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Onboard non-Microsoft IdP custom apps for Conditional Access app control

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Access and session controls in Microsoft Defender for Cloud apps work with both catalog and custom apps. While Microsoft Entra ID apps are automatically onboarded to use Conditional Access app control, if you're working with a non-Microsoft IdP, you'll need to onboard your app manually.

This article describes how to both configure your IdP to work with Defender for Cloud Apps, and then also manually onboard each custom app. In contrast, catalog apps from a non-Microsoft IdP are automatically onboarded when you configure the integration between your IdP and Defender for Cloud Apps.

Prerequisites

  • Your organization must have the following licenses to use conditional access app control:

    • The license required by your identity provider (IdP) solution
    • Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

  • Apps must be configured with single sign-on

  • Apps must be configured with the SAML 2.0 authentication protocol.

Add admins to your app onboarding/maintenance list

  1. In Microsoft Defender XDR, select Settings > Cloud Apps > Conditional Access App Control > App onboarding/maintenance.

  2. Enter the usernames or emails of any users who will be onboarding your app, and then select Save.

For more information, see Diagnose and troubleshoot with the Admin View toolbar.

Configure your IdP to work with Defender for Cloud Apps

This procedure describes how to route app sessions from other IdP solutions to Defender for Cloud Apps.

Tip

The following articles provide detailed examples of this procedure:

To configure your IdP to work with Defender for Cloud Apps:

  1. In Microsoft Defender XDR, select Settings > Cloud Apps > Connected Apps > Conditional Access App Control apps.

  2. In the Conditional Access App Control apps page, select + Add.

  3. In the Add a SAML application with your identity provider dialog, select the Search for an app drop down and then select the app you want to deploy. With your app selected, select Start wizard.

  4. On the wizard's APP INFORMATION page, either upload a metadata file from your app or enter app data manually.

    Make sure to provide the following information:

    • The Assertion consumer service URL. This is the URL that your app uses to receive SAML assertions from your IdP.
    • A SAML certificate, if your app provides one. In such cases, select the Use ... SAML certificate option, and then upload the certificate file.

    When you're finished, select Next to continue.

  5. On the wizard's IDENTITY PROVIDER page, follow the instructions to set up a new custom app in your IdP's portal.

    Note

    The steps required may differ, depending on your IdP. We recommend that you perform the external configuration as described for the following reasons:

    • Some identity providers do not allow you to change the SAML attributes or URL properties of a gallery / catalog app.
    • When you configure a custom app, you can test the app with Defender for Cloud Apps access and session controls, without changing your organization's existing configured behavior.

    Copy your app's single sign-on configuration information for use later in this procedure. When you're finished, select Next to continue.

  6. Continuing on the IDENTITY PROVIDER page of the wizard, either upload a metadata file from your IdP or enter app data manually.

    Make sure to provide the following information:

    • The Single sign-on service URL. This is the URL that your IdP uses to receive single sign-on requests.
    • A SAML certificate, if your IdP provides one. In such cases, select the Use identity provider's SAML certificate option, and then upload the certificate file.

  7. Continuing on the IDENTITY PROVIDER page of the wizard, copy both the single sign-on URL and all attributes and values for use later in this procedure.

    When you're done, select Next to continue.

  8. Browse to your IdP's portal and enter the values you'd copied to your IdP configuration. Typically, these settings are found in your IdP's custom app settings area.

    1. Enter your app's single sign-on URL that you'd copied from the previous step. Some providers may refer to the single sign-on URL as the Reply URL.

    2. Add the attributes and values you'd copied from the previous step to the app's properties. Some providers may refer to them as User attributes or Claims.

      If your attributes are limited to 1024 characters for new apps, first create the app without the relevant attributes, and add them in afterwards by editing the app.

    3. Verify that your name identifier is in the format of an email address.

    4. Make sure to save your settings when you're done.

  9. Back in Defender for Cloud Apps, on the wizard's APP CHANGES page, copy the SAML single sign-on URL and download the Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps SAML certificate. The SAML single sign-on URL is a customized URL for your app when used with Defender for Cloud Apps Conditional Access app control.

  10. Browse to your app's portal and configure your single sign on settings as follows:

    1. (Recommended) Create a backup of your current settings.
    2. Replace the identity provider sign-in URL field value with the Defender for Cloud Apps SAML single sign-on URL you copied from the previous step. The specific name for this field may differ, depending on your app.
    3. Upload the Defender for Cloud Apps SAML certificate you downloaded in the previous step.
    4. Make sure to save your changes.

  11. In the wizard, select Finish to complete the configuration.

After saving your app's single-sign on settings with the values customized by Defender for Cloud Apps, all associated sign-in requests to the app are routed though Defender for Cloud Apps and Conditional Access app control.

Note

The Defender for Cloud Apps SAML certificate is valid for 1 year. After it expires, you'll need to generate a new one.

Onboard your app for Conditional Access app control

If you're working with a custom app that's not automatically populated in the app catalog, you'll need to add it manually.

To check if your app is already added:

  1. In Microsoft Defender XDR, select Settings > Cloud Apps > Connected apps > Conditional Access App Control apps.

  2. Select the App: Select apps… dropdown menu to search for your app.

If your app is already listed, continue with the procedure for catalog apps instead.

To add your app manually:

  1. If you have new apps, you'll see a banner at the top of the page notifying you that you have new apps to onboard. Select the View new apps link to see them.

  2. In the Discovered Azure AD apps dialog, locate your app, such as by the Login URL value. Select the + button and then Add to onboard it as a custom app.

Install root certificates

Make sure that you're using the correct Current CA or Next CA certificates for each of your apps.

To install your certificates, repeat the following step for each certificate:

  1. Open and install the certificate, selecting either Current User or Local Machine.

  2. When prompted for where you want to place your certificates, browse to Trusted Root Certificate Authorities.

  3. Select OK and Finish as needed to complete the procedure.

  4. Restart your browser, open your app again, and select Continue when prompted.

  5. In Microsoft Defender XDR, select Settings > Cloud Apps > Connected apps > Conditional Access App Control apps, and make sure that your app is still listed in the table.

For more information, see App doesn't appear on the conditional access app control apps page.

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