Overview

This use case demonstrates how Joomla was integrated with Microsoft Active Directory using miniOrange LDAP solutions to enable centralized authentication, automated user migration, and complete user provisioning management.

By combining the Joomla LDAP Login plugin with the Import Users, Password Sync, and User Data Sync capabilities, the organization implemented a unified identity workflow that covered the full user lifecycle from onboarding to updates and deprovisioning.

Prerequisites

The solution used our miniOrange Joomla LDAP plugin to establish a secure and scalable integration between Joomla and Active Directory.

miniOrange Joomla LDAP Plugin

Download Extension

Challenge

The organization required a scalable solution to:

1. Migrate existing users from Active Directory into Joomla
2. Automatically provision new users without manual account creation
3. Keep user attributes and passwords synchronized across systems
4. Handle user updates and removals in a controlled manner
5. Prevent duplicate accounts and outdated user records

Managing users separately in Joomla and Active Directory was leading to inconsistencies, increased administrative effort, and login issues.

Implementation

LDAP Authentication Setup:

The Joomla LDAP Login plugin connected Joomla to Active Directory, allowing users to log in using their existing directory credentials while maintaining centralized authentication control.

User Import and Automated Provisioning

The Import Users add-on was used to migrate users from Active Directory into Joomla and to handle automated user provisioning:

1. New users detected in Active Directory were created automatically in Joomla
2. Existing Joomla users were updated with the latest LDAP attributes
3. User group and role assignments were kept consistent
4. Manual account creation was eliminated

This ensured Joomla always reflected the current state of the directory.

Password Synchronization

With the Password Sync add-on enabled, any password change made in Joomla was securely synchronized back to Active Directory. This prevented credential mismatches and ensured users could continue logging in seamlessly across both platforms.

User Data Sync and Deprovisioning

User data synchronization ensured that updates to user attributes in Joomla or LDAP were reflected consistently. When users were removed or disabled in the directory, corresponding actions could be taken in Joomla to maintain security and compliance.

This allowed administrators to manage the full user lifecycle — creation, update, and removal — from a centralized identity source.

Conclusion

This implementation demonstrates how Joomla LDAP login, user import, and password synchronization can work together to create a complete identity management workflow. It shows real-world value beyond basic authentication and reinforces the flexibility of the miniOrange LDAP ecosystem for Joomla.

Additional Resources

1. LDAP Authentication for Joomla
2. See Our Other Use-Cases