Getting Started with Keycloak: A Beginner’s Guide to Open Source IAM

Getting Started with Keycloak: A Beginner’s Guide to Open Source IAM

Setting up Identity and Access Management (IAM) can be daunting, especially when you’re dealing with multiple applications and users. Keycloak, an open-source IAM solution, simplifies this process by providing robust authentication and authorization capabilities. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the basics of getting started with Keycloak, covering everything from setting up your first realm to integrating it with your applications. Understanding the Problem Before diving into Keycloak, let’s understand why IAM is crucial. Imagine managing access to multiple applications across different teams. Without a centralized system, you’d need to handle user management, authentication, and authorization separately for each application. This leads to inconsistencies, security risks, and increased administrative overhead. