Okta API Essential Guide

What type of API does Okta provide?

REST API

Okta primarily offers a REST API, known as the Core Okta API. This is the main way that apps and services interact with Okta. The Core Okta API:

• Uses REST principles and HTTP verbs for operations
• Supports CORS on an API-by-API basis
• Uses JSON as the primary data format
• Is versioned (e.g. /api/v1/users)
• Requires authentication using either OAuth 2.0 access tokens or API tokens

GraphQL API

While Okta's main API is REST-based, they do also offer some GraphQL capabilities:

• There is a blog post showing how to build a GraphQL API with Node.js that integrates with Okta authentication
• This suggests Okta supports using GraphQL APIs, even if their core API is not GraphQL-based

SOAP API

There is no indication that Okta offers a SOAP API. The focus seems to be on their REST API and some GraphQL support.

Key Considerations

• Okta's API uses hypermedia and HATEOAS principles for discoverability
• It supports OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect for authentication
• API versioning is done via the URL path
• Custom HTTP headers like User-Agent are supported

Does the Okta API have webhooks?

Yes, the official Okta API supports webhooks, which are called "Event Hooks" in Okta's terminology. Here are the key points about Okta's Event Hooks:

What are Okta Event Hooks?

Event Hooks are outbound calls from Okta that are sent when specified events occur in your organization. They function similarly to webhooks, providing push notifications for events in your Okta org.

Key Features of Okta Event Hooks

1. Delivery Mechanism: Event Hooks are delivered as HTTPS REST calls to a URL you specify, with event information encapsulated in JSON objects in the request body.

2. Purpose: They are designed to trigger process flows within your own software systems based on events occurring in Okta.

3. Asynchronous Nature: Event Hooks are asynchronous, meaning the Okta process flow that triggered the event hook continues without waiting for a response from your external service.

Types of Events You Can Subscribe To

You can subscribe to a variety of event types, including:

• User lifecycle changes
• Completion of specific stages in Okta process flows
• Changes in Okta objects

Some examples of specific events include:

• User deactivation
• User sign-in events
• Group membership changes

Event Hook Setup and Configuration

To set up an Event Hook, you need to:

1. Implement an external web service to receive event hook calls from Okta.
2. Register the endpoint of your external service with Okta and configure event hook parameters.
3. Verify to Okta that you control the endpoint.
4. Preview the event hook in the Admin Console.

Limitations and Considerations

• You can have a maximum of 25 active and verified event hooks set up in your org at any time.
• Each event hook can be configured to deliver multiple event types.
• Events are delivered on a best-effort basis, at least once, but there's no guarantee of maximum delay between event occurrence and delivery.

Best Practices

• Use the event timestamp (data.events.published property) to establish event ordering.
• Compare the eventId of incoming events against previously received events to detect duplicate deliveries.
• Implement proper security measures, such as verifying the API key that Okta sends with each call.

In summary, Okta's Event Hooks provide a powerful way to integrate Okta events with your external systems, allowing for real-time reactions to changes and events within your Okta organization.

Rate Limits and other limitations

Here are the key points about the API Rate Limits of the Okta API:

Default Rate Limits

• Okta implements API rate limits to protect the service from load spikes or service interruptions [1].

• The rate limits are divided into three categories: authentication/end user, management, and other endpoints [2].

• Each category has APIs with rate limits that are enforced individually and as a cumulative rate limit [2].

• Rate limits vary by service subscription [2].

Specific Rate Limits

• The default rate limit for most endpoints is 1,000 requests per minute for Developer (free) accounts, and 6,000-10,000 requests per minute for paid accounts [2].

• Some specific endpoints have different limits. For example:

  • /app/{app}/{key}/sso/saml: 750 requests per minute
  • /login/do-login: 200 requests per minute
  • /login/login.htm: 850 requests per minute [1]

Token-Based Rate Limits

• By default, API tokens are configured to have 50% of an API endpoint's rate limit [1][2].

• This configuration can be adjusted in the Admin Console [2].

End-User Rate Limits

• Okta limits the number of requests from the Okta user interface to 40 requests per user per 10 seconds per endpoint [1].

Concurrent Rate Limits

• Okta also enforces concurrent rate limits, which is a limit on the number of simultaneous transactions [3].

• For most traffic, including API requests, the concurrent limit ranges from 15 to 75 depending on the subscription level [3].

Additional Considerations

• Okta implements limits on concurrent requests, Okta-generated email messages, end user requests, and home page endpoints [2][4].

