Must the Okta username format be an email address for a company using Desktop SSO to sync passwords to SWA applications?

The correct answer is that the Okta username format does not have to be an email address for a company using Desktop SSO to sync passwords to SWA (Secure Web Authentication) applications.

In the context of Okta and Desktop SSO, username formats can be flexible. While many organizations choose to use email addresses as usernames for consistency and ease of user management, Okta allows for different formats. This flexibility means that usernames can be simple alphanumeric strings or any custom format that meets the organization's needs.

Using an email address as a username is common because it is easily recognizable and typically unique. However, opting for a different format can also work effectively, especially in cases where an organization may want to eliminate the dependency on email addresses for user identification — for instance, in systems where usernames are tied to internal IDs or employee numbers.

This understanding is crucial for administrators because it allows them to define a username policy that aligns with their organization's preferences and operational requirements, rather than being restricted to using email addresses exclusively.