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Box (SP-initiated) Integration Guide

Introduction

Use this guide to enable Service Provider (SP)-initiated Multi-Factor Authentication and Single Sign-on (SSO) access via SAML to Box.

For SecureAuth IdP-initiated access, refer to Box (IdP-initiated) Integration Guide

Prerequisites

1. Have an enterprise tier Box account

SSO is available for only this pricing tier

2. Ensure SAML SSO is enabled through an administrator account

Submit a support ticket to Box to enable SSO, and allow 2-3 days for processing before it is available

3. Acquire the Box SAML documentation that will provide necessary URLs for the SecureAuth IdP configuration

See Single Sign On (SSO) with Box: For Administrators at the Box Community website for assistance

Note

Consult a Box engineer to configure SP-initiated by Post Authentication

This requires the SAML Consumer URL – e.g. https://sso.services.box.net/sp/ACS.saml2

and may require the direct SP Start URL – e.g. https://sso.services.box.net/sp/startSSO.ping?PartnerIdpId=https://example.com/secureauth[realm#]&TargetResource=#target_resource#

4. Create a New Realm for the Box integration

5. Configure the following tabs in the Web Admin before configuring the Post Authentication tab:

  • Overview – the description of the realm and SMTP connections must be defined

  • Data – an enterprise directory must be integrated with SecureAuth IdP

  • Workflow – the way in which users will access this application must be defined

  • Multi-Factor Methods – the Multi-Factor Authentication methods that will be used to access this page (if any) must be defined

SecureAuth IdP Configuration Steps

Data

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1. In the Profile Fields section, map the directory field that contains the user's Box ID to the SecureAuth IdP Property

For example, add the Box ID Field to the Email 2 Property if it is not already contained somewhere else

Warning

Click Save once the configurations have been completed and before leaving the Data page to avoid losing changes

Post Authentication

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2. Select SAML 2.0 (SP Initiated) Assertion Page from the Authenticated User Redirect dropdown in the Post Authentication tab in the Web Admin

3. An unalterable URL will be auto-populated in the Redirect To field, which will append to the domain name and realm number in the address bar (Authorized/SAML20SPInit.aspx)

4. A customized post authentication page can be uploaded, but it is not required

User ID Mapping

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5. Select the SecureAuth IdP Property that corresponds to the directory field that contains the Box ID (Email 2)

6. Select urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:1.1:nameid-format:unspecified from the Name ID Format dropdown (default)

Select a different option if Box requires it, which the SP will provide

7. Select False from the Encode to Base64 dropdown

SAML Assertion / WS Federation

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8. Set the SAML Consumer URL – e.g. https://sso.services.box.net/sp/ACS.saml2

9. Set the WSFed/SAML Issuer to a Unique Name that will be shared with Box

The WSFed/SAML Issuer must match exactly on the SecureAuth IdP side and the Box side

10. Provide the direct SP Start URL to enable SSO and to redirect users appropriately to access Box

In this example, the direct SP Start URL is https://sso.services.box.net/sp/startSSO.ping?PartnerIdpId=https://example.com/secureauth19&TargetResource=#target_resource#

11. Set the SAML Offset Minutes to make up for time differences between devices

12. Set the SAML Valid Hours to limit for how long the SAML assertion is valid

Notice

No configuration is required for the WSFed Reply To/SAML Target URL, SAML Recipient or SAML Audience fields

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13. Leave the Signing Cert Serial Number as the default value, unless there is a third-party certificate being used for the SAML assertion

If using a third-party certificate, click Select Certificate and choose the appropriate certificate

14. Provide the Domain in order to Download the Metadata File to send to Box

This will assist Box in enabling SSO

SAML Attributes / WS Federation

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15. Enter the required SAML Attributes, providing the Name and selecting the Value from the dropdown for each Attribute

In this example Attribute 1 is configured for Email 2, Attribute 2 is configured for First Name, and Attribute 3 is configured for Last Name

Warning

Click Save once the configurations have been completed and before leaving the Post Authentication page to avoid losing changes

Forms Auth / SSO Token

Optionally, in the Forms Auth / SSO Token section, click the View and Configure FormsAuth keys/SSO token link to configure the token/cookie settings and configure this realm for SSO.

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