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Tutorial: Microsoft Entra integration with SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH

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In this tutorial, you'll learn how to integrate SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH with Microsoft Entra ID. When you integrate SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH with Microsoft Entra ID, you can:

  • Control in Microsoft Entra ID who has access to SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH.
  • Enable your users to be automatically signed-in to SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH with their Microsoft Entra accounts.
  • Manage your accounts in one central location.

Prerequisites

To get started, you need the following items:

  • A Microsoft Entra subscription. If you don't have a subscription, you can get a free account.
  • SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH single sign-on (SSO) enabled subscription.

Scenario description

In this tutorial, you configure and test Microsoft Entra single sign-on in a test environment.

  • SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH supports SP and IDP initiated SSO.

Note

Identifier of this application is a fixed string value so only one instance can be configured in one tenant.

To configure the integration of SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH into Microsoft Entra ID, you need to add SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH from the gallery to your list of managed SaaS apps.

  1. Sign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center as at least a Cloud Application Administrator.
  2. Browse to Identity > Applications > Enterprise applications > New application.
  3. In the Add from the gallery section, type SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH in the search box.
  4. Select SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH from results panel and then add the app. Wait a few seconds while the app is added to your tenant.

Alternatively, you can also use the Enterprise App Configuration Wizard. In this wizard, you can add an application to your tenant, add users/groups to the app, assign roles, as well as walk through the SSO configuration as well. Learn more about Microsoft 365 wizards.

Configure and test Microsoft Entra SSO for SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH

Configure and test Microsoft Entra SSO with SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH using a test user called B.Simon. For SSO to work, you need to establish a link relationship between a Microsoft Entra user and the related user in SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH.

To configure and test Microsoft Entra SSO with SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH, perform the following steps:

  1. Configure Microsoft Entra SSO - to enable your users to use this feature.
    1. Create a Microsoft Entra test user - to test Microsoft Entra single sign-on with B.Simon.
    2. Assign the Microsoft Entra test user - to enable B.Simon to use Microsoft Entra single sign-on.
  2. Configure SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH SSO - to configure the single sign-on settings on application side.
    1. Create SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH test user - to have a counterpart of B.Simon in SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH that is linked to the Microsoft Entra representation of user.
  3. Test SSO - to verify whether the configuration works.

Configure Microsoft Entra SSO

Follow these steps to enable Microsoft Entra SSO.

  1. Sign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center as at least a Cloud Application Administrator.

  2. Browse to Identity > Applications > Enterprise applications > SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH > Single sign-on.

  3. On the Select a single sign-on method page, select SAML.

  4. On the Set up single sign-on with SAML page, click the pencil icon for Basic SAML Configuration to edit the settings.

    Edit Basic SAML Configuration

  5. In the Basic SAML Configuration section, if you wish to configure the application in the IDP initiated mode, then perform the following steps:

    a. In the Identifier text box, type a URL using the following pattern: https://<server-base-url>/plugins/servlet/samlsso

    b. In the Reply URL text box, type a URL using the following pattern: https://<server-base-url>/plugins/servlet/samlsso

    c. Click Set additional URLs and perform the following step, if you wish to configure the application in the SP initiated mode:

    In the Sign-on URL text box, type a URL using the following pattern: https://<server-base-url>/plugins/servlet/samlsso

    Note

    For the Identifier, Reply URL and Sign-on URL, substitute <server-base-url> with the base URL of your Jira instance. You can also refer to the patterns shown in the Basic SAML Configuration section. If you have a problem, contact us at SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH Client support team.

  6. On the Set up Single Sign-On with SAML page, in the SAML Signing Certificate section, download the Federation Metadata XML and save it to your computer.

    The Certificate download link

Create a Microsoft Entra test user

In this section, you'll create a test user called B.Simon.

  1. Sign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center as at least a User Administrator.
  2. Browse to Identity > Users > All users.
  3. Select New user > Create new user, at the top of the screen.
  4. In the User properties, follow these steps:
    1. In the Display name field, enter B.Simon.
    2. In the User principal name field, enter the [email protected]. For example, [email protected].
    3. Select the Show password check box, and then write down the value that's displayed in the Password box.
    4. Select Review + create.
  5. Select Create.

Assign the Microsoft Entra test user

In this section, you'll enable B.Simon to use single sign-on by granting access to SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH.

  1. Sign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center as at least a Cloud Application Administrator.
  2. Browse to Identity > Applications > Enterprise applications > SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH.
  3. In the app's overview page, select Users and groups.
  4. Select Add user/group, then select Users and groups in the Add Assignment dialog.
    1. In the Users and groups dialog, select B.Simon from the Users list, then click the Select button at the bottom of the screen.
    2. If you are expecting a role to be assigned to the users, you can select it from the Select a role dropdown. If no role has been set up for this app, you see "Default Access" role selected.
    3. In the Add Assignment dialog, click the Assign button.

Configure SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH SSO

  1. In a different web browser window, sign in to your Jira instance as an administrator.

  2. Hover over the cog at the right side and click Manage apps.

    Screenshot that shows an arrow pointing at the "Cog" icon, and "Manage apps" selected from the drop-down.

  3. If you are redirected to Administrator Access page, enter the Password and click the Confirm button.

    Screenshot that shows the "Administrator Access" page.

  4. Jira normally redirects you to the Atlassian marketplace. If not, click on Find new apps in the left panel. Search for SAML Single Sign On (SSO) for JIRA and click the Install button to install the SAML plugin.

