WorkOS

WorkOS is an API platform that enables SaaS companies to add enterprise-grade authentication features to their applications, specifically the features that enterprise customers require before signing large contracts: single sign-on (SSO) via SAML and OIDC, SCIM directory synchronization, audit logging, and fine-grained authorization.

The most common use case for WorkOS is helping SaaS startups and scale-ups quickly become enterprise-ready. Large enterprise customers typically require that SaaS applications support SAML-based SSO so that their employees can log in using the company's identity provider (Okta, Azure AD, ADFS, Google Workspace, etc.) rather than maintaining separate credentials. Implementing SAML SSO correctly is technically complex, requiring deep knowledge of XML signatures, metadata exchange, and the idiosyncrasies of each major identity provider. WorkOS abstracts all of this complexity into a clean API that typically takes a few hours to integrate.

WorkOS SSO supports all major identity providers and both SAML and OIDC protocols through a single, unified API. The connection management interface allows each customer organization to configure their own SSO connection without requiring technical support from the SaaS vendor. WorkOS handles the SP metadata generation, IdP metadata parsing, and all the technical details of the SAML handshake.

SCIM (System for Cross-domain Identity Management) directory synchronization through WorkOS keeps the SaaS application's user database synchronized with the enterprise customer's identity directory. When an employee is provisioned in Okta or Azure AD, they are automatically created in the SaaS application. When an employee leaves the company and is deprovisioned in the directory, their account in the SaaS application is automatically deactivated. This automated lifecycle management is a critical security requirement for enterprise IT departments.

Audit Log is WorkOS's structured event logging product for enterprises. It provides an API for recording actions performed in the application with standardized metadata including who performed the action, on what resource, from which IP address, and with what result. Enterprise customers can export these logs to their SIEM for compliance and security monitoring.

WorkOS AuthKit is the modern authentication UI and user management product, competing with Auth0 and Clerk for the authentication layer while leveraging WorkOS's enterprise connectivity capabilities. AuthKit provides pre-built authentication flows, social logins, MFA, and seamless integration with the SSO and directory sync features.

WorkOS is designed to integrate with any technology stack through its REST API and SDKs for Node.js, Python, Ruby, PHP, Go, and .NET, and its developer-friendly documentation and support make the implementation process smooth.