Techniques for using a single sign-on (SSO) service as a software defined networking (SDN) controller for a virtual private network environment. The techniques disclosed herein may include receiving, at a first authentication service, first data including a first request to authenticate a user of a client device to access an application. The techniques may also include sending, to the client device, second data representing a second request configured to prompt a second authentication service to authenticate the user of the client device. Additionally, the first authentication service may receive an indication that the user was authenticated by the second authentication service and determine, based at least in part on an attribute associated with at least one of the client device or the application, whether the client device is to access the application using an unsecured connection or, alternatively, access the application using a secured connection.