Why a Single Source of Truth Is Essential for IT

In IT, data sprawl isn’t just inconvenient. It’s dangerous. When employee data lives in multiple systems that don’t talk to each other, errors, inefficiencies, and security gaps become inevitable. That’s where a Single Source of Truth (SSOT) becomes essential.

What is a Single Source of Truth (SSOT)?

SSOT means all core data about your users (identity, access, department, location, employment status) flows from one central, authoritative system. No duplicates. No conflicting values. No guesswork.

It’s incredibly common for teams to believe their system is the source of truth. In reality, this varies by organization and often depends on where your onboarding flow starts and what data points matter most to your workflows.

Why SSOT Actually Matters

A true SSOT lends itself to major benefits:

• Consistent, accurate data across systems

• Lower administrative burden from fewer manual processes

• Faster time-to-productivity for new hires with instant access to devices, email, Salesforce, and other tools

• Stronger compliance and audit trails to track onboarding and stay ahead of regulations

• Better data integrity and security with clearer access controls and permissioning

New hires will absolutely compare your onboarding process to their last one. If someone starts without access to what they need, that experience sticks.

Where SSOT Breaks Down in Most Setups

Most companies use a patchwork of tools. An HRIS for employee data. Active Directory for authentication. Another tool for software provisioning. Without deep integration, these tools fall out of sync. And when systems are misaligned, risk creeps in.

Here’s what starts to go wrong:

• A terminated contractor still has access to key systems

• A promotion doesn't trigger the right permissions

• A new hire shows up on Day 1 with no email or device

I've lived this firsthand. HR and IT were totally siloed. HR rolled out Workday without integrating it into the broader IT stack. We brought in an SSO provider to connect Workday to OneLogin and Active Directory to enable account provisioning. We paid $10,000 for professional services to get the connection working. It still broke every couple of weeks. New hires would constantly show up missing access.

How Rippling IAM Solves This

Rippling’s Identity & Access Management (IAM) is built with SSOT at the core. Because the platform is natively connected to your HR system, you never have to ask who someone is or what they should have access to. It’s already mapped and automated.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• Role-based provisioning: As soon as someone is hired or changes roles, Rippling dynamically grants access based on attributes like title, department, and location

• Instant deprovisioning: When someone leaves, their accounts and credentials are revoked automatically, with no need to open a ticket

• End-to-end audit trails: Every access change is tied to a unified profile and fully timestamped for easier audits

SSOT isn’t a buzzword. It’s the foundation for secure, scalable IT operations. Without it, you’re constantly reacting. With it, you can finally get ahead.