A frank look at where Platform SSO stands today, what's coming with macOS Tahoe 26, and the hard choices Mac administrators need to make
Picture this: It's Monday morning. An employee clicks on what looks like an important employment document, gets prompted for their credentials, and dutifully enters their username and password. Except it's not a legitimate document, it's a sophisticated phishing attack that just harvested their credentials.
This scenario plays out daily across organizations worldwide. The bad guys are getting better at being sophisticated with their attacks to get people to give up their passwords.
We tell users not to give their passwords to scammers, but it's getting harder to distinguish legitimate authentication prompts from malicious ones. The solution seems obvious: what if they don't have a password at all? Then they can't give it to scammers.
Welcome to the promise (and complexity) of Platform SSO.
The Current State of Platform SSO
Apple first introduced Platform SSO as part of an evolving strategy of helping Mac users obtain a single-sign on (SSO) token, in order to securely and conveniently access SSO-enabled apps and SSO-enabled websites.
Along the way, Mac admins got excited about a side-benefit of Platform SSO: it could sync the Mac local account password with the IdP account password.
Another exciting benefit was the ability for the Mac to create a local account directly from the login window, just by entering the user’s IdP credentials. Oh yeah, Platform SSO also had a secure enclave authentication method that we’ll come back to in the next section.
Platform SSO has been evolving since macOS Ventura (13), but let's be honest about what the experience looks like right now with available tools. The typical workflow for the password sync method (with all of the pieces that are available for macOS 15 today) involves:
- During Setup Assistant, providing IdP credentials to allow the Mac to be enrolled in a device management solution
- During Setup Assistant, creating a local Mac account
- Waiting for the device management solution to install app that includes the Platform SSO extension
- Waiting for a “Registration Required” banner notification to appear
- Hoping the user clicks the banner (because if they don't, nothing happens other than they’ll eventually see the banner again)
- Multiple authentication steps
- Eventually, password synchronization
For many organizations, that’s too many clicks—and too much left to chance.
And up until macOS 26, in order for the just-in-time user account creation feature of Platform SSO to work, the Mac must meet the following requirements:
- Have gone through Setup Assistant
- Have created a first local Mac account
- Have been enrolled in a device management solution that supports bootstrap token
- Be fully booted with macOS 14 or later
- Have FileVault unlocked
- Be at the login window
The Hard Choice: Two Paths, No Compromise
Here's where Platform SSO gets interesting and where Mac administrators must make a critical decision. There are two main authentication methods, which are fundamentally different, and you cannot use both simultaneously:
Method 1: Password with password synchronization
With the Password authentication method, you don’t have to sync passwords of local user accounts with the IdP, but that’s the main draw.
The appeal: It's familiar. Users understand passwords. It works with existing policies.
The reality: Microsoft's own documentation marks this method with a big red X for "passwordless phishing resistant." If you're syncing passwords, you're still vulnerable to phishing attacks.
Method 2: Secure Enclave-backed key
The user sets a Mac local password, which should not be the same as the IdP password. Platform SSO facilitates macOS generating a secure enclave-backed key, and facilitates using this to authenticate with the IdP—without a password. In practice the password can simply be a PIN that's backed by the Mac's secure enclave, similar to Touch ID on iPhones. The key to phishing-resistance is that the user should never be asked to provide their IdP password to authenticate to SSO-enabled apps or SSO-enabled sites.
The concern: Many Mac administrators initially recoil at PIN-based authentication. “No way is my Mac, which has all this access and all these secrets, going to have users signing in with just a PIN.”
The reality: The PIN is device-bound. Even if someone knows your PIN, it's useless without physical access to your specific device. Your iPhone and iPad likely have access to the same corporate resources as your Mac and you're comfortable with PIN authentication on those devices.
This is the path toward a truly passwordless future, but it requires a mindset shift.
