
## Extend Crowd-Based Authentication and User Management to Jenkins {#authentication-and-user-management-to-jenkins}

While Crowd works as an identity provider for Atlassian apps like Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket without any hitch, extending this unified authentication model to external tools like Jenkins isn’t as straightforward.

Jenkins, being a non-Atlassian system, doesn’t natively support Crowd sessions, making it difficult to enforce the same access control policies or streamline authentication across your toolchain.

This is where the [miniOrange Jenkins SAML SSO app](https://www.miniorange.com/atlassian/jenkins-single-sign-on) comes into the picture, it enables teams to configure **Crowd as the SAML Identity Provider (IdP) for Jenkins**, allowing for true single sign-on (SSO) across Atlassian and DevOps environments.

The app uses existing Crowd sessions and user permissions to streamline access, eliminating redundant admin work and identity silos.

This article walks through how this integration works, why it’s valuable, and how real teams are using it today.

## The Problem: Fragmented Access Across Atlassian and Jenkins {#problem}

For engineering teams that are already using Crowd to authenticate users across Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket, extending that same one-click access experience to Jenkins can become challenging.

Jenkins does not natively integrate with Atlassian Crowd.

As a result:

- Developers need to maintain separate credentials
- Admins need to manage duplicate user records and permissions
- Identity lifecycle events (like deactivation) need to be manually tracked
- Security teams are unable to effectively enforce consistent SSO or MFA policies across the board

In a security-sensitive devops environment, this fragmented access experience creates a lot of friction and risk.

## The Solution: Jenkins SSO with Crowd as IdP {#solution}

miniOrange recognized this integration gap, and built a solution to bridge it. With the miniOrange [Jenkins SAML SSO app](https://www.miniorange.com/atlassian/jenkins-single-sign-on), you can configure Atlassian Crowd as the SAML Identity Provider (IdP) for your Jenkins instance, thereby extending your Atlassian instance’s centralized authentication structure beyond the ecosystem.

What does this mean for your team?

- Users log into Jenkins with their existing Crowd credentials, no need to maintain separate credentials for Jenkins and Atlassian.
- Authentication is handled directly by Crowd, maintaining a single source of truth for identity.
- Access permissions and roles in Jenkins are dynamically mapped based on Crowd groups.
- Admins save a lot of time and effort by managing users and policies in one place instead of two.

The SSO app makes Jenkins a part of your centralized identity and access ecosystem, without introducing an external IdP like Okta or Azure AD.

## Architecture Overview: How It Works {#architecture-overview}

Here’s what a successful SSO flow looks like in this integration:

1. A user navigates to Jenkins and initiates login
2. The Jenkins SSO plugin redirects the request to Crowd (the SAML IdP)
3. Crowd authenticates the user (via its internal directory or LDAP)
4. Crowd issues a signed SAML assertion and sends it back to Jenkins
5. Jenkins validates the assertion and logs the user in
6. Group membership in Crowd determines the user’s Jenkins permissions
7. Admins can customize or hide the Jenkins login page and redirect users directly to Crowd for seamless authentication

## Why Not Just Use LDAP or an External IAM? {#ldap-or-external-iam}

It’s a valid question—especially when Jenkins already supports LDAP and many organizations are investing in external identity providers like Okta or Microsoft Entra ID. But if **Atlassian Crowd is already your source of truth**, introducing another IAM layer often leads to more complexity, not less.

### The Problem with LDAP-Based Authentication in Jenkins

While LDAP plugins for Jenkins are commonly used, they come with significant limitations when it comes to enterprise-grade access control:

- **No seamless user sync**: You still have to manually provision users in Jenkins or write scripts to sync them from LDAP.
- **Limited role mapping**: Jenkins has no native understanding of Crowd group structures or role hierarchies, which means admins must reconfigure access policies separately.
- **Outdated protocol**: LDAP lacks modern authentication features like SAML assertions, session controls, and federated identity—leaving gaps in your security posture.

