Intel has launched a closed beta of Intel Cloud SSO, its single sign-on offering built on the Force.com PaaS cloud and providing access and identity management to the entire suite of Salesforce.com cloud applications.

The official press release on Intel Cloud SSO is uncharacteristically terse, but highlights how the SSO is achieved via a “personalized portal.” The service includes mobile two-factor authentication, user account provisioning/de-provisioning, identity lifecycle management and integration with the McAfee Cloud Security Platform.

Right now, as I mentioned, it’s in closed beta, but general availability is scheduled for the second quarter of 2012. Intel is a big proponent of the idea that identity and trust is a huge hurdle to cloud adoption — which is why Intel Cloud ExpressWay, the chip giant’s first SSO offering, launched around this time in 2011.

There are other players in the cloud SSO arena, but can cloud ISVs stand up to an Intel/Salesforce.com team? Stay tuned to TalkinCloud to find out.