Keycloak and Okta Integration: Complete Developer Guide

Introduction

Identity management and authentication are fundamental pillars of security in modern applications. In this article, we’ll explore how to integrate Keycloak with Okta as an Identity Provider, creating a robust and scalable solution for user authentication.

What is Keycloak?

Keycloak is an open-source platform for Identity and Access Management (IAM). Developed by Red Hat, Keycloak offers comprehensive functionality for:

• Single Sign-On (SSO): Allows users to log in once and access multiple applications
• Identity Federation: Integration with external identity providers
• User Management: Administrative interface for account and permission management
• Standard Protocols: Complete support for OpenID Connect, OAuth 2.0, and SAML 2.0
• Customization: Customizable interfaces and extensibility through SPIs (Service Provider Interfaces)

Keycloak is widely used by organizations that need a flexible authentication solution that can run on-premises or in cloud environments.

What is Okta?

Okta is a cloud-based Identity as a Service (IDaaS) platform, recognized as a leader in the IAM solutions market. Key features of Okta include:

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Additional layers of security
• Lifecycle Management: Automation of user provisioning and deprovisioning
• Pre-built Integrations: Thousands of connectors for popular applications
• Analytics and Monitoring: Detailed reports on authentication activities
• Compliance: Adherence to standards like SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR

Okta is especially valued by companies seeking a managed solution with high availability and enterprise support.

Why Integrate Keycloak with Okta?

The integration between Keycloak and Okta offers the best of both worlds:

1. Keycloak Flexibility: Complete control over customizations and specific business logic
2. Okta Robustness: Reliable enterprise infrastructure and advanced security features
3. Hybrid Strategy: Ability to maintain some internal services while using cloud for others
4. Gradual Migration: Facilitates organizational transitions between different identity solutions

Step-by-Step Integration Guide

Prerequisites

• Administrative access to Keycloak
• Administrative account in Okta
• Basic knowledge of OpenID Connect (OIDC)

Step 1: Application Configuration in Okta

1. Access the Okta Admin Console
2. Navigate to Applications > Create App Integration
3. Configure the following parameters:
   • Sign-in method: OIDC – OpenID Connect
   • Application type: Web Application
4. Define a descriptive name for the application
5. Save the configuration

After creation, you’ll receive the essential credentials:

• Client ID: Unique application identifier
• Client Secret: Secret key for authentication

Step 2: Discovery Endpoint Location

The Discovery Endpoint is fundamental for OIDC integration:

1. In the Okta Admin Console, go to Security > API
2. Select the authorization server (usually „default“)
3. Copy the Metadata URI – this will be your Discovery Endpoint

https://<your-okta-domain>.okta.com/oauth2/default/.well-known/openid-configuration

Step 3: Identity Provider Configuration in Keycloak

1. Access the Keycloak Admin Console
2. Select the appropriate realm
3. Navigate to Identity Providers
4. Click Add provider and select OpenID Connect v1.0
5. Configure the following fields:
   • Alias: Internal identifier name (e.g., „okta“)
   • Client ID: Obtained from Okta in Step 1
   • Client Secret: Obtained from Okta in Step 1
   • Discovery Endpoint: Okta Metadata URI
   • Trust Email: Enable this option to trust emails provided by Okta
6. Save the configuration

Advanced Scope Configuration

After creating the Identity Provider, you’ll see an „Advanced“ link in the interface. Click on it to access additional settings, including Default Scopes configuration.

In the Default Scopes field, you can specify which OAuth 2.0/OIDC scopes you want to request from Okta during authentication. The main scopes available in Okta include:

Standard OpenID Connect Scopes:

• openid – Required for OIDC, allows access to ID token
• profile – Access to basic profile information (name, surname, etc.)
• email – Access to user’s email address
• address – Access to user’s physical address
• phone – Access to user’s phone number

Okta-Specific Scopes:

• groups – Access to groups the user belongs to
• offline_access – Allows obtaining refresh tokens
• device_sso – For device authentication

API Management Scopes (when configured):

• okta.users.read – Read user information
• okta.users.manage – User management
• okta.groups.read – Read groups
• okta.groups.manage – Group management
• okta.apps.read – Read applications
• okta.apps.manage – Application management

Configuration example:

openid profile email

Important note: Not all scopes are available by default. API Management-related scopes need to be configured in the Okta authorization server before being used.

Step 4: Redirect URL Configuration

1. In Keycloak, after saving the Identity Provider, copy the automatically generated Redirect URI
2. Return to the Okta Admin Console
3. Edit the application created in Step 1
4. In the Sign-in redirect URIs section, add the URL copied from Keycloak
5. Save the changes

Step 5: Integration Testing

1. Access your realm’s login page in Keycloak
2. Verify that a „Login with Okta“ button appears (or the configured name)
3. Click the button and test the authentication flow
4. Confirm that the user is correctly authenticated and redirected back

Advanced Configurations

Attribute Mapping

Configure mappings to synchronize user information:

{
  "name": "${ATTRIBUTE.name}",
  "email": "${ATTRIBUTE.email}",
  "given_name": "${ATTRIBUTE.given_name}",
  "family_name": "${ATTRIBUTE.family_name}"
}

Security Settings

• Validate Signatures: Enable to verify JWT signatures
• Use PKCE: Activate for enhanced security in authorization flows
• Backchannel Logout: Configure for distributed logout

Groups and Roles

Configure automatic mapping of Okta groups to Keycloak roles through custom mappers.

Best Practices

1. Credential Security: Store Client Secrets securely
2. Monitoring: Implement detailed logs for auditing
3. Regular Testing: Validate integration periodically
4. Configuration Backup: Maintain backups of configurations
5. Documentation: Document specific customizations

Common Troubleshooting

Redirect URI Error

Problem: „Invalid redirect_uri“
Solution: Verify that the redirect URL in Okta exactly matches the one provided by Keycloak

Discovery Issues

Problem: Failed to discover endpoints
Solution: Confirm that the Metadata URI is accessible and correct

User Mapping

Problem: User information doesn’t appear
Solution: Configure appropriate mappers in the Identity Provider

Conclusion

The integration between Keycloak and Okta provides a robust solution that combines flexibility and enterprise reliability. This configuration allows organizations to leverage the advantages of both platforms, creating a hybrid and efficient identity ecosystem.

With proper implementation of the steps described in this guide, developers can establish a solid integration that meets modern authentication needs while maintaining high standards of security and user experience.

Regular maintenance and continuous monitoring of this integration will ensure its optimized operation over time, providing a solid foundation for the growth and evolution of organizational identity systems.