docs/content/admin/configuration/initializing-github-ae.md

title	intro	versions
Initializing GitHub AE	To get your enterprise ready to use, you can complete the initial configuration of {% data variables.product.product_name %}.	[{github-ae *}]

About initialization

Before you can initialize your enterprise, you must purchase {% data variables.product.product_name %}. For more information, contact {% data variables.contact.contact_enterprise_sales %}.

After you purchase {% data variables.product.product_name %}, we'll ask you to provide an email address and username for the person you want to initialize the enterprise. Your dedicated technical account manager in {% data variables.contact.enterprise_support %} will create an account for the enterprise owner and send the enterprise owner an email to log into {% data variables.product.product_name %} and complete the initialization. Make sure the information you provide matches the intended enterprise owner's information in the IdP. For more information about enterprise owners, see "Roles in an enterprise."

During initialization, the enterprise owner will name your enterprise, configure SAML SSO, create policies for all organizations in your enterprise, and configure a support contact for your users.

Prerequisites

{% note %}

Note: Before you begin initialization, store the initial username and password for {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_managed %} securely in a password manager. {% data reusables.saml.contact-support-if-your-idp-is-unavailable %}

{% endnote %}

1. To initialize {% data variables.product.product_location %}, you must have a SAML identity provider (IdP). {% data reusables.saml.ae-uses-saml-sso %} To connect your IdP to your enterprise during initialization, you should have your IdP's Entity ID (SSO) URL, Issuer ID URL, and public signing certificate (Base64-encoded). For more information, see "About identity and access management for your enterprise."

   {% note %}

   Note: {% data reusables.saml.create-a-machine-user %}

   {% endnote %}

2. {% data reusables.saml.assert-the-administrator-attribute %}

Signing in and naming your enterprise

1. Follow the instructions in your welcome email to reach your enterprise.
2. Type your credentials under "Change password", then click Change password.
3. Under "What would you like your enterprise account to be named?", type the enterprise's name, then click Save and continue.

Connecting your IdP to your enterprise

To configure authentication for {% data variables.product.product_name %}, you must provide {% data variables.product.product_name %} with the details for your SAML IdP. {% data variables.product.company_short %} recommends using Azure AD as your IdP. For more information, see "Configuring authentication and provisioning with your identity provider."

1. To the right of "Set up your identity provider", click Configure.
2. Under "Sign on URL", copy and paste the URL for your SAML IdP.
3. Under "Issuer", copy and paste the issuer URL for your SAML IdP.
4. Under "Public certificate", copy and paste the public certificate for your SAML IdP.
5. Click Test SAML configuration to ensure that the information you've entered is correct.
6. Click Save.

Setting your enterprise policies

Configuring policies will set limitations for repository and organization management for your enterprise. These can be reconfigured after the initialization process.

1. To the right of "Set your enterprise policies", click Configure.
2. Under "Default Repository Permissions", use the drop-down menu and click a default permissions level for repositories in your enterprise. If a person has multiple avenues of access to an organization, either individually, through a team, or as an organization member, the highest permission level overrides any lower permission levels. Optionally, to allow organizations within your enterprise to set their default repository permissions, click No policy
3. Under "Repository creation", choose whether you want to allow members to create repositories. Optionally, to allow organizations within your enterprise to set permissions, click No policy.
4. Under "Repository forking", choose whether to allow forking of private and internal repositories. Optionally, to allow organizations within your enterprise to set permissions, click No policy
5. Under "Repository invitations", choose whether members or organization owners can invite collaborators to repositories. Optionally, to allow organizations within your enterprise to set permissions, click No policy
6. Under "Default repository visibility", use the drop-down menu and click the default visibility setting for new repositories.
7. Under "Users can create organizations", use the drop-down menu to enable or disable organization creation access for members of the enterprise.
8. Under "Force pushes", use the drop-down menu and choose whether to allow or block force pushes.
9. Under "Git SSH access", use the drop-down menu and choose whether to enable Git SSH access for all repositories in the enterprise.
10. Click Save
11. Optionally, to reset all selections, click "Reset to default policies".

Setting your internal support contact

You can configure the method your users will use to contact your internal support team. This can be reconfigured after the initialization process.

1. To the right of "Internal support contact", click Configure.
2. Under "Internal support contact", select the method for users of your enterprise to contact support, through a URL or an e-mail address. Then, type the support contact information.
3. Click Save.