OIDC vs SAML: How B2B Teams Should Choose Their SSO Protocol
When enterprise clients demand single sign-on, B2B software teams typically face a choice between two protocols: SAML, an XML-based standard from 2005, and OIDC, a JSON/JWT-based protocol from 2014 built on OAuth 2.0. In practice, the choice is rarely made by the developer — it is dictated by the client's existing IT infrastructure, with legacy on-premise systems often requiring SAML while modern platforms like Okta or Google Workspace generally support both. OIDC is considered cleaner and better suited for modern web apps, SPAs, mobile clients, and APIs, whereas SAML remains deeply embedded in large enterprise environments. SAML carries well-documented security risks, including signature wrapping attacks and canonicalization vulnerabilities, meaning improper implementation can lead to authentication bypasses. Teams selling broadly to enterprises should plan to support both protocols, as client demands for each arise repeatedly rather than as a one-time decision.
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