• DynamicScale rate limits apply to various endpoints for customers who purchased this add-on [2][4].

• Rate limits may be changed to protect customers, with Okta providing warning when possible [2].

Best Practices

• Use the rate limit dashboard in the Admin Console to monitor API usage [5].

• Consider implementing the maximum value of the limit query parameter for individual API endpoints to reduce the number of calls [5].

• If you need higher limits, you can request rate limit exceptions or contact Okta Support [5].

Remember that these rate limits are subject to change and may be adjusted based on your specific Okta subscription and needs.

Latest API Version

The most recent version of the Okta API is v1. Here are the key points to consider:

API Version

• The Okta API is currently at version v1 [2].
• The API version is included in the path, for example: https://${yourOktaDomain}/api/v1/users [2].

Versioning Policy

• Okta uses a versioned API approach [2].
• Non-breaking changes may be added without advance notice [2].
• Breaking changes, such as removing or renaming properties, are released as new versions of the API [2].

Recent Updates

While there isn't a specific mention of a new API version, Okta regularly updates its API with new features and improvements:

• In the 2024.04.0 release, enhanced app API contracts became Generally Available (GA) in Production [5].
• DPoP support for Okta management APIs became GA in Production in the 2024.02.0 release [5].
• API service integration client secret rotation was introduced in a recent release [4].

Best Practices

• Always use the documented API endpoints on the Okta developer site [2].
• Include a User-Agent header to identify your client application and version [2].
• Keep up to date with the monthly and weekly release notes for new features and changes [1][3][4][5].

It's important to note that while the core API version remains v1, Okta continuously adds new features and endpoints within this version. Developers should regularly check the release notes and documentation for the latest updates and additions to the API.

How to get a Okta developer account and API Keys?

Here are the key steps to get a developer account for Okta and create an API integration:

1. Sign up for a free Okta Developer Edition account:

   • Go to [https://developer.okta.com/signup/]
   • Fill out the form to create your free Okta org

2. Once you have your Okta developer account, you can start building your API service integration:

   • Log in to your Okta developer org
   • Go to the OIN Manager [https://oin.okta.com]
   • Click "Start Submission Form" to begin registering your integration

3. Configure your API service integration:

   • On the "API Service" tab, select "On" for "API Service support"
   • Add the OAuth 2.0 scopes your integration needs
   • Specify other required details like app name, description, etc.

4. Test your integration:

   • Click "Test in Okta" to install a test instance in your org
   • This will provide you with client credentials (client ID and secret) to use for testing

5. Implement the OAuth 2.0 client credentials flow in your app:

   • Request an access token using your client credentials
   • Use the access token to make API calls to Okta

6. Submit your integration for review:

   • Once testing is complete, click "Submit for Review" in the OIN Manager
   • The Okta team will review and approve your integration

7. After approval, your integration will be published in the Okta Integration Network catalog for customers to discover and use.

What can you do with the Okta API?

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Here's a list of data models you can interact with using the Okta API, along with what is possible for each:

Users

• Create, read, update, and delete users
• Manage user profiles, including custom attributes
• Perform lifecycle operations (activate, deactivate, suspend, etc.)
• Manage user credentials and password policies

Groups

• Create, read, update, and delete groups
• Manage group memberships
• Assign users to groups

Applications

• Create, read, update, and delete applications
• Manage application settings and configurations
• Assign users and groups to applications

Policies

• Create, read, update, and delete policies
• Define rules for authentication, authorization, and access
• Manage password policies, MFA policies, and sign-on policies

Authorization Servers

• Create, read, update, and delete custom authorization servers
• Manage scopes and claims
• Configure token settings and lifetimes

Factors

• Enroll, manage, and verify multi-factor authentication (MFA) factors
• Support various factor types (SMS, email, push notifications, etc.)

Sessions

• Create and manage user authentication sessions
• Control session lifetimes and behaviors

Devices

• Manage device identity and lifecycle
• Associate devices with users

API Tokens

• Generate and manage API tokens for authentication
• Control token scopes and permissions

Identity Providers

• Configure and manage external identity providers
• Set up social login and federation

Events and Logs

• Retrieve and analyze system logs and user events
• Monitor security and operational activities

Customization

• Manage custom domains
• Customize email templates and notifications

Network Zones

• Define and manage network zones for security policies

Hooks

• Create and manage event hooks for custom integrations

Each of these data models can be interacted with through various API endpoints, allowing for comprehensive management and automation of Okta's identity and access management features.