docs/content/github/setting-up-and-managing-organizations-and-teams/enabling-and-testing-saml-single-sign-on-for-your-organization.md

title, intro, product, redirect_from, versions, topics

title	intro	product	redirect_from	versions	topics
Enabling and testing SAML single sign-on for your organization	Organization owners and admins can enable SAML single sign-on to add an extra layer of security to their organization.	{% data reusables.gated-features.saml-sso %}	/articles/enabling-and-testing-saml-single-sign-on-for-your-organization	free-pro-team *	organizations teams

You can enable SAML SSO in your organization without requiring all members to use it. Enabling but not enforcing SAML SSO in your organization can help smooth your organization's SAML SSO adoption. Once a majority of your organization's members use SAML SSO, you can enforce it within your organization.

If you enable but don't enforce SAML SSO, organization members who choose not to use SAML SSO can still be members of the organization. For more information on enforcing SAML SSO, see "Enforcing SAML single sign-on for your organization."

{% data reusables.saml.outside-collaborators-exemption %}

Prior to enforcing SAML SSO in your organization, ensure that you've set up your identity provider (IdP). For more information, see "Preparing to enforce SAML single sign-on in your organization."

{% data reusables.profile.access_profile %} {% data reusables.profile.access_org %} {% data reusables.organizations.org_settings %} {% data reusables.organizations.security %} 5. Under "SAML single sign-on", select Enable SAML authentication.

{% note %}

Note: After enabling SAML SSO, you can download your single sign-on recovery codes so that you can access your organization even if your IdP is unavailable. For more information, see "Downloading your organization's SAML single sign-on recovery codes."

{% endnote %}

6. In the "Sign on URL" field, type the HTTPS endpoint of your IdP for single sign-on requests. This value is available in your IdP configuration.
7. Optionally, in the "Issuer" field, type your SAML issuer's name. This verifies the authenticity of sent messages.
8. Under "Public Certificate," paste a certificate to verify SAML responses.
9. Click {% octicon "pencil" aria-label="The edit icon" %} and then in the Signature Method and Digest Method drop-downs, choose the hashing algorithm used by your SAML issuer to verify the integrity of the requests.
10. Before enabling SAML SSO for your organization, click Test SAML configuration to ensure that the information you've entered is correct.

{% tip %}

Tip: {% data reusables.saml.testing-saml-sso %}

{% endtip %} 11. To enforce SAML SSO and remove all organization members who haven't authenticated via your IdP, select Require SAML SSO authentication for all members of the organization name organization. For more information on enforcing SAML SSO, see "Enforcing SAML single sign-on for your organization." 12. Click Save.

Further reading

• "About identity and access management with SAML single sign-on"