vendor. There are no ongoing monthly fees for SSO functionality. For example, if you need to integrate three platforms (an LMS, community forum, and job board), the total setup cost would be $750 (3 clients × $250). Custom SSO implementations (for platforms that don't support OAuth 2.0) are quoted separately based on the complexity and scope of the integration.
OAuth 2.0 SSO setup is a flat $250 one-time fee per OAuth client. This covers configuration, testing, and coordination with your third-party vendor. There are no ongoing monthly fees for SSO functionality. For example, if you need to integrate three platforms (an LMS, community forum, and job board), the total setup cost would be $750 (3 clients × $250). Custom SSO implementations (for platforms that don't support OAuth 2.0) are quoted separately based on the complexity and scope of the integration.
i4a supports OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect (OIDC) for standard SSO implementations. OIDC is built on top of OAuth 2.0 and provides additional identity verification features that many modern platforms require. We do not currently offer SAML-based SSO; however, OAuth 2.0 and OIDC are widely supported by modern platforms and meet the SSO needs of most associations. If your vendor specifically requires SAML, contact us to discuss potential custom solutions or alternative integration approaches.
i4a supports OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect (OIDC) for standard SSO implementations. OIDC is built on top of OAuth 2.0 and provides additional identity verification features that many modern platforms require. We do not currently offer SAML-based SSO; however, OAuth 2.0 and OIDC are widely supported by modern platforms and meet the SSO needs of most associations. If your vendor specifically requires SAML, contact us to discuss potential custom solutions or alternative integration approaches.
If the third-party platform supports OAuth 2.0 (which most modern platforms do), we can integrate it using our standard OAuth implementation. Common platforms we've successfully integrated include Higher Logic, Tradewing, and Reviewr. If the vendor doesn't support OAuth 2.0 or requires a custom authentication method, we can build a custom SSO solution tailored to their requirements. Contact us to discuss your specific integration needs.
If the third-party platform supports OAuth 2.0 (which most modern platforms do), we can integrate it using our standard OAuth implementation. Common platforms we've successfully integrated include Higher Logic, Tradewing, and Reviewr. If the vendor doesn't support OAuth 2.0 or requires a custom authentication method, we can build a custom SSO solution tailored to their requirements. Contact us to discuss your specific integration needs.
For OAuth 2.0 integrations, our team can typically configure the SSO client within 2 business days of receiving your request. The total timeline depends on how quickly your third-party vendor completes their side of the setup. Most SSO integrations are fully functional within 1-2 weeks from start to finish.
For OAuth 2.0 integrations, our team can typically configure the SSO client within 2 business days of receiving your request. The total timeline depends on how quickly your third-party vendor completes their side of the setup. Most SSO integrations are fully functional within 1-2 weeks from start to finish.
i4a implements OAuth 2.0 using the Authorization Code grant type, which is the most secure and widely-supported flow for server-side applications. We provide three standard endpoints: authorization endpoint (for login redirects), token endpoint (for exchanging authorization codes for access tokens), and userinfo endpoint (for retrieving member profile data).
Download complete technical documentation (PDF) including endpoint URLs, sample requests, response formats, and integration instructions for your IT team and third-party vendors.
i4a implements OAuth 2.0 using the Authorization Code grant type, which is the most secure and widely-supported flow for server-side applications. We provide three standard endpoints: authorization endpoint (for login redirects), token endpoint (for exchanging authorization codes for access tokens), and userinfo endpoint (for retrieving member profile data).
Download complete technical documentation (PDF) including endpoint URLs, sample requests, response formats, and integration instructions for your IT team and third-party vendors.
Yes. OAuth 2.0 is an industry-standard authentication protocol used by major platforms like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. All authentication requests are encrypted using HTTPS/SSL. Member passwords are never shared with third-party platforms—only an authorization token is exchanged. Each OAuth client has unique credentials (client ID and secret) that are securely generated and transmitted only to authorized parties. Access tokens expire after a set period for additional security.
Yes. OAuth 2.0 is an industry-standard authentication protocol used by major platforms like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. All authentication requests are encrypted using HTTPS/SSL. Member passwords are never shared with third-party platforms—only an authorization token is exchanged. Each OAuth client has unique credentials (client ID and secret) that are securely generated and transmitted only to authorized parties. Access tokens expire after a set period for additional security.
Every time a member logs into the third-party platform via SSO, i4a sends their current membership information—including membership status, type, and expiration date. If a member's membership has expired or been cancelled in i4a, the third-party platform receives this updated information in real-time. Most platforms can then automatically restrict access to members-only content or features based on the membership status we provide.
Every time a member logs into the third-party platform via SSO, i4a sends their current membership information—including membership status, type, and expiration date. If a member's membership has expired or been cancelled in i4a, the third-party platform receives this updated information in real-time. Most platforms can then automatically restrict access to members-only content or features based on the membership status we provide.
Absolutely. Many associations integrate multiple platforms—for example, an LMS, a community forum, and a job board—all authenticating through i4a. Each platform requires its own OAuth client configuration ($250 setup fee per client), but once configured, members can seamlessly access all integrated services with their single i4a login.
Absolutely. Many associations integrate multiple platforms—for example, an LMS, a community forum, and a job board—all authenticating through i4a. Each platform requires its own OAuth client configuration ($250 setup fee per client), but once configured, members can seamlessly access all integrated services with their single i4a login.
Access tokens issued by i4a have a configurable expiration period (typically set based on your security requirements and the third-party platform's needs). Refresh tokens are supported, allowing third-party platforms to obtain new access tokens without requiring the member to log in again. This ensures a seamless member experience while maintaining security. Token expiration settings and refresh token implementation details are discussed during the SSO setup process based on your specific integration requirements.
Access tokens issued by i4a have a configurable expiration period (typically set based on your security requirements and the third-party platform's needs). Refresh tokens are supported, allowing third-party platforms to obtain new access tokens without requiring the member to log in again. This ensures a seamless member experience while maintaining security. Token expiration settings and refresh token implementation details are discussed during the SSO setup process based on your specific integration requirements.
Yes. We provide complete OAuth 2.0 technical documentation that you can share with your IT team and third-party vendors to evaluate the integration before committing.
Download technical documentation (PDF) - includes endpoint URLs, authentication flow diagrams, sample API requests/responses, member data fields, and integration instructions.
Yes. We provide complete OAuth 2.0 technical documentation that you can share with your IT team and third-party vendors to evaluate the integration before committing.
Download technical documentation (PDF) - includes endpoint URLs, authentication flow diagrams, sample API requests/responses, member data fields, and integration instructions.
With SSO enabled, members authenticate using their i4a credentials—they don't need (or create) separate passwords on the third-party platform. This is the entire point of Single Sign-On: one set of credentials works everywhere. However, most platforms allow SSO to be optional, so you can enable it alongside traditional username/password login if needed during a transition period.
With SSO enabled, members authenticate using their i4a credentials—they don't need (or create) separate passwords on the third-party platform. This is the entire point of Single Sign-On: one set of credentials works everywhere. However, most platforms allow SSO to be optional, so you can enable it alongside traditional username/password login if needed during a transition period.
Ready to Simplify Member Access with SSO?
Schedule a demo to discuss integrating your third-party platforms with i4a. We can review OAuth 2.0 and custom SSO options for your association.