### The Downside of External IAMs

IAM platforms like Okta or Entra ID offer robust SSO capabilities, but they’re not always the right fit when your user and group data already resides in Crowd:

- **Redundant user directories**: You’ll end up duplicating user records across IAMs, increasing the risk of sync errors and stale permissions.
- **Lost RBAC logic**: Any group-role mappings you’ve set in Crowd won’t automatically carry over—you’d need to replicate that logic in the external IAM.
- **Added complexity**: Integrating an entirely separate IAM solution into Jenkins and Crowd requires additional licensing, configuration, and ongoing maintenance.

**To sum it up**: if your users already log into Jira, Confluence, or Bitbucket via Crowd, and you’ve already built your permission model there, using Crowd as your SAML IdP for Jenkins is the cleanest and most efficient approach. It lets you extend your existing identity architecture to Jenkins without rework or compromises.

## Configuration Overview: Setting Up Jenkins SSO with Crowd as IdP {#configuration-overview}

Connecting Jenkins to Crowd using the miniOrange SAML SSO plugin is a straightforward process that builds on your existing identity architecture. Here’s how it works:

**1. Install the miniOrange SAML SSO Plugin for Jenkins**

The plugin supports Jenkins LTS and open-source distributions, and is easily installed from the Jenkins plugin manager.

**2. Configure SAML in Jenkins**

Set up the plugin with the SAML metadata provided by Crowd:

- **SAML Login URL**
- **Entity ID**
- **X.509 Certificate**

This tells Jenkins to recognize Crowd as a trusted Identity Provider (IdP).

**3. Configure Crowd as a SAML IdP**

Within Crowd, define Jenkins as a Service Provider by:

- Providing the ACS (Assertion Consumer Service) URL from Jenkins
- Mapping key user attributes like username, email, and group
- Enabling group-to-role mapping so Crowd groups can determine access levels in Jenkins

**4. Test and Verify**

After configuration:

- Log in to Jenkins
- Users should be redirected to Crowd, authenticated, and seamlessly logged into Jenkins with the correct role assignments

This setup works alongside existing Crowd-based SSO configurations for Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket, allowing for a consistent and centralized access model across your Atlassian and DevOps tools.

## Security Advantages of This Setup {#security-advantages}

Beyond convenience, this integration has several security benefits:

- **Centralized Authentication**: Password policies, login restrictions, and session controls are applied at the Crowd level
- **Reduced Credential Sprawl**: No need for separate Jenkins logins
- **Just-in-Time Provisioning**: No dormant accounts lingering in Jenkins
- **MFA Compatibility**: You can apply MFA at the Crowd level and extend it to Jenkins
- **Single Logout (SLO)**: Optionally terminate sessions across applications when a user logs out from one

In short, Jenkins becomes part of your secure identity perimeter — not an outlier.

## Real-World Scenario: Scaling Jenkins Without Duplicating Identity Infrastructure {#real-world-scenario}

A fast-growing software company was rapidly expanding its DevOps pipeline, and Jenkins adoption was increasing across engineering teams. With hundreds of users to onboard and strict compliance requirements in place, the IT team had to make a decision:

Should they rebuild access controls in Jenkins from scratch, adopt a new IAM platform just for Jenkins, or extend their existing identity setup in Atlassian Crowd?

They chose the most streamlined and secure option:

**Configure Crowd as the Identity Provider (IdP) for Jenkins using the miniOrange Jenkins SSO plugin.**

Here’s how the solution was implemented:

- Users were authenticated directly in Crowd using existing SAML sessions
- Crowd groups were mapped to Jenkins roles, ensuring consistent access control
- No duplicate user accounts were created, and no new IAM layer was added

**The outcome:**

- Fast, zero-effort onboarding for new users
- Role-based permissions aligned with those in Jira and Confluence
- A unified audit trail maintained through Crowd
- A simplified architecture with fewer components to manage

This solution is now live in production, supporting thousands of daily SSO requests to Jenkins—without the need for separate user management or external IdPs. Crowd remains the single source of truth for identity across the organization.

## Frequently Asked Questions {#faqs}

**Q. Can I use this integration without a third-party IDP?**

Yes. Crowd itself acts as the Identity Provider in this setup. No need for Okta, Azure AD, or Ping unless you choose to connect those to Crowd separately.

