# Getting Started with Lifecycle SaaS

We are continuously improving Sonatype products in step with latest cybersecurity directives from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), most recent curated vulnerability data, innovative ideas from our teams and most importantly, customer feedback.

With Lifecycle SaaS, you can benefit from the latest improvements to keep your software supply chain secure even as the threat landscape continues to evolve. In addition, using Lifecycle SaaS reduces your time to value by skipping the work needed to provision hardware, configure the service, and deploy the IQ Server.

## Steps to get started with Lifecycle SaaS

Sonatype makes your onboarding process extremely swift and easy.

1. [Create your organization account](https://help.sonatype.com/en/getting-started-with-lifecycle-saas.html#UUID-2c03e765-9442-a503-e363-bf4637306a3c_N1713215778621 "Step 1: Create your organization account")

2. [Create your IQ Server service accounts](https://help.sonatype.com/en/getting-started-with-lifecycle-saas.html#UUID-2c03e765-9442-a503-e363-bf4637306a3c_N1713216012982 "Step 2: Create your IQ Server Service Accounts")

3. [Designate your support contacts](https://help.sonatype.com/en/getting-started-with-lifecycle-saas.html#UUID-2c03e765-9442-a503-e363-bf4637306a3c_N1713217795020 "Designate your Support Contacts")

### Step 1: Create your organization account

1. Access your email sent by the _Sonatype_ sales team.

2. Follow the instructions in the email to create your organization account.

3. Assign administrative access to work emails of the users who will be administrators for your account.

4. Add your company logo to your account (optional).

You will receive an email from Sonatype to verify your email address. Sonatype will send you the link to your _Sonatype Platform_ and configuration steps for Idp (identity provider).

### Step 2: Create your _IQ Server_ Service Accounts

Your security administrator will manage this. These accounts will have access to all repository management tasks and server configurations.

You have the option to use the default identity provider (Idp) provided by Sonatype or you can use your own Idp.

#### Using the default Idp

1. Invite a new user for the service account

1. Go to the _Sonatype Platform_ and sign in as the default admin.
   2. Click on the _Settings_ icon on the top right corner to view your _System Preferences_ and select _Users_.
   3. Click on _Invite User_, fill in the _User Details_ fields, and save.

**NOTE**: You should be able to login to the service account email to set the password for the new service account user.

2. Log in as the service account user and generate a user token for the service account

1. Go to the _Sonatype Platform_ and sign in as the service account user.
   2. Click on the _Profile_ icon at the top right corner and select _Manage User Token_.
   3. Click on _Generate User Token_ and save your token credentials for future use.

#### Using your own Idp

1. Create a service account user for your Idp.

Use your Idp to set up a user for the service account. This user should have a valid email and credentials to log in using your Idp.

**NOTE**: You should be able to log as the service account user to generate the user token.

2. Log in as the service account user and generate a user token

### Designate your Support Contacts

Once your organization is created, you can add as many members as provided by your license. In addition, up to four (4) members of your organization can be designated as "Authorized Support Contacts" and will have full access to the support team.

For issues setting up your organization or adding support contacts, visit [support.sonatype.com](https://support.sonatype.com/hc/en-us) and click _Submit A Request_.

### Lifecycle SaaS Service Limits

We have set service limits (quotas) for Lifecycle SaaS to ensure stability, prevent abuse and manage the capacity of our platform.

Refer to [Service Limits for Lifecycle SaaS](https://help.sonatype.com/en/service-limits-for-lifecycle-saas.html "Service Limits for Lifecycle SaaS") for maximum values for resources, actions and items you can use within your account.