Introduction:
Confluence, a popular collaboration platform, is widely used for creating, sharing, and collaborating on content within organizations. However, managing user licenses for Confluence can be a significant concern, especially when dealing with unlicensed or inactive users who don't require full user access. Sometimes it becomes necessary to share specific pages for collaborative efforts and integration with external partners, contractors, and consultants in projects. All of this needs to be managed while maintaining control over the overall user license count.
In this article, we explore a solution to address this challenge by utilizing the miniOrange Confluence SAML SSO plugin to grant guest access to users without the need for additional licenses which can save a lot of cost.
The Challenge:
You wish to grant access to your Confluence space or page, you face a dilemma: either allocate a license which results in increasing associated costs, or make the Confluence pages public. However, the latter option poses a risk that anyone with the page link can access it globally.
The Solution:
By utilizing the miniOrange SSO plugin, you can make the pages public while maintaining restrictions through our SSO capabilities. miniOrange SAML SSO plugin has the ability to enable guest access for external users, and unlicensed or inactive Confluence users. This ensures that although the page is technically public, guest users can only view it after authenticating with their Identity Provider (IDP) through the miniOrange SSO plugin.
Here's how the process works:
- User Authentication via IDP:
The users should be present in the organization's Identity Provider. The miniOrange SSO plugin acts as a bridge between Confluence and the IDP, facilitating authentication. When a guest user attempts to access Confluence, they are redirected to the IDP for authentication. Once authenticated, the user is granted access to Confluence with limited permissions.
- Viewing Anonymous Spaces and Pages:
Guest users authenticated through the IDP can navigate through Confluence and access designated public spaces and pages. This allows organizations to control which content is accessible to guest users and for how much time, ensuring data security and compliance.
Benefits of Using miniOrange for Guest User Login:
- Cost Optimization: By using miniOrange to grant guest access for users without the need for a full license, organizations can significantly reduce licensing costs.
- Enhanced Security: The plugin ensures that guest users are authenticated through the organization's IDP, maintaining a secure and centralized user management system.
- Improved Collaboration: Enabling guest access facilitates collaboration with external stakeholders, such as clients, vendors, or partners, without the need for additional licenses.
Conclusion:
The Miniorange plugin offers a practical solution for organizations seeking to optimize Confluence licensing costs while ensuring secure and controlled guest access. The plugin enables unlicensed users to log in as guests users, providing them with view-only access to Confluence. This approach not only streamlines user management but also enhances collaboration without compromising security or breaking the budget.
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