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Single Sign-On (SSO) simplifies the authentication process for users by allowing them to access multiple applications with a single set of login credentials. Keycloak, an open-source identity and access management solution, is a powerful tool for implementing SSO across web and mobile applications. It reduces the complexity of managing authentication, enhances security, and provides a seamless user experience.

What is Single Sign-On (SSO)?

SSO allows users to log in once and access multiple applications without needing to reauthenticate. It is especially useful in environments with multiple interconnected applications, improving user convenience and reducing password fatigue.

Why Use Keycloak for SSO?

Keycloak is a feature-rich solution that simplifies SSO implementation by supporting standard protocols like OpenID Connect (OIDC), OAuth 2.0, and SAML. Keycloak’s centralized management console makes it easy to configure SSO for multiple applications.

Key Features for SSO in Keycloak

Centralized Identity Provider: Acts as a single authentication source for all connected applications.
Customizable Login Pages: Provides a unified login experience with branding options.
Protocol Support: Supports OIDC, OAuth 2.0, and SAML for seamless integration with diverse applications.
Social Login: Allows users to authenticate using social identity providers like Google and Facebook.
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Manages user permissions across applications.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adds an extra layer of security during login.

How to Implement SSO with Keycloak

1. Install and Configure Keycloak

Download and set up Keycloak on your server or use a hosted Keycloak service.
Create a realm, which is a tenant that holds configurations for clients, roles, and users.

2. Register Applications (Clients)

Add each application as a client in Keycloak.
Configure the redirect URI for the client, which is where users will be redirected after authentication.
Choose the authentication protocol (OIDC or SAML) based on your application’s requirements.

3. Customize the Login Experience

Use Keycloak’s admin console to customize the login page with your branding.
Enable social login or other authentication mechanisms, such as username/password or LDAP integration.

4. Integrate Applications with Keycloak

Use Keycloak libraries and adapters for integration:
- For Java, use the keycloak-spring-boot or keycloak-connect libraries.
- For Node.js, use the keycloak-connect library.
- For frontend applications, use the keycloak-js library.
Configure the application to redirect users to Keycloak for authentication.
After authentication, validate tokens provided by Keycloak to ensure secure access.

5. Enable SSO Across Applications

Once users log in to one application, they are automatically authenticated for other connected applications.
Tokens issued by Keycloak carry the user’s session information, enabling seamless access.

Example Workflow for SSO with Keycloak

A user visits Application A and is redirected to Keycloak for authentication.
The user logs in to Keycloak and receives a session token.
The user navigates to Application B, which checks the session token with Keycloak and grants access without requiring another login.

Benefits of Using Keycloak for SSO

User Convenience: Eliminates the need for multiple logins, enhancing user experience.
Centralized Management: Simplifies user and role management from a single interface.
Enhanced Security: Provides advanced security features like MFA and secure token handling.
Protocol Compatibility: Supports industry-standard protocols for seamless integration.

Best Practices for SSO with Keycloak

Use HTTPS to secure communication between applications and Keycloak.
Implement MFA to enhance security.
Regularly review and update roles and permissions in Keycloak.
Monitor and audit user activity for compliance and security.

Conclusion

Keycloak is an excellent choice for implementing Single Sign-On (SSO) in modern applications. Its robust features, ease of integration, and support for industry standards make it a powerful tool for managing authentication and authorization. By leveraging Keycloak, organizations can enhance security, streamline user access, and provide a seamless experience across multiple applications.

When you see the message “You are logged in as a temporary admin user. To harden security, create a permanent admin account and delete the temporary one” in Keycloak, it means that you’ve logged in as a temporary user with admin privileges, typically created during the initial setup of Keycloak. For security reasons, it’s essential to create a permanent admin account and remove the temporary one.

Steps to Create a Permanent Admin Account and Delete the Temporary Admin User:

Log in to Keycloak Admin Console:
- If you are currently logged in as the temporary admin user, use the credentials to access the Keycloak admin console.
Create a New Admin User:
- Navigate to the “Users” section from the left sidebar under “Manage”.
- Click “Add user” to create a new user account.
- Fill in the necessary information for the new admin user (e.g., username, email).
- Set the “Enabled” toggle to ON to activate the account.
Assign Admin Role to the New User:
- Once the user is created, click on the newly created user.
- Go to the “Role Mappings” tab.
- Under “Available Roles”, find and assign the “admin” role. This grants the user administrative privileges.
Log Out and Log In as the New Admin User:
- Log out of the current session (the temporary admin user).
- Log back in using the new permanent admin account you just created.
Delete the Temporary Admin User:
- Once logged in with the new permanent admin account, go back to the “Users” section.
- Find the temporary admin user (usually named “admin” or something similar).
- Click on the user and then click “Delete” to remove the temporary admin account.
Verify Permissions and Security:
- Ensure that the new admin user has the necessary privileges and can perform all administrative tasks.
- Check the “Realm Settings” and ensure that the new admin user can access the configuration options you need.

By following these steps, you will have created a permanent admin user with proper security and removed the temporary admin user, thus hardening the security of your Keycloak setup.

Implementing Single Sign-On (SSO) with Keycloak