What is the first step in the process of enabling SSO for AD authenticated web applications?

The process of enabling Single Sign-On (SSO) for Active Directory (AD) authenticated web applications begins with configuring Okta to delegate authentication to AD. This is critical because Okta needs to be set up as an intermediary that manages the authentication process. By establishing this connection, Okta can handle user authentication requests and validate credentials against AD, allowing users to access multiple applications seamlessly after logging in just once.

Once this configuration is in place, Okta acts as the single point of authentication, streamlining user access to various applications. This step is fundamental because without delegating authentication to AD, users would not be able to leverage their existing AD credentials for SSO, which is the primary advantage of implementing this feature. The subsequent steps, such as updating user details and ensuring proper user software installation, depend on this first crucial configuration, reinforcing its importance in the SSO implementation process.