SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) into Zoho Desk using Joomla IDP Plugin

Overview

Single Sign-On in Zoho Desk using Joomla IDP allows users to log in to Frontline Education using Joomla by configuring Zoho Desk as a Service Provider (SP) and Joomla as a SAML Identity Provider (IDP). This guide will take you through a step-by-step process to configure SSO between the two platforms.

What is Zoho Desk?
Zoho Desk is a help desk software used by businesses to address customer queries and feedbacks over a variety of channels.

Configuration Steps

In this setup, Joomla serves as the repository for storing users i.e. it will act as the IDP while Zoho Desk is where users will log in using their credentials from Joomla where Joomla SAML IDP SSO Plugin will be installed.

Step 1: Configure Zoho Desk as SP (Service Provider)

• Log in to Zoho Accounts as an administrative user at Zoho.

• Navigate to Zoho Desk dashboard.
• Now click on Setting icon () in the top bar.

• Under the Channels menu, select Help Center.
• Choose the Help Center where you want to use SAML to authenticate users .

• Under the Help Center sub-menu, select User Authentication .

• Provide the following information on the SAML page:

• Remote Login URL: Enter the remote login URL of Joomla IDP where Zoho Desk will redirect your end users when they login to the Help Center. (i.e SAML Login URL from Identity provider tab in Joomla IDP plugin)
• Remote Logout URL: Enter the remote logout URL of Joomla IDP that Zoho Desk will redirect your end users when they attempt to log out of the Help Center. (i.e SAML Login URL from Identity provider tab in Joomla IDP plugin)
• Reset Password URL: Enter the reset password URL of Joomla IDP where Zoho Desk will redirect your end users when they try to change their password for the Help Center.(i.e IDP-EntityID / Issuer from Identity provider tab in Joomla IDP plugin)
• Public Key: Upload the Public X.509 certificate in the .txt or .pem format. We will use the public key contained in the certificate to verify that Joomla Identity Provider has issued all received SAML authentication requests. (X.509 Certificate from Identity provider tab in Joomla IDP plugin)
• Algorithm: Select an algorithm between RSA and DSA using which your Joomla IDP generated the public keys and certificates.

• Click on Save button.

• Before clicking Save, you'll see new fields (like Help Center SAML Request URL, etc.) and values listed. Copy those values over to Joomla as identity provider to ensure that Joomla IDP is capable of communication with your SAML-enabled Zoho Desk.
  The value obtained that will be necessary for Joomla IDP configuration:-

Joomla IDP plugin configuration fields	Value obtained from Zoho desk
ACS URL	Help Center SAML Response URL
Relay state	Default Relay State
SP Entity ID or Issuer	Entity ID (Issuer)

• You have successfully configured Single Sign-On with Zoho Desk as Service Provider and Joomla as Identity Provider. If you require any further support or, if you are facing any difficulty please mail us on joomlasupport@xecurify.com

Related Articles

• What is Single Sign-On (SSO)?
• What is SAML?
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)