Gathering authentic workplace sentiment is the backbone of modern HR. From 30-day onboarding check-ins to annual engagement pulses, Employee Experience (EX) lifecycle surveys capture some of the most sensitive qualitative and quantitative data within your entire enterprise.
Yet, historically, employee feedback operated on fragile security foundations like generic open links or unverified email invitations. In today’s cybersecurity landscape, a single compromised feedback link can lead to data leaks or corrupted workplace sentiment analytics.
That is why treating EX data as an afterthought is no longer an option. We are thrilled to introduce Single Sign-On for EX Surveys, a powerful new feature that enables organizations to wrap an enterprise-grade security perimeter around every single employee touchpoint.
Whether you are evaluating dedicated Employee Experience Software or looking to standardize your broader enterprise survey software, secure access is now a non-negotiable requirement.
Why is Survey Security a Top Enterprise Priority?
Data security is usually associated with customer data or financial records, but employee sentiment data is just as critical. When surveys are distributed via standard public links, anyone with the URL can theoretically submit a response or inspect your survey’s structure.
If a link is forwarded outside the organization, or if an offboarded employee retains access to a generic link, your data integrity is compromised. HR and Security operations are increasingly shifting toward a zero-trust model for workforce feedback to prevent unauthorized access and ensure pristine data quality.
What is Single Sign-On for EX Surveys?
Single Sign-On (SSO) for EX Surveys allows your organization to delegate identity verification directly to your enterprise Identity Provider (IdP). We currently support major providers like Okta and Microsoft Azure AD (Microsoft Entra ID).
Instead of relying on static links, employees must authenticate through their existing corporate credentials before submitting feedback. This establishes a seamless, verified connection between the employee taking the survey and your corporate directory.
By integrating SAML 2.0 Single Sign-On with QuestionPro, you create a strict access gate. If an individual is not an active, verified employee logged into your organization’s secure network, they simply cannot access or complete the survey.
You can even pass custom user metadata (such as department, region, or business unit) safely via XML assertions from your IdP straight into your survey analytics. This eliminates the need to ask employees to manually re-enter their demographic details.
How Does SSO Protect Offboarded Employee Data?
When an employee leaves the company, your IT team revokes their access at the identity provider level. Because QuestionPro survey authentication is tied directly to your enterprise IdP, offboarded staff are instantly and automatically locked out of all active EX survey links.
This immediate revocation eliminates the risk of post-exit survey tampering, ensuring that only active workforce members can submit response data.
How Can SSO Actually Improve Response Rates?
It is a common misconception that adding security creates friction. With SSO enabled, security actually improves the user experience.
Employees no longer need to remember separate portal passwords, track down unique access PINs, or worry about losing their specific survey link. One-click corporate authentication seamlessly transitions them into the survey. Furthermore, any Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) protocols enforced by your IT team automatically protect the survey interaction without adding unfamiliar steps.
How Do You Set Up Single Sign-On via Okta?
Configuring Okta as your Identity Provider for QuestionPro takes just a few steps.
1. Copy the Okta Metadata URL: From your Okta Admin Console.
Go to your existing QuestionPro application in your Okta account. Navigate to the Sign On tab and copy the Metadata URL.
2. Upload to QuestionPro Account Settings:
Log in to QuestionPro and navigate to User Profile >> My Account >> SSO Authentication. Upload the metadata file. The system will automatically fetch and populate the “Single Sign-On URL” field.
3. Configure Custom Attributes (Optional):
In Okta, under the Configure SAML tab, define any additional employee attributes you want to pass to the survey (like department or location) so they append to the survey response automatically.
4. Enable SSO on Your Survey:
Navigate to your specific EX survey. Go to Settings >> Security. You will see a new authentication option named (Organization Name) SAML. Select it and click Save Changes.
How Do You Set Up Single Sign-On via Microsoft Azure AD?
If your organization uses Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), the setup involves mapping your SAML configuration to QuestionPro.
1. Create a New Enterprise Application: Inside the Azure Portal.
Log in to your Azure portal, navigate to Microsoft Entra ID, and create a new Enterprise application. Open the app and select Set up single sign-on using SAML.
2. Edit Basic SAML Configuration:
Click the pencil icon. Under Identifier (Entity ID), add [https://www.questionpro.com/saml2](https://www.questionpro.com/saml2). Paste the ACS URL from your QuestionPro account into the Reply URL field, then save.
3. Map Attributes and Claims:
Click to edit Attributes and Claims. Add a new claim with the Name emailAddress and set the Source attribute to user mail. Save your changes.
4. Download the Certificate and URLs:
Scroll down to SAML Certificates and download the Certificate (Base64). Copy the Login URL, Microsoft Entra Identifier, and Logout URL.
5. Configure QuestionPro Manual Settings:
In QuestionPro, go to User Profile >> My Account >> SSO Authentication. Select SAML (Signed) and choose Manual Settings. Paste your Entra Identifier (Issuer), Login URL, and Logout URL. Upload the Base64 certificate and click Save.
6. Assign Users and Test:
Back in Azure, assign the application to your target users/groups under the “Manage” tab. Use the “Test” button in Azure to verify you are logged directly into your QuestionPro account.
By implementing SAML 2.0 Single Sign-On for your EX surveys, you eliminate security vulnerabilities while making feedback participation effortless for your workforce. Building a secure, trust-first employee experience strategy has never been easier.
