re:solution vs Atlassian Data Center SAML SSO
Spot Every Difference
resolution’s SAML SSO offers endless options to customize your configuration, while Atlassian’s preinstalled SSO is a one-size-fits-all.
But don’t take our word for it – the truth is in the details.
Use this guide to explore how you can solve your specific needs and make the best decision for your Data Center environments.
Table of Contents
I cannot express enough how much I appreciate how much heavy lifting these scripts do, but our team is only 2 people, and we manage 6 prod instances completely end-to-end (Tier 1-4) for ~5000 users. You enable a tiny team to deliver big things.
1. Setup
Guided Configuration
resolution DC SAML SSO
- Easily configure your SAML SSO, guided by setup wizard
- Identity Specific guides for major providers
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
Manual configuration only, without IdP specific guides
Setting up IdP via Metadata
resolution DC SAML SSO
- Reload Metadata automatically based on a configurable interval to avoid interruptions due to expired certificates
- SAML IdPs with HTTP POST and REDIRECT bindings are supported
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
- Metadata is not supported
- Certificates must be modified manually after expiration
- Only SAML IdPs with HTTP POST binding are supported
Single Logout
resolution DC SAML SSO
- Ability to logout user from IdP and other Applications when logging out of the Atlassian applications
- Ability to honor logout requests from IdP when the user logged out of other application
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
- Not supported
- Logout only terminates the Atlassian session
- Logging out from IdP or via IdP does not close the Atlassian applications (potential security risk)
2. Additional Login Protocols
OpenID Connect (OIDC)
resolution DC SAML SSO
- Presets for the IdPs
- Automatic metadata url
- Fully compatible with User Sync Provisioning or Just in Time
- Supports Single Logout
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
- Metadata is fetched from the resource url
- Only compatible with Just in Time provisioning
Social Login
resolution DC SAML SSO
With social login, big projects can be open to the public and anybody can join them using their existing social identities
- Social logins with Atlassian Cloud, facebook, Linkedin, github, and Apple
- OAuth2 logins can be connected
- Enable Just in Time provisioning with a custom button
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
Not provided
3. User Provisioning
Choose User Creation & Update Method
resolution DC SAML SSO
3 methods for provisioning users:
Read More
- Just-in-Time (JiT) Provisioning Creating the User based on values from the SAML-response during login.
- User Sync-Connector Synchronize individual users as they login or synchronize entire directories ahead of time. Supports filtering options.
- Hybrid – Update with the User Sync connector and apply SAML attributes Can combine the best of both worlds – information from User Sync & from the SAML response
Read More
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
- Update/Create a user with Just-in-Time provisioning
- Search user account by Username only
Attribute mapping & transformation for users and groups
resolution DC SAML SSO
- Map and match any IdP attribute to any local attribute into Confluence Profiles, including for example location or phone
- Attributes can be modified ( “transformed”) according to rules i.e., domain names removed, attributes combined, alternatives chosen – custom logic with Groovy scripts is supported
- Integrations with popular Apps like LinchPin User Profile, Scriptrunner, etc.
- Distinguishes between users created with SAML and local users for JiT update
- Choose the directory where new users should be stored
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
Only Display Name, EMail obtained from the SAML response during Just in Time(JiT) Provisioning.
- No modifications or transformations are possible
Advanced Group Settings
resolution DC SAML SSO
- Option to switch on/off automatic group creation & group membership removal
- Assign default groups with a dropdown Menu
- Configure Jira Service Desk Groups & Organisation
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
- Groups are created and removed during login automatically (can’t be configured)
- No user interface available, happens by default without being configurable
4. User Synchronization
User Synchronization
Further Examples (click to enlarge):
resolution DC SAML SSO
User Sync can synchronize users from multiple identity providers both ahead-of-time and on-schedule. It overcomes many limitations of “Just-in-Time” Provisioning and is the superior choice for many customers.
- User Name Transformation & Group Name Transformation
- Add attributes from the Identity Provider’s API and write them to the Atlassian Application’s fields or User Property values. Supports advanced mapping and transformation (see section 2)
- Configure how groups are sent from the IdP, and how to keep or overwrite local groups
- Easily write custom connectors to external cloud applications in Groovy
- Supports SCIM 2.0
- Synchronize Profile Pictures
Sync large directories up to 20x faster with Server Side and Local Filtering. Applies when only a fraction of the cloud directories needs to be updated i.e., sync 3 of 100,000 groups in a 20,000 user instance.
