diff --git a/packages/app/src/identityProviders.ts b/packages/app/src/identityProviders.ts
index fab0e92577..388bc8d8b6 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/identityProviders.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/identityProviders.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import {
   gitlabAuthApiRef,
   oktaAuthApiRef,
   githubAuthApiRef,
+  samlAuthApiRef,
   microsoftAuthApiRef,
 } from '@backstage/core';
 
@@ -53,4 +54,10 @@ export const providers = [
     message: 'Sign In using Okta',
     apiRef: oktaAuthApiRef,
   },
+  {
+    id: 'saml-auth-provider',
+    title: 'SAML',
+    message: 'Sign In using SAML',
+    apiRef: samlAuthApiRef,
+  },
 ];
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/auth.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/auth.ts
index 800a865fea..109f15b26e 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/auth.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/auth.ts
@@ -310,3 +310,13 @@ export const oauth2ApiRef = createApiRef<
   id: 'core.auth.oauth2',
   description: 'Example of how to use oauth2 custom provider',
 });
+
+/**
+ * Provides authentication for saml based identity providers
+ */
+export const samlAuthApiRef = createApiRef<
+  ProfileInfoApi & BackstageIdentityApi & SessionApi
+>({
+  id: 'core.auth.saml',
+  description: 'Example of how to use SAML custom provider',
+});
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/index.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/index.ts
index a6d7e2c989..39223e8e15 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/index.ts
@@ -19,5 +19,6 @@ export * from './gitlab';
 export * from './google';
 export * from './oauth2';
 export * from './okta';
+export * from './saml';
 export * from './auth0';
 export * from './microsoft';
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/saml/SamlAuth.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/saml/SamlAuth.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..973b402756
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/saml/SamlAuth.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import SamlIcon from '@material-ui/icons/AcUnit';
+import { DirectAuthConnector } from '../../../../lib/AuthConnector';
+import { SessionManager } from '../../../../lib/AuthSessionManager/types';
+import { Observable } from '../../../../types';
+import {
+  ProfileInfo,
+  BackstageIdentity,
+  SessionState,
+  AuthRequestOptions,
+  ProfileInfoApi,
+  BackstageIdentityApi,
+  SessionApi,
+} from '../../../definitions/auth';
+import { AuthProvider, DiscoveryApi } from '../../../definitions';
+import { SamlSession } from './types';
+import {
+  AuthSessionStore,
+  StaticAuthSessionManager,
+} from '../../../../lib/AuthSessionManager';
+
+type CreateOptions = {
+  discoveryApi: DiscoveryApi;
+  environment?: string;
+  provider?: AuthProvider & { id: string };
+};
+
+export type SamlAuthResponse = {
+  profile: ProfileInfo;
+  backstageIdentity: BackstageIdentity;
+};
+
+const DEFAULT_PROVIDER = {
+  id: 'saml',
+  title: 'SAML',
+  icon: SamlIcon,
+};
+
+class SamlAuth implements ProfileInfoApi, BackstageIdentityApi, SessionApi {
+  static create({
+    discoveryApi,
+    environment = 'development',
+    provider = DEFAULT_PROVIDER,
+  }: CreateOptions) {
+    const connector = new DirectAuthConnector<SamlSession>({
+      discoveryApi,
+      environment,
+      provider,
+    });
+
+    const sessionManager = new StaticAuthSessionManager<SamlSession>({
+      connector,
+    });
+
+    const authSessionStore = new AuthSessionStore<SamlSession>({
+      manager: sessionManager,
+      storageKey: 'samlSession',
+    });
+
+    return new SamlAuth(authSessionStore);
+  }
+
+  sessionState$(): Observable<SessionState> {
+    return this.sessionManager.sessionState$();
+  }
+
+  constructor(private readonly sessionManager: SessionManager<SamlSession>) {}
+
+  async signIn() {
+    await this.getBackstageIdentity({});
+  }
+  async signOut() {
+    await this.sessionManager.removeSession();
+  }
+
+  async getBackstageIdentity(
+    options: AuthRequestOptions,
+  ): Promise<BackstageIdentity | undefined> {
+    const session = await this.sessionManager.getSession(options);
+    return session?.backstageIdentity;
+  }
+
+  async getProfile(options: AuthRequestOptions = {}) {
+    const session = await this.sessionManager.getSession(options);
+    return session?.profile;
+  }
+}
+
+export default SamlAuth;
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/saml/index.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/saml/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c2436ab435
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/saml/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+export { default as SamlAuth } from './SamlAuth';
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/saml/types.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/saml/types.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..296f70b0ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/implementations/auth/saml/types.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+import { ProfileInfo, BackstageIdentity } from '../../../definitions';
+
+export type SamlSession = {
+  userId: string;
+  profile: ProfileInfo;
+  backstageIdentity: BackstageIdentity;
+};
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthConnector/DirectAuthConnector.ts b/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthConnector/DirectAuthConnector.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..517bf82ae7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthConnector/DirectAuthConnector.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+import {
+  AuthProvider,
+  ProfileInfo,
+  BackstageIdentity,
+  DiscoveryApi,
+} from '../../apis/definitions';
+import { showLoginPopup } from '../loginPopup';
+
+type Options = {
+  discoveryApi: DiscoveryApi;
+  environment?: string;
+  provider: AuthProvider & { id: string };
+};
+
+export type DirectAuthResponse = {
+  userId: string;
+  profile: ProfileInfo;
+  backstageIdentity: BackstageIdentity;
+};
+
+export class DirectAuthConnector<DirectAuthResponse> {
+  private readonly discoveryApi: DiscoveryApi;
+  private readonly environment: string | undefined;
+  private readonly provider: AuthProvider & { id: string };
+
+  constructor(options: Options) {
+    const { discoveryApi, environment, provider } = options;
+
+    this.discoveryApi = discoveryApi;
+    this.environment = environment;
+    this.provider = provider;
+  }
+
+  async createSession(): Promise<DirectAuthResponse> {
+    const popupUrl = await this.buildUrl('/start');
+    const payload = await showLoginPopup({
+      url: popupUrl,
+      name: `${this.provider.title} Login`,
+      origin: new URL(popupUrl).origin,
+      width: 450,
+      height: 730,
+    });
+
+    return {
+      ...payload,
+      id: payload.profile.email,
+    };
+  }
+
+  async refreshSession(): Promise<any> {}
+
+  async removeSession(): Promise<void> {
+    const res = await fetch(await this.buildUrl('/logout'), {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: {
+        'x-requested-with': 'XMLHttpRequest',
+      },
+      credentials: 'include',
+    }).catch(error => {
+      throw new Error(`Logout request failed, ${error}`);
+    });
+
+    if (!res.ok) {
+      const error: any = new Error(`Logout request failed, ${res.statusText}`);
+      error.status = res.status;
+      throw error;
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async buildUrl(path: string): Promise<string> {
+    const baseUrl = await this.discoveryApi.getBaseUrl('auth');
+    return `${baseUrl}/${this.provider.id}${path}?env=${this.environment}`;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthConnector/index.ts b/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthConnector/index.ts
index db5c582328..388619e2c1 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthConnector/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthConnector/index.ts
@@ -15,4 +15,5 @@
  */
 
