Azure SAML IDP Configuration for UnifyApps

This guide outlines configuring Azure as a SAML 2.0 Identity Provider (IdP) for Single Sign-On (SSO) with UnifyApps. You will need administrator access to your Azure organization.

The configuration process involves three main stages:

Step 1: Initial Configuration on UnifyApps

In this section, you will start the SAML configuration process on UnifyApps and obtain the necessary URLs that Azure will require.

1. Access Identity Provider Settings:

   • Navigate to Settings.

   • Select Security from the settings menu.

   • Under the "Identity Providers" section, click on + New Identity Provider

     
     

2. Basic Details & Service Provider Information:

   • Provider name: Enter a descriptive name for this configuration (e.g., Azure SAML).

   • Identity Provider: Select Microsoft Azure from the dropdown list.

   • Button Text: Specify the text that will appear on the SSO login button (e.g., Login using Azure).

   • Important: Note the following URLs. You will need these for the Azure application setup in Part 2.

     • Assertion Consumer Service URL (ACS URL): This is the endpoint on UnifyApps where Azure will send the SAML assertion. (Example: https://demo.uat.unifyapps.com/auth/sso/SAML/complete-login)

     • Service Provider Entity ID (SP Entity ID): This is the unique identifier for UnifyApps as the Service Provider. (Example: https://demo.uat.unifyapps.com/sso/saml)
       

       
       

Step 2: Configuring the SAML Application in Azure

Now, you will create and configure a new SAML 2.0 application in your Azure admin portal.

1. Create a New SAML App Integration:

   • Log in to your Azure Admin Portal.

   • In the side navigation menu, go to All services > Identity > Enterprise applications.
     

     
     

   • Click the New application button followed by Create your own application button.

   • In the "Create your own application" dialog, select Integrate any other application you don't find in the gallery (Non-gallery) and give a name to your application.

   • Click Create.
     

     
     

2. Configure SAML Settings:

   • Click on Set up single sign on and choose SAML.

   • Click on the edit button beside the Basic SAML Configuration and paste the Entity ID and the Assertion Consumer Service URL and click on Save button.
     

     
     

   • Now finally click on the edit button beside the SAML Certificates and choose the Signing Option as Sign SAML response and assertion and click on Save.

3. Attribute Statements (Crucial for User Data):

   • Click on the edit button beside the Attributes & Claims and add any custom attributes that you might want to send in the SAML Response(optional) and click on Save button. 
     

     
     

4. SAML Certificates:

   • Now finally click on the edit button beside the SAML Certificates and choose the Signing Option as Sign SAML response and assertion and click on Save button.
     

     
     

5. Obtain Azure Identity Provider Metadata:

   • Once the application is created, download the "Federation Metadata XML".
     

     
     

   • Open the downloaded XML file in Chrome or a text editor.

   • Copy the entire content of this XML page. This is Azure’s SAML metadata.
     

     
     

6. Assign Users and Groups (Essential for Access):

   • While still in the Azure application settings, navigate to the Users and groups tab.

   • Assign the relevant Azure users or groups who should be granted access to UnifyApps via this SSO configuration. Users not assigned here will be unable to log in.
     

     
     

Step 3: Finalizing Configuration in UnifyApps

Return to the UnifyApps IdP configuration page you left open.

1. Paste Azure Metadata:

   • Paste the entire Federation Metadata XML in the Metadata Content field.

2. Additional Settings (Optional):

   • User Attributes Sync: Enable if you wish to map custom attributes from Azure to user fields within UnifyApps.

   • JIT Provisioning (Just-In-Time Provisioning): Enable to automatically create user accounts when they first log in via Azure.

   • Enable Refresh Token: Configure according to your organization's session management requirements.

   • If you enable User Attributes Sync, proceed to the Attribute Mapping section. Here, you will map User Fields to the SAML Attributes that will be sent by Azure (e.g., mapping a userType_custom_attribute field to a SAML attribute named persona).
     

     
     

3. Click the Save and turn on the toggle for the IdP.