**Q. Can I use this setup with Jenkins running inside containers or behind a reverse proxy?**

Yes. The miniOrange app supports containerized Jenkins deployments and reverse proxies like NGINX or Apache. Just ensure the ACS URL and Entity ID are reachable and consistent across environments.

**Q. Does this plugin support SAML logout and session expiry?**

Yes. The plugin supports SAML Single Logout (SLO) and respects session expiry and logout signals issued by Crowd.

## Conclusion: A Unified Identity Layer Across Atlassian and Jenkins {#conclusion}

If your organization already relies on Crowd as the identity provider for Jira, Confluence, or Bitbucket, extending that centralized control to Jenkins is the next logical step.

With the **miniOrange Jenkins SAML SSO plugin**, you can:

- **Unify authentication** across Atlassian and Jenkins using Crowd
- **Preserve role-based access control** without duplicating users
- **Eliminate login friction** for developers working across your CI/CD pipeline
- **Strengthen security and simplify audits** with one centralized identity layer

This integration is not a stopgap — it’s a robust, production-ready architecture built for teams that prioritize security, scalability, and operational efficiency.

If you're ready to modernize Jenkins authentication without reengineering your identity stack, miniOrange makes it possible.


Engineering teams using Atlassian tools often centralize access through Crowd. However, when CI/CD enters the picture with Jenkins, keeping identities centralized becomes challenging as the integration requires you to perform separate logins, and maintain multiple credentials as well as role configurations.

How to Enforce SSO in Jenkins with Atlassian Crowd as the SAML Identity Provider


**81% of hacking-related breaches involve stolen or weak passwords**. This startling statistic from [Verizon’s Data Breach Investigations Report](https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/) underscores a growing reality: traditional credentials are no longer enough to protect your software delivery pipelines.

Jenkins plays a central role in continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), automating everything from code builds to deployments. But this also makes it a high-value target. Jenkins handles assets that attackers would love to get their hands on.

Unfortunately, many Jenkins environments still rely solely on username and password authentication, leaving them vulnerable to brute-force attacks, credential stuffing, and phishing. Once compromised, a Jenkins account can be misused to inject malicious code, modify pipelines, or gain access to production systems.

That’s where **Jenkins Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)** comes in.


**2FA for Jenkins** adds a second layer of protection beyond passwords, ensuring that even if credentials are leaked or stolen, unauthorized access is prevented. By requiring an additional verification step, like a time-based one-time password (OTP), push notification, or security key, Jenkins 2FA drastically reduces the risk of compromise.

To help teams implement this critical layer of defense quickly and effectively, the miniOrange Jenkins 2FA app, the **first-ever 2FA solution built for Jenkins**, offers an easy-to-use, feature-rich solution tailored for Jenkins administrators.


## Why is 2FA Essential to Safeguard Jenkins? {#2fa-for-jenkins}

Jenkins has become an essential component of modern DevOps workflows. But improper security methods can put your Jenkins environment at risk.

**Jenkins Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)** is one of the most effective ways to strengthen the security posture of your pipelines. It goes beyond password-only login by requiring an additional step of identity verification, such as a one-time passcode (OTP), push notification, hardware token, or biometric factor, before granting access to the Jenkins dashboard.

Without **Jenkins 2FA**, a compromised admin account can lead to serious consequences:

- Unauthorized code deployments
- Backdoor injection in build jobs
- Secrets leakage from environment variables
- Full takeover of DevOps infrastructure

That’s why **2FA for Jenkins** is no longer optional, it’s a baseline security requirement. It ensures that even if passwords are weak, reused, or phished, attackers still can’t gain control unless they pass the second verification factor.

By enabling **Jenkins Two Factor Authentication**, you protect not only the Jenkins interface but the entire CI/CD pipeline, from source to production. Whether you’re a small team or an enterprise DevSecOps operation, adopting **Jenkins 2FA** is a foundational step in securing your software supply chain.


