How to restrict access to specific users?

Do you publish flipbooks that should only be accessible to a specific group of people? If so, there are two FlippingBook Online solutions that can be useful for you:

• Email/domain authorization
• Single Sign-on (SSO) authorization

Note! Email/domain authorization is available starting from FlippingBook Online Advanced and higher while SSO authorization is available starting from the Enterprise plan.

Using these authorization options you can set up a group of authorized users so only the people in that group can open your flipbook links, and nobody else. For example, they can be helpful when you create:

• Financial Reports: Make them available to management only.
• Corporate Newsletters: Limit access to all employees.
• Confidential Documentation: Restrict access to engineers and selected customers.

 Let’s compare both options to help you choose the best one for your needs.

Email/domain authorization

If you want your flipbooks to be available for certain emails or domains (e.g., all addresses ending in @yourcompany.com), this option is for you. Once you switch it on and open the flipbook link, we start to check if the user with an email address/domain exists, has already been authenticated, and is authorized to see this book.

Email/domain authorization is easy to set up and will not require any technical knowledge to make it work. However, you will need to enter a six-digits code if you open a flipbook for the first time. The image below shows how your reader can open the flipbook in this case:

Pros and Cons of Email/Domain Authorization:

Pros:
Easy Setup: No technical expertise required to configure.
Flexible: You can create different access groups for each flipbook.

Cons:
Re-authentication Every 30 Days: Readers must enter the code each time they access the flipbook after 30 days.
Potential Email Issues: The authorization code email could be delayed, lost, or end up in the spam folder.
Less Secure: Users might forward the authorization code to others.

For more details, refer to our guide on Restricting Access to Authorized Emails or Domains.

Single Sign-on (SSO) authorization

To make this option work you should set up a group of SSO users and restrict access to your flipbook to that group in your account. Every time someone opens the link to your flipbook, we automatically check with your SSO system such as Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, or Google Workspace if the user exists, has already been authenticated, and is authorized to see this book.

With this setup, readers do not need to enter an authorization code. Once they open the link, the flipbook will open automatically if they are part of the authorized group and have already signed in.

Pros and Cons of SSO Authorization:

Pros:

High Security: More secure than email/domain authorization.
Seamless Experience: Readers do not need to authenticate every time if they are already signed in.
Scalable: Once set up, it’s easy to apply to other flipbooks.

Cons:

Requires IT Setup: SSO setup requires collaboration with your IT team.
Limited Access Groups: You can only define one access group for each flipbook.
Group Changes: Any changes to the access group must be managed through your SSO system.

For more details about restricting access with SSO, check our articles below:

• How to restrict access to SSO users?
• Restricting access to SSO users in-depth