 export { DefaultAuthConnector } from './DefaultAuthConnector';
+export { DirectAuthConnector } from './DirectAuthConnector';
 export * from './types';
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthSessionManager/AuthSessionStore.ts b/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthSessionManager/AuthSessionStore.ts
index f2b8558f74..e82557b1ce 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthSessionManager/AuthSessionStore.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthSessionManager/AuthSessionStore.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ type Options<T> = {
   /** Storage key to use to store sessions */
   storageKey: string;
   /** Used to get the scope of the session */
-  sessionScopes: SessionScopesFunc<T>;
+  sessionScopes?: SessionScopesFunc<T>;
   /** Used to check if the session needs to be refreshed, defaults to never refresh */
   sessionShouldRefresh?: SessionShouldRefreshFunc<T>;
 };
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthSessionManager/StaticAuthSessionManager.ts b/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthSessionManager/StaticAuthSessionManager.ts
index e59c11421c..e02b600828 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthSessionManager/StaticAuthSessionManager.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthSessionManager/StaticAuthSessionManager.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ type Options<T> = {
   /** The connector used for acting on the auth session */
   connector: AuthConnector<T>;
   /** Used to get the scope of the session */
-  sessionScopes: (session: T) => Set<string>;
+  sessionScopes?: (session: T) => Set<string>;
   /** The default scopes that should always be present in a session, defaults to none. */
   defaultScopes?: Set<string>;
 };
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthSessionManager/common.ts b/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthSessionManager/common.ts
index 83b81bc81a..ff2897535d 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthSessionManager/common.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/lib/AuthSessionManager/common.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export function hasScopes(
 }
 
