Cognism supports multiple authentication methods, depending on how your organisation manages user identities.
There are two ways to authenticate with Cognism:
Social Login
Cognism supports authentication through:
- Microsoft
When you select one of these options, Cognism delegates authentication to your Microsoft or Google account.
Note: This may require additional set up by your IT team.
Organisation SSO (Custom SAML)
Organisations can also configure a custom SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) integration with Cognism.
This option is intended for organisations that have configured a dedicated SAML connection.
Supported Identity Providers
Organization SSO can be configured with a variety of Identity Providers (IdPs), including:
- Microsoft Entra ID
- Okta
Other SAML 2.0 compliant Identity Providers
Note: Organisations using Microsoft Entra ID or Okta may authenticate either through the Microsoft login button or through Organisation SSO, depending on how their administrator has configured their Cognism authentication. If you're unsure which option to use, contact your IT administrator.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Cognism does not provide or manage Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) directly.
Instead, MFA is enforced through your organisation's Single Sign-On (SSO) configuration.
Administrators can configure one of Cognism's supported authentication methods, such as:
- Microsoft Sign-In
- Google Sign-In
- Organisation SSO (Custom SAML)
Once SSO is configured, your identity provider (for example, Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, Google Workspace, or another SAML-compliant provider) can require users to complete Multi-Factor Authentication before they are granted access to Cognism.
This means MFA policies—including registration, authentication methods, conditional access, and enforcement—are managed entirely by your organisation's identity provider, not within Cognism.
How do I enable MFA?
Only your organization's IT or Identity Administrator can enable or modify MFA by configuring policies within your identity provider.