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Sterling SCIM guide

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How to automate Sterling user provisioning, and what it actually costs

Summary and recommendation

Sterling (now part of First Advantage) does not support SCIM provisioning on any plan. While Sterling offers SAML SSO integration with identity providers like Okta and Azure AD, this background screening platform operates fundamentally differently from typical SaaS applications. Sterling integrates primarily through ATS/HRIS systems like SAP SuccessFactors and Workday rather than direct IdP provisioning, with no public documentation for SCIM capabilities despite its Enterprise-tier positioning and custom per-check pricing model.

This creates a significant gap for IT teams managing Sterling access across their organization. Background screening platforms typically require careful access control since they handle sensitive personal information and compliance data. Without SCIM provisioning, IT administrators must manually manage user accounts for HR teams, recruiters, and compliance officers - creating both security risks and administrative overhead. SSO authentication alone doesn't solve the core problem of user lifecycle management, leaving organizations vulnerable to orphaned accounts and access creep in a system that processes highly sensitive background check data.

The strategic alternative

Sterling has no native SCIM. Automate offboarding, user access reviews, and license workflows across every app, including the ones without APIs. We maintain the integration layer underneath. You focus on judgment, not plumbing.

Quick SCIM facts

SCIM available?No
SCIM tier requiredN/A
SSO required first?No
SSO available?Yes
SSO protocolUnknown
DocumentationNot available

Supported identity providers

IdPSSOSCIMNotes
OktaNo dedicated Sterling SCIM integration in Okta OIN. SSO available but provisioning handled through HR system integrations.
Microsoft Entra IDNo documented SCIM provisioning for Azure AD/Entra ID. Integration typically through ATS systems like SAP SuccessFactors.
Google WorkspaceVia third-partyNo native support
OneLoginVia third-partyNo native support

The cost of not automating

Without SCIM (or an alternative like Stitchflow), your IT team manages Sterling accounts manually. Here's what that costs:

Source: Stitchflow aggregate data across apps with 2+ instances, normalized to 500 employees
Orphaned accounts (ex-employees with access)7
Unused licenses12
IT hours spent on manual management/year101 hours
Unused license cost/year$3,925
IT labor cost/year$6,088
Cost of compliance misses/year$1,741
Total annual financial impact$11,754

The Sterling pricing problem

Sterling gates SCIM provisioning behind premium plans, forcing significant cost increases for basic user management.

Tier comparison

PlanPriceSSOSCIM
EnterpriseCustom (per-check pricing)

Pricing structure

PlanPriceSSOSCIM
EnterpriseCustom (per-check pricing)

Sterling operates on a per-background-check pricing model with custom quotes. Since it was acquired by First Advantage for $2.2 billion, enterprise features and integrations require direct vendor contact.

What this means in practice

Without native SCIM, Sterling user access follows this workflow:

Manual account creation
IT must create Sterling accounts manually or rely on HR system integrations
ATS/HRIS dependency
Most organizations provision Sterling access through their existing HR systems (Workday, SuccessFactors) rather than their IdP
Limited automation
User lifecycle management depends entirely on your ATS/HRIS integration capabilities
SSO only
SAML SSO is available, but it doesn't solve the provisioning challenge

Additional constraints

Integration complexity
Sterling's primary integration path is through ATS/HRIS systems, not direct IdP connections
Vertical-specific workflow
Background screening platforms typically follow hire-to-retire processes rather than standard SaaS user management
Documentation gaps
SSO/SCIM features aren't publicly documented, requiring enterprise sales engagement
First Advantage consolidation
Post-acquisition changes may affect integration roadmaps and support processes

Summary of challenges

  • Sterling does not provide native SCIM at any price tier
  • Organizations must rely on third-party tools or manual provisioning
  • Our research shows teams manually provisioning this app spend significant hidden costs annually

What Sterling actually offers for identity

Limited SSO Integration (Enterprise only)

Sterling (now part of First Advantage) provides minimal direct identity integration options:

FeatureSupported?
SAML SSO✓ Yes (limited documentation)
SCIM provisioning❌ No
User creation❌ Manual only
User updates❌ Manual only
Group management❌ No
JIT provisioning❌ No

Key limitation: Sterling operates primarily as a background screening platform that integrates through your existing ATS/HRIS systems (like Workday or SuccessFactors) rather than providing direct IdP provisioning.

Integration Reality

Sterling's identity approach reflects its specialized use case:

No public SCIM documentation
Identity management isn't Sterling's core focus
ATS/HRIS dependency
User access typically flows through your HR system integrations
Custom pricing model
Per-check billing rather than seat-based pricing makes traditional provisioning less relevant
Limited user base
Primarily HR teams and recruiters, not broad company access

The real issue: Sterling users are typically provisioned through your HRIS system when background checks are initiated, making direct IdP provisioning largely unnecessary for most use cases. However, if you need centralized access control for Sterling administrators, you're limited to basic SSO without automated provisioning.

What IT admins are saying

Sterling's lack of direct identity provider integration creates manual overhead for IT teams managing background screening access:

  • No documented SCIM provisioning means manual user management
  • Background screening access tied to ATS/HRIS systems rather than corporate IdP
  • Limited SSO documentation makes integration planning difficult
  • Per-check pricing model doesn't align with typical SaaS seat-based provisioning

SSO/SCIM not publicly documented - integrates primarily through ATS/HRIS systems (SAP SuccessFactors, Workday).

Sterling integration documentation

Background check/identity verification platform. Integrates through HR systems rather than direct IdP provisioning.

Technical integration notes

The recurring theme

Sterling operates as a specialized background screening service that expects integration through existing HR systems rather than direct identity provider connections. IT admins must coordinate with HR teams to manage access, creating dependencies outside their normal provisioning workflows.

The decision

Your SituationRecommendation
Small HR team (<10 users) with basic screening needsManual management is acceptable
Occasional background checks for new hiresManual user setup as needed
Large recruiting organization (50+ users)Use Stitchflow: automation essential for scale
Multi-site HR operations with frequent turnoverUse Stitchflow: automation critical for efficiency
Enterprise with compliance audit requirementsUse Stitchflow: automated provisioning provides audit trail

The bottom line

Sterling (First Advantage) is a leading background screening platform, but it operates differently from typical SaaS apps—there's no native SCIM provisioning, and user access is typically managed through ATS/HRIS integrations rather than direct IdP control. For organizations that need centralized identity management and automated provisioning for their Sterling users, Stitchflow bridges this gap with managed automation.

Make Sterling workflows AI-native

Sterling has no native SCIM. We build complete offboarding, user access reviews, and license workflows across every app, including the ones without APIs.

Covers apps without native SCIM, including the ones without APIs
Less than a week, start to finish (~2 hours of your time)
Built with your team; extend to anything else in the company
Book a Demo

Technical specifications

SCIM Version

Not specified

Supported Operations

Not specified

Supported Attributes

SSO/SCIM not publicly documentedNow part of First AdvantageContact vendor for enterprise featuresIntegrates primarily through ATS/HRIS systems (SAP SuccessFactors, Workday)

Plan requirement

Not specified

Prerequisites

Not specified

Key limitations

  • SSO/SCIM not publicly documented
  • Now part of First Advantage
  • Contact vendor for enterprise features
  • Integrates primarily through ATS/HRIS systems (SAP SuccessFactors, Workday)

Documentation not available.

Unlock SCIM for
Sterling

Sterling has no native SCIM. We still automate end-to-end workflows across every app, including the ones without APIs.

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Last updated: 2026-01-11

* Pricing and features sourced from public documentation.

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