## How 2FA Mitigates Risks in Jenkins Environments {#how-2fa-mitigates-risks-in-jenkins}

In CI/CD environments where speed and automation are paramount, security often takes a back seat. But enabling **2FA for Jenkins** ensures that speed doesn’t come at the cost of control. With 2FA in place, even compromised credentials can’t be misused to manipulate jobs, expose secrets, or trigger unauthorized deployments.

By requiring two distinct factors to authenticate, typically something the user knows (password) and something the user has (OTP, mobile device, security key), **Jenkins Two Factor Authentication** neutralizes many of the most common attack vectors, including:

- **Credential stuffing**: Even if an attacker obtains valid Jenkins login credentials through a data breach or phishing, they’ll be blocked at the second factor.
- **Brute-force attacks**: Automated login attempts are rendered ineffective when MFA is in place.
- **Insider threats**: 2FA makes it more difficult for unauthorized internal actors to exploit shared or cached credentials.
- **Session hijacking**: MFA limits damage by verifying users at the point of login, not just when they access the session.


## How Does the miniOrange Jenkins app Offer End-to-End Protection? {#miniorange-jenkins-end-to-end-protection}

The **miniOrange Jenkins 2FA app** delivers a multi-featured solution that strengthens every access point without slowing down your team. Whether you're managing a single instance or a fleet of Jenkins servers, the app’s security model is built for real-world DevOps environments.

### Notable Features 

Here’s how **miniOrange Jenkins 2FA app** offers end-to-end protection:

**1. Support for Mobile Authenticators & OTP**

The app supports various authentication methods including OTP over SMS and email, **mobile authenticators** like Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Okta Verify, and more. For enterprise setups, **Duo Push** is also supported, providing a fast, user-friendly login experience with real-time approval on mobile devices.

**2. Advanced User Management**

Admins get a **dedicated user management dashboard** to control 2FA status per user. You can:

- Enable/disable 2FA for specific users
- Reset 2FA settings remotely
- Monitor which users have enrolled

This level of granularity is vital when managing large Jenkins teams with rotating contributors.

**3. Group-Based Enforcement for Maximum Flexibility**

Apply **Jenkins two-factor authentication** policies only where needed. You can enforce 2FA selectively for administrators, contractors, or critical deployment teams, and skip it for service accounts or internal systems. This ensures security without disrupting automation.

**4. Jenkins API-Level MFA**

Beyond UI logins, **2FA can be enforced on Jenkins APIs** as well. This is critical for securing integrations, automation scripts, and CLI interactions, where credentials are often stored and reused.

**5. Brute-Force & IP-Based Controls**

The app includes native **brute-force attack protection** and supports **IP whitelisting**, allowing admins to block unknown access origins or restrict logins to internal networks.

**6. Enterprise-Ready Licensing & Support**

- **30-day free trial**: Evaluate all premium features in your environment
- **Priority support**: Get email assistance, update access, and help with installation or troubleshooting
- **Live demo available**: Book a session to see it in action before rollout


## How Does the miniOrange app Improve Jenkins Security? {#how-miniorange-app-improve-jenkins-security}

When it comes to securing Jenkins, password-based authentication simply isn’t enough. The [miniOrange Jenkins 2FA app](https://plugins.jenkins.io/miniorange-two-factor/) introduces a robust layer of **multi-factor authentication**, giving administrators fine-grained control over who gets in, how, and from where. But what truly sets it apart is its end-to-end approach to security, combining ease of use with enterprise-grade protection.

Below are the key ways this app improves Jenkins security:

**1. Wide Range of Authentication Methods**

The miniOrange Jenkins 2FA app supports multiple authentication methods, with each method being suitable for a diverse range of scenarios. This allows organizations to accommodate varied user preferences and device availability while ensuring strong authentication across the board.

**Examples**:
- A DevOps team lead uses Duo Push for quicker logins on a work phone, while developers use Google Authenticator on personal devices.
- Contractors are assigned OTP-based login methods only during project periods, enhancing temporary access security.

