Self-Service SSO with a SAML-based IdP

This guide walks through configuring a generic SAML-based identity provider (IdP) for use with Apollo SSO. If you use Okta or Microsoft Entra ID as your IdP, instead see the corresponding guide for your IdP:

• Okta
• Microsoft Entra ID (formerly known as Azure Active Directory)

Migration notes

To migrate from a legacy configuration, a GraphOS Org Admin must create a new SSO configuration. You can create a new configuration while the legacy configuration continues to provide SSO for your organization.

The GraphOS setup wizard takes you through the configuration process, step-by-step. It won't let you activate your new configuration until it has confirmed that you're able to sign in with it.

Once the new configuration is verified and active, you should remove any legacy configurations from your IdP.

Prerequisites

Setup requires:

• Administrative access to your IdP
• A GraphOS user account with the Org Admin role

Setup

SAML-based SSO setup has these steps:

1. Enter your SSO details in GraphOS Studio.
2. Create a custom application for GraphOS in your IdP.
3. Share your application's SAML metadata in GraphOS Studio.
4. Verify and configure OIDC details.
5. Verify your SSO configuration works.
6. Enable SSO in GraphOS Studio.

The SSO setup wizard in GraphOS Studio guides you through these steps.

Step 1. Enter your SSO details

1. Go to GraphOS Studio. Open the Settings page from the top navigation. Open the Security tab from the left sidebar and click Migrate SSO. A setup wizard appears.
2. Enter the Email domain(s) you are setting SSO up for. Click Continue.
3. Select SAML as the SSO type. Click Continue.

Step 2. Create a custom application

1. Once you reach Step 2: Configure Your IdP in the wizard, open your IdP's admin dashboard in a separate browser tab.

2. Create a new application. While doing so, set the following values:

   • App Name: Apollo GraphOS
   • Logo: Apollo logo (optional)

3. If your IdP permits it, upload the SAML XML metadata file provided by the GraphOS setup wizard. Otherwise, manually enter the following metadata values in your IdP:

   • Set your Single Sign-on URL or ACS URL to the Single Sign-on URL provided by the wizard. You can also use this value for the following fields:

     • Recipient
     • ACS (Consumer) URL Validator
     • ACS (Consumer) URL

   • Set your Entity ID to the Entity ID value provided by the wizard.

4. Set the following user attributes:

   • sub: user.email
     • The sub attribute should uniquely identify any particular user to GraphOS. In most cases, user.email or user.mail provides this unique mapping.
   • email: Your IdP's email attribute, often something like user.email
   • given_name: Your IdP's first name attribute, often something like user.firstName
   • family_name: Your IdP's last name attribute,often something like user.lastName

5. Save the configuration in your IdP.

6. In the GraphOS setup wizard, select whether your IdP requires signing an AuthnRequest.

7. Click Next.

Step 3. Share SAML metadata with Apollo

In the GraphOS setup wizard, enter your application's metadata URL or metadata file. Consult your IdP's documentation if you need assistance finding it. Click Next.

Step 4. Verify details

The GraphOS Studio setup wizard populates your SSO metadata based on the URL you entered in the last step. Verify the values are correct. Consult your IdP's documentation if you need assistance finding them.

Once you've verified the values or corrected them, click Next.

Step 5. Verify SSO Configuration

To verify that your SSO configuration works, click Login with new SSO in the GraphOS Studio wizard. This button launches a new login session in a new browser tab. Once you successfully login using your new configuration, click Next.

Step 6. Enable SSO

Assign users in your IdP

Once your SSO setup is live, assign users to your new Apollo GraphOS application in your IdP. Consult your IdP documentation if necessary. For help assigning the relevant groups and users, contact your SSO or Identity & Access Management team.

Legacy setup