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 required | N/A |
| SSO required first? | No |
| SSO available? | Yes |
| SSO protocol | Unknown |
| Documentation | Not available |
Supported identity providers
| IdP | SSO | SCIM | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okta | ✓ | ❌ | No dedicated Sterling SCIM integration in Okta OIN. SSO available but provisioning handled through HR system integrations. |
| Microsoft Entra ID | ✓ | ❌ | No documented SCIM provisioning for Azure AD/Entra ID. Integration typically through ATS systems like SAP SuccessFactors. |
| Google Workspace | Via third-party | ❌ | No native support |
| OneLogin | Via third-party | ❌ | No 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:
The Sterling pricing problem
Sterling gates SCIM provisioning behind premium plans, forcing significant cost increases for basic user management.
Tier comparison
| Plan | Price | SSO | SCIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | Custom (per-check pricing) |
Pricing structure
| Plan | Price | SSO | SCIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | Custom (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:
Additional constraints
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:
| Feature | Supported? |
|---|---|
| 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:
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).
Background check/identity verification platform. Integrates through HR systems rather than direct IdP provisioning.
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 Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Small HR team (<10 users) with basic screening needs | Manual management is acceptable |
| Occasional background checks for new hires | Manual user setup as needed |
| Large recruiting organization (50+ users) | Use Stitchflow: automation essential for scale |
| Multi-site HR operations with frequent turnover | Use Stitchflow: automation critical for efficiency |
| Enterprise with compliance audit requirements | Use 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.
Technical specifications
SCIM Version
Not specifiedSupported Operations
Not specifiedSupported Attributes
Plan requirement
Not specifiedPrerequisites
Not specifiedKey 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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