 type ScopeHelperOptions<T> = {
-  sessionScopes: SessionScopesFunc<T>;
+  sessionScopes: SessionScopesFunc<T> | undefined;
   defaultScopes?: Set<string>;
 };
 
@@ -46,13 +46,16 @@ export class SessionScopeHelper<T> {
     if (!scopes) {
       return true;
     }
+    if (this.options.sessionScopes === undefined) {
+      return true;
+    }
     const sessionScopes = this.options.sessionScopes(session);
     return hasScopes(sessionScopes, scopes);
   }
 
   getExtendedScope(session: T | undefined, scopes?: Set<string>) {
     const newScope = new Set(this.options.defaultScopes);
-    if (session) {
+    if (session && this.options.sessionScopes !== undefined) {
       const sessionScopes = this.options.sessionScopes(session);
       for (const scope of sessionScopes) {
         newScope.add(scope);
diff --git a/packages/core/src/api-wrappers/defaultApis.ts b/packages/core/src/api-wrappers/defaultApis.ts
index a3f0cb0251..dedadf0456 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/api-wrappers/defaultApis.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/api-wrappers/defaultApis.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ import {
   createApiFactory,
   configApiRef,
   UrlPatternDiscovery,
+  samlAuthApiRef,
+  SamlAuth,
 } from '@backstage/core-api';
 
 export const defaultApis = [
@@ -132,4 +134,11 @@ export const defaultApis = [
     factory: ({ discoveryApi, oauthRequestApi }) =>
       OAuth2.create({ discoveryApi, oauthRequestApi }),
   }),
+  createApiFactory({
+    api: samlAuthApiRef,
+    deps: {
+      discoveryApi: discoveryApiRef,
+    },
+    factory: ({ discoveryApi }) => SamlAuth.create({ discoveryApi }),
+  }),
 ];
diff --git a/packages/core/src/layout/Sidebar/DefaultProviderSettings.tsx b/packages/core/src/layout/Sidebar/DefaultProviderSettings.tsx
index f96c6adb2f..99c5225c83 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/layout/Sidebar/DefaultProviderSettings.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/layout/Sidebar/DefaultProviderSettings.tsx
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import {
   oauth2ApiRef,
   oktaAuthApiRef,
   microsoftAuthApiRef,
+  samlAuthApiRef,
   useApi,
 } from '@backstage/core-api';
 import Star from '@material-ui/icons/Star';
@@ -69,6 +70,13 @@ export const DefaultProviderSettings = () => {
           icon={Star}
         />
       )}
+      {providers.includes('saml') && (
+        <ProviderSettingsItem
+          title="SAML"
+          apiRef={samlAuthApiRef}
+          icon={Star}
+        />
+      )}
       {providers.includes('oauth2') && (
         <ProviderSettingsItem
           title="YourOrg"
diff --git a/plugins/auth-backend/src/providers/saml/provider.ts b/plugins/auth-backend/src/providers/saml/provider.ts
index 2bd8ed0bf3..a90f3e3053 100644
--- a/plugins/auth-backend/src/providers/saml/provider.ts
+++ b/plugins/auth-backend/src/providers/saml/provider.ts
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ export class SamlAuthProvider implements AuthProviderRouteHandlers {
       // TODO: This flow doesn't issue an identity token that can be used to validate
       //       the identity of the user in other backends, which we need in some form.
       done(undefined, {
-        userId: profile.ID!,
+        userId: profile.nameID!,
         profile: {
           email: profile.email!,
           displayName: profile.displayName as string,