**2. Guided Setup: Jenkins Multi Factor Authentication Step by Step**

Setting up 2FA doesn’t have to be complex. The **miniOrange Jenkins 2FA app installation guide** walks you through a **step-by-step configuration** process. Whether you're integrating with TOTP apps like Google Authenticator or Duo Push, or defining group-specific policies, the app provides intuitive admin dashboards and detailed documentation.

- Supports multiple authentication types
- Setup wizards for common use cases
- Easy-to-navigate UI for managing users and policies

This makes it one of the **best apps for MFA in Jenkins**, especially for teams without dedicated security engineers.

**3. Protect Jenkins API Endpoints with MFA**

Most Jenkins apps overlook the security of Jenkins APIs. miniOrange extends protection to API access as well, ensuring that automated tasks or script-based calls are not an unprotected backdoor.

- **MFA for Jenkins APIs** available in premium version
- Prevents misuse of Jenkins REST endpoints by requiring MFA tokens

**4. Role-Based Access Control for MFA Policies**

The app allows **group-based 2FA enforcement**, a huge plus for growing teams. For example, you can require MFA for all administrators, but allow service accounts or test users to bypass it (with limited access).

This granularity keeps things secure without slowing down CI/CD pipelines unnecessarily.

**5. OTP-Based MFA for Every Developer**

The app allows you to **enable OTP authentication in Jenkins** using industry-standard Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP) protocols. Supported authenticators include:

- Google Authenticator
- Microsoft Authenticator
- Authy
- Okta Verify
- FreeOTP

These apps generate temporary 6-digit codes that users must enter after providing their primary credentials, effectively neutralizing stolen passwords.

**6. Real-Time User Control and Logs**

From the admin panel, you can:

- View active users and their 2FA status
- Reset or disable 2FA for individual accounts

This improves visibility and responsiveness, especially when troubleshooting 2FA or onboarding new developers.


## Conclusion: Secure Jenkins with Confidence Using miniOrange 2FA {#conclusion}

As Jenkins continues to be a core part of enterprise workflows, it is imperative to ensure its access security. Implementing **Jenkins two factor authentication** isn’t just recommended, it’s essential to defend against credential theft, unauthorized access, and evolving threats.

The **miniOrange Jenkins 2FA app** brings enterprise-grade protection with **multi-factor authentication, group-based access control, OTP login,** and **brute-force protection,** all within a streamlined admin interface. Whether you're looking to **enable OTP authentication in Jenkins**, enforce IP whitelisting, or integrate SSO with MFA, miniOrange offers the best balance of flexibility, ease of setup, and comprehensive security.

[Get started today](https://miniorange.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/2/group/6/create/66) with a free 30-day trial or request a personalized demo. Strengthen your Jenkins instance with the most **trusted app for 2FA in Jenkins**.


## FAQs {#faq}

**1. What Is the Best Way to Secure Jenkins CI/CD with 2FA?**  
Use Jenkins 2FA with brute-force protection, IP whitelisting, group-based MFA rules, and OTP login. Regular audits and a reliable app like miniOrange ensure strong authentication, reduced risk, and alignment with Jenkins authentication security best practices.

**2. Jenkins SSO vs 2FA: Which Is Safer?**  
SSO simplifies logins; 2FA adds protection. Combine both using the Jenkins SAML SSO app and miniOrange 2FA for strong identity security. Use SSO for convenience, 2FA for security, together they provide comprehensive access control in Jenkins.

**3. How to Recover Access to Jenkins If 2FA Device Is Lost?**  
Use backup codes, email OTP, or ask admins to reset 2FA via the app dashboard. Then reconfigure 2FA on a new device. miniOrange ensures recovery without compromising Jenkins multi-factor authentication security.


When it comes to Jenkins, relying on just usernames and passwords puts your pipelines at risk. This blog explains why 2FA is essential for Jenkins security and how it helps block threats like credential stuffing and brute-force attacks. You’ll explore different 2FA methods and see how the miniOrange Jenkins 2FA plugin makes it easy to protect both user access and APIs.

Jenkins SAML SSO

How to Enforce SSO in Jenkins with Atlassian Crowd as the SAML Identity Provider

The Complete Guide to Jenkins 2FA with miniOrange