    Screenshot that shows the "Atlassian Marketplace for JIRA" page with an arrow pointing at the "Install" button for the "S A M L Single Sign On (S S O) Jira, S A M L/S S O" app.

  5. The plugin installation will start. When it's done, click the Close button.

    Screenshot that shows the "Installing" dialog.

    Screenshot that shows the "Installed and ready to go!" dialog with the "Close" button selected.

  6. Then, click Manage.

  7. Afterwards, click Configure to configure the just installed plugin.

    Screenshot that shows the "Manage apps" page, with the "Configure" button selected for the "S A M L SingleSignOn for Jira" app.

  8. In the SAML SingleSignOn Plugin Configuration wizard, click Add new IdP to configure Microsoft Entra ID as a new Identity Provider.

    Screenshot shows the "Welcome" page, with the "Add new I d P" button selected.

  9. On the Choose your SAML Identity Provider page, perform the following steps:

    Screenshot that shows the "Choose your S A M L Identity Provider" page with the "I d P Type" and "Name" text boxes highlighted, and the "Next" button selected.

    a. Set Microsoft Entra ID as the IdP type.

    b. Add the Name of the Identity Provider (such as Microsoft Entra ID).

    c. Add an (optional) Description of the Identity Provider (such as Microsoft Entra ID).

    d. Click Next.

  10. On the Identity provider configuration page, click Next.

  11. On Import SAML IdP Metadata page, perform the following steps:

    Screenshot that shows the "Import S A M L I d P Metadata" page with the "Select Metadata X M L File" action selected.

    a. Click the Select Metadata XML File button and pick the Federation Metadata XML file you downloaded before.

    b. Click the Import button.

    c. Wait briefly until the import succeeds.

    d. Click the Next button.

  12. On User ID attribute and transformation page, click the Next button.

    Screenshot that shows the "User I D attribute and transformation" page with the "Next" button selected.

  13. On the User creation and update page, click Save & Next to save the settings.

    Screenshot that shows the "User creation and update" page with the "Save & Next" button selected.

  14. On the Test your settings page, click Skip test & configure manually to skip the user test for now. This will be performed in the next section and requires some settings.

    Screenshot that shows the "Test your settings" page with the "Skip test & configure manually" button selected.

  15. Click OK to skip the warning.

    Screenshot that shows the warning dialog with the "O K" button selected.

Create SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH test user

To enable Microsoft Entra users to sign in to SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH, they must be provisioned into SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH. For the case of this tutorial, you have to do the provisioning by hand. However, there are also other provisioning models available for the SAML SSO plugin by resolution, for example Just In Time provisioning. Refer to their documentation at SAML SSO by resolution GmbH. If you have a question about it, contact support at resolution support.

To manually provision a user account, perform the following steps:

  1. Sign in to Jira instance as an administrator.

  2. Hover over the cog and select User management.

    Screenshot that shows an arrow pointing at the "Cog" icon with "User management" selected from the drop-down.

  3. If you are redirected to the Administrator Access page, then enter the Password and click the Confirm button.

    Screenshot that shows the "Administrator Access" page with the "Password" textbox highlighted.

  4. Under the User management tab section, click create user.

    Screenshot that shows the "User management" tab with the "Create user" button selected.

  5. On the “Create new user” dialog page, perform the following steps. You have to create the user exactly like in Microsoft Entra ID:

    Add Employee

    a. In the Email address textbox, type the email address of the user: [email protected].

    b. In the Full Name textbox, type full name of the user: Britta Simon.

    c. In the Username textbox, type the email address of the user: [email protected].

    d. In the Password textbox, enter the password of the user.

    e. Click Create user to finish the user creation.

Test SSO

In this section, you test your Microsoft Entra single sign-on configuration with following options.

SP initiated:

  • Click on Test this application, this will redirect to SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH Sign on URL where you can initiate the login flow.

  • Go to SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH Sign-on URL directly and initiate the login flow from there.

IDP initiated:

  • Click on Test this application, and you should be automatically signed in to the SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH for which you set up the SSO.

You can also use Microsoft My Apps to test the application in any mode. When you click the SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH tile in the My Apps, if configured in SP mode you would be redirected to the application sign on page for initiating the login flow and if configured in IDP mode, you should be automatically signed in to the SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH for which you set up the SSO. For more information about the My Apps, see Introduction to the My Apps.

Enable SSO redirection for Jira

As noted in the section before, there are currently two ways to trigger the single sign-on. Either by using the Azure portal or using a special link to your Jira instance. The SAML SSO plugin by resolution GmbH also allows you to trigger single sign-on by simply accessing any URL pointing to your Jira instance.

In essence, all users accessing Jira will be redirected to the single sign-on after activating an option in the plugin.

To activate SSO redirect, do the following in your Jira instance:

  1. Access the configuration page of the SAML SSO plugin in Jira.

  2. Click on Redirection in the left panel.

  3. Tick Enable SSO Redirect.

    Partial screenshot of the Jira SAML SingleSignOn Plugin Configuration page highlighting the selected "Enable SSO Redirect" check box.

  4. Press the Save Settings button in the top right corner.

After activating the option, you can still reach the username/password prompt if the Enable nosso option is ticked by navigating to https://<server-base-url>/login.jsp?nosso. As always, substitute <server-base-url> with your base URL.

Next steps

Once you configure SAML SSO for Jira by resolution GmbH you can enforce session control, which protects exfiltration and infiltration of your organization’s sensitive data in real time. Session control extends from Conditional Access. Learn how to enforce session control with Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps.