SCIM vs SAML: What Each Does and How To Use Them Together

SCIM (System for Cross-Domain Identity Management) and SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) are two protocols that help developers implement a full authentication solution and manage the user account lifecycle. While SCIM focuses on ensuring two systems are synced at any point in time, SAML is focused on the actual Single Sign-On (SSO) login process. Both protocols complement each other to provide an efficient and secure way for enterprise customers to authenticate users and manage access across their estate. Developers can implement SCIM and SAML manually or use dedicated providers like WorkOS, which offer support for various vendors, normalized attributes, provisioning events handling, self-service onboarding, and easy integration.