SAML · IT administrator guide

Shibboleth unsolicited

Connect your organization's Shibboleth unsolicited identity provider to the application you're connecting. An IT administrator completes this setup once. Individual users don't configure SSO.

Before you start

Open the setup link in the invitation email we sent you, or the application setup URL we provided. Follow any sign-in instructions and check that the portal is for the correct application, organization, and environment.

  • A setup invitation for your organization's IT administrator.
  • Administrator access to your identity provider and authority to assign users.
  • A test user who should have access to the application.
  • ACS URL and SP Entity ID shown in your setup portal.
Copy from setup portal

ACS URL and SP Entity ID shown in your setup portal

Enter into setup portal

IdP metadata XML file

Keep your setup portal open

The portal provides the connection-specific values and current setup steps. This page is a supporting reference. Follow the portal if the steps differ. Connection URLs may use an authentication service domain rather than our website's domain. Copy them exactly and keep test and production settings separate.

Treat your setup link as private. Share it only with authorized IT administrators. If it has expired or setup is already complete, contact us for the appropriate access.

Configure Shibboleth unsolicited

Follow the provider instructions in your setup portal first. Use the steps below as a reference. Screenshots show example settings, not your connection values. Provider screens may differ by version or license.

  1. Confirm the unsolicited SSO requirement

    Use this guide only when your Shibboleth deployment requires UnsolicitedSSOConfiguration. Ask us to select the matching connection type and confirm the supported sign-in entry point. Otherwise use the Shibboleth generic guide.

  2. Register the service provider

    Configure the SP metadata shown in your setup portal, or enter its ACS URL and SP Entity ID manually. Have your Shibboleth administrator configure unsolicited SSO for this relying party according to your deployment's policy. Don't disable signature validation.

  3. Configure attribute release

    Include the outgoing attributes below in the SAML Attribute Statement. Configure the attribute resolver and filter policy for your directory and restrict access to the intended users.

  4. Export identity provider metadata

    Download the IdP metadata XML for your Shibboleth deployment. Keep the file to upload in your setup portal and coordinate a test of the approved unsolicited sign-in flow.

Attribute mapping

The left column is the outgoing claim name. The right column is its source value in your identity provider.
Outgoing claim or attribute Source value
id Stable unique user identifier
email User email address
firstName User first name
lastName User last name

Match attribute names and capitalization exactly. Confirm the values are populated for your test user.

Save the connection in the setup portal

Return to the same setup portal you opened from your setup invitation. Enter or upload the provider details it requests:

  • IdP metadata XML file.

Save the configuration and follow the portal's prompts. You do not need to email these details to us. If a required field or upload is missing, stop and contact us rather than sending credentials through another channel.

Keep credentials private

Upload identity provider metadata or the public signing certificate requested by the portal. Never upload or send your SAML signing private key.

These documentation pages do not collect credentials or create connections. Complete setup in your organization's private setup portal.

Test before rollout

  • After saving the connection, use the setup portal's Test sign-in action when available. Sign in with the assigned test user and check the result.
  • Also test the actual application sign-in in a private browser window. A successful portal test does not confirm application membership or permissions.
  • Confirm the correct organization and identity provider appear.
  • Confirm sign-in returns to the intended application with the correct email and account.
  • Confirm the user has the expected application permissions. Authentication alone does not grant application roles.
  • Check that a user who should not have access cannot enter the application.
  • Agree on rollout and a recovery access method before requiring SSO for everyone.

If the portal requests domain verification, have your DNS administrator add the exact record shown there. Complete the required verification and testing before enforcing SSO. Contact us if you cannot complete a required step.

Troubleshooting

The setup link has expired or no longer opens

Contact us for a fresh invitation or the appropriate management access. Do not forward your private setup link or include it in a support ticket.

The provider rejects the redirect, reply URL, or audience

Compare the configured values with the exact connection details shown in your setup portal. Check the protocol, path, trailing slash, and environment. Don't substitute the application homepage for the authentication callback.

The user isn't assigned or access is denied

Confirm the user or group assignment and the provider's access policy. Also check your organization membership and application permissions with us. For Google Workspace, access changes can take up to 24 hours.

Email or name information is missing

Check the mapped fields for the test user and the outgoing attribute names. For OIDC, check the ID token claims. Ask us to validate the identity response through our secure diagnostics process.

Sign-in fails after a certificate or secret change

Check expiration dates and whether the connection has the updated metadata, public signing certificate, or client credential. Coordinate rotation before replacing a credential used by a live connection.

Can groups assign application roles automatically?

Only configure group claims after we confirm the application's role-mapping support and the intended mappings. Sending groups alone doesn't grant application permissions. Don't assume a group named Admin will receive administrator access.

Need a hand?

Send us your provider name, application, organization, environment, and the time and error code from the failed sign-in. Don't include passwords, client secrets, private keys, tokens, private setup links, or raw SAML responses.

Contact us