Step 1:Obtain the SAML metadata fromIAM Identity Center.
Step 2:Obtain the SAML metadata from theexternal IdP.
Step 3:Configure theexternal IdP as the identity sourceinIAM Identity Center.
When integratingAWS IAM Identity Center (formerly AWS SSO)with anexternal identity provider (IdP)usingSAML 2.0, AWS requires a specific sequence of steps to establish trust and federation correctly.
Step 1: Obtain the SAML metadata from IAM Identity Center
IAM Identity Center acts as theservice provider (SP)in the SAML trust. The external IdP must trust IAM Identity Center, so the IdP needs IAM Identity Center’s SAML metadata first. This metadata contains critical information such as the SP entity ID, ACS (Assertion Consumer Service) URL, and signing certificate. Without this metadata, the external IdP cannot be configured to send assertions to AWS.
Step 2: Obtain the SAML metadata from the external IdP
After the external IdP is configured to trust IAM Identity Center, the IdP generates its own SAML metadata. This metadata includes the IdP entity ID, SSO endpoint, and signing certificate. IAM Identity Center requires this information to validate authentication assertions coming from the external IdP.
Step 3: Configure the external IdP as the identity source in IAM Identity Center
Once both metadata files are available, the security engineer configures the external IdP as theidentity sourcein IAM Identity Center. At this stage, IAM Identity Center imports the IdP metadata and establishes the SAML trust relationship. After this configuration, users authenticated by the external IdP can be federated into AWS accounts and applications via IAM Identity Center.
Why the other options are incorrect:
Creating an IAM role with an IdP API endpoint is used forIAM federation, not IAM Identity Center.
Automatic provisioning (SCIM) is optional and is configuredafterSAML federation is established.
Automatic provisioning must be enabled onboth sides, but it is not required to complete the core IdP integration.
This sequence follows AWS best practices for SAML-based federation with IAM Identity Center.