What's Coming: The macOS Tahoe Promise
Apple has outlined ambitious improvements for the future macOS release, particularly around streamlining the out-of-box experience:
Integrated Setup Assistant
Instead of waiting until after device setup to configure Platform SSO, the Setup Assistant will have a dedicated pane. Users won't be able to proceed without authenticating with their IdP credentials. Before the user sees their desktop, they’ll accomplish the following during Setup Assistant:
- Register the device with the IdP
- Enroll the device with the device management solution
- Sign in with a federated Managed Apple Account
- Create the local user account
Authenticated Guest Mode
This feature could fundamentally change how organizations handle shared Mac computers. Users can walk up to any Mac, authenticate with their IdP credentials, and get an ephemeral session. When they log out, all their files are removed.
This is particularly valuable for healthcare, education, or construction environments where multiple users need quick access to shared devices. The question remains: how exactly are files removed? One administrator hopes Apple creates separate APFS volumes that are "obliterated" on logout rather than relying on slow file deletion commands.
But wait, what about phishing resistance? If you outfit your Mac with the appropriate NFC reader, and participate in the Apple Wallet Access Program, the Tap to Login feature will enable a user to tap their iPhone or Apple Watch to log in (no passwords!) and start an Authenticated Guest Mode session.
Bootstrap Token: The Technical Foundation
One piece of the magic behind these improvements is bootstrap token - a feature that allows device management solutions to obtain the bootstrap token before the first user login. This seemingly technical detail enables:
- Secure token creation without user interaction
- Kernel extension approval
- Silent software updates
- Support for Declarative Device Management (DDM)
- Most importantly: Platform SSO account creation at the login window
Bootstrap token requires Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager with Automated Device Enrollment but it's the foundation that makes the streamlined Platform SSO experience possible.
The Vendor Reality Check
Platform SSO's promise depends entirely on vendor support. Currently, there are two main options:
Microsoft: The Intune Company Portal supports Platform SSO and went to general availability in August 2024. However, this doesn't include support for the advanced features announced in 2025.
Okta: Offers Okta Device Access, which includes two apps - Desktop MFA and Desktop Password Sync. As the name suggests, Desktop Password Sync uses the password synchronization method. However, Oktane, Okta’s conference, is happening now, and admins will be listening intently for Okta to announce their plans to support the new features of Platform SSO.
Here's the frustrating part: neither solution currently supports the advanced Platform SSO features. Organizations interested in these capabilities will need to wait for vendor updates.
The Implementation Reality: What You Need to Know
FileVault Considerations
A new capability of macOS Tahoe allows SSH access to unlock FileVault using username and password (if Remote Login is enabled and a network connection is available). While convenient for data center environments with physical security, this seems to contradict passwordless goals. The feature appears designed for specific use cases rather than general deployment.
Timing Considerations
The reality is that you can't test advanced Platform SSO features today because they require coordinated support from your device management device solution and IdP vendors. Organizations interested in these capabilities should communicate their priorities to vendors. Vendor development follows customer demand.
Making the Decision: A Framework for Mac Administrators
When evaluating Platform SSO for your organization:
Start with your security posture: If password phishing is a significant concern, the secure enclave method aligns with long-term security goals, despite requiring user education.
Consider your device refresh cycle: If you're planning Mac refreshes in the next 12-18 months, you might wait for enhanced vendor support rather than implementing password sync as an interim measure.
Evaluate your user base: Organizations with users comfortable with mobile device PIN authentication may adapt more easily to secure enclave methods.
Assess vendor roadmaps: Engage with your device management and IdP vendors about Platform SSO support timelines.
What This Means For You
Platform SSO represents a significant step toward solving Mac authentication challenges, but it's not a magic bullet that immediately solves all problems. The technology is still maturing, vendor support is evolving, and organizations must make fundamental choices about authentication methods.
The passwordless future isn't quite here yet, but Platform SSO provides a clear path forward. The question isn't whether to adopt passwordless authentication. It's when and how to make the transition strategically.
For organizations ready to move forward, the secure enclave method offers the best alignment with long-term security goals. For those needing immediate improvements with minimal disruption, password sync provides a stepping stone though it doesn't deliver the full security benefits of passwordless authentication.
The choice is yours, but the direction is clear: away from phishable passwords and toward device-bound, secure authentication. Platform SSO is how we'll get there, eventually.