Federating Google Cloud Identity with Azure AD for User Provisioning and Single Sign-On

Introduction

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on how to federate Google Cloud Identity with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) for user provisioning and single sign-on (SSO). By integrating these two platforms, organizations can streamline user management and enhance security while providing a seamless user experience.

Step 1: Understand the Structure of Microsoft Entra ID and Google Cloud Identity

Before starting the integration, it's essential to grasp how Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) and Google Cloud Identity are structured.

• Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) Structure

  • Tenants: Represents a dedicated instance of Azure AD.
  • Domains: Custom domains associated with your organization.
  • Users: Individual accounts within the tenant.
  • Groups: Collections of users for permission management.

• Cloud Identity Structure

  • Similar to Azure AD but may include additional features specific to Google services.

Understanding these structures will help you effectively map users and groups during the integration process.

Step 2: Prepare Microsoft Entra ID for Federation

To begin the federation process, you need to set up Microsoft Entra ID.

1. Log in to Azure Portal

   • Go to the Azure portal and log in with your administrator credentials.

2. Create or Select a Tenant

   • If you don’t have a tenant, create one. If you already have one, select it for configuration.

3. Add a Custom Domain (if necessary)

   • Navigate to the "Custom domain names" section and add your organization’s domain.

4. Create Users and Groups

   • Under "Users," create individual user accounts as needed.
   • Under "Groups," create groups for role-based access control.

Step 3: Configure Google Cloud Identity

Next, you need to set up Google Cloud Identity to recognize Azure AD as an identity provider.

1. Log in to Google Admin Console

   • Access the Google Admin console using your admin account.

2. Enable SSO

   • Navigate to "Security" and then "Set up single sign-on (SSO)."
   • Enter the following details:
     • Sign-in page URL: Azure AD sign-in page URL.
     • Sign-out page URL: URL for signing out.
     • Change password URL: URL to change passwords.

3. Download the Google Identity Provider Metadata

   • Obtain the metadata XML file for later use in Azure AD configuration.

Step 4: Set Up SSO in Azure AD

Now that Google Cloud Identity is prepared, configure SSO in Azure AD.

1. Navigate to Enterprise Applications

   • In the Azure portal, go to "Enterprise applications."

2. Add a New Application

   • Click on "New application" and search for Google Cloud.

3. Configure SSO Settings

   • Select "Single sign-on" and choose "SAML."
   • Upload the Google Identity Provider Metadata file you downloaded earlier.
   • Configure the required fields like Identifier (Entity ID) and Reply URL (Assertion Consumer Service URL).

4. Assign Users and Groups

   • In the application settings, assign users and groups that should have access to the application.

Step 5: Testing the Configuration

After completing the setup, it's crucial to test to ensure everything works correctly.

1. Log in with a Test User

   • Attempt to log in to Google Cloud using a user account from Azure AD.

2. Verify Provisioning

   • Check if the user is provisioned correctly and can access Google services.

3. Troubleshoot Issues

   • If there are issues, revisit the SSO settings in both Azure AD and Google Cloud Identity for potential misconfigurations.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully federate Google Cloud Identity with Azure AD, enabling effective user provisioning and single sign-on. This integration enhances user management and security within your organization. As a next step, consider exploring additional features available in both platforms to further optimize your user experience.