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
Not supported
Groovy scripting
Further Examples (click to enlarge):
resolution DC SAML SSO
- Transformations.
Examples:
– Remove special characters from the username
– SCIM: parse multiple attributes to find all email address that should be attached to that user - Add or remove attributes and groups based on conditions.
Example: Assign users to some local groups if they are member of some IdP group - Govern access control.
Example: Deny synchronization if the user seats exceed the current tier limit
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
Not supported
Sync simulations
resolution DC SAML SSO
- Try out the results of a synchronization before actually running it
- Visual flags by result per user
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
Not supported
Sync Result Browser (coming soon)
Further Examples (click to enlarge):
resolution DC SAML SSO
- UI Viewer of any synchronization
- Spot sync issues easily
- UI substitute for the traditional JSON file containing every sync detail
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
Not supported
5. User Deactivation
Automatic User Deactivation
resolution DC SAML SSO
Combining Just-in-Time Provisioning with ‘Disable inactive user connector.’
- Automatically deactivate multiple users
- Automatically remove users from groups
- Exclude members of specific groups from deactivation/ group removal
- Filter users on last activity date and deactivate manually
- Receive reports when users are deactivated
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
Manual user deactivation.
6. SSO Redirection
Regular Login On Demand
resolution DC SAML SSO
- Enable Non-SSO (bypass SAML with a special link), for example for administration access
- Unchecking the option disables password-based authentication
Redirection can be activated through both the user interface and REST requests
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
Redirection can be only activated with REST requests or database changes
SSO Redirection
resolution DC SAML SSO
- Enable SSO redirections
- Enable SSO redirections for Service Desk Customers
- Define specific URLs that trigger SSO
- Define specific URLs that do not trigger SSO
- Define User-Agent headers that do not trigger SSO
- Customizable buttons for redirection for each IdP configuration. I.e.: “Click here if you are a customer”, “Click here if you are contractor”
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
- Enable SSO redirections
- Enable SSO redirections for Service Desk Customers
7. Setup Identity Providers (IdP)
Configure Multiple IdPs and its User-Facing Content
Further Examples (click to enlarge):
resolution DC SAML SSO
- Multiple IdPs can be configured in 4 ways to select IdP providers: choosing IdP by weight, by IdP selection page, by email address, by HTTP request headers. See examples above.
- Fully customizable IdP Selection Page, using velocity templates to comply with corporate branding and improve user experience.
- Provide customers flexibilities to handle scenarios, where some users need to login locally via Username/Passwords (e.g., Contractors) and others via one (or more) IdPs, some customers use > 100 IdPs.
- Decide if you want to display buttons per IdP in the login page, and customize the button text if you want to.
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
- When multiple IdPs are configured, they can only be selected by the user in the login page.
- IdPs with an active toggle will be shown in the login page as an additional button.
- The button text can be configured. No other customizations are possible.
8. Setup Service Provider
Signing and Encryption
resolution DC SAML SSO
- Include Signing Certificate in Metadata
- Include Encryption Certificate in Metadata
- The plugin supports both signed authentication requests and encryption of assertions. The above settings allow those to be added to the metadata as well
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
- Neither signed authentication requests nor encrypted SAML messages are supported
Want to stay upto date on the latest features for SAML SSO and how they compare to Atlassian’s built-in?
9. Advanced Settings
Remember-me Cookie
resolution DC SAML SSO
- “Off” by default, but it can be activated if you need it
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
- “On” by default (not an ideal security choice)
10. Customize User Facing Content
Setup Page Templates
resolution DC SAML SSO
All content our SSO app displayes to users is based on velocity templates. They can easily be adjusted via the app’s UI. For example:
Read More
- IdP selection Page(s)
- Error page
- Logout page
Read More
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
Not supported
11. Export/Import Configuration
Reuse Existing Configuration
resolution DC SAML SSO
- Export/import the configuration of an existing installation
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
Not supported
12. Support - Authentication Tracker
Debugging Tracker & In-app Support
resolution DC SAML SSO
Built-in Support facility – Authentication Tracker
- History of all authentications in the last 48 hours
- Usually, no separate logging is required – all usual debug/info messages, including SAML request & response are contained in an authentication tracker
- Raise a support case straight from a tracker with the tracker & config being attached to the case
Atlassian DC SAML SSO
Not available
Book a call with our technical product experts
You want to see the apps in action. Perhaps you have started setting up the product and need help to better understand your options. Or maybe you need help configuring a complex scenario. Whatever the reason, our team will be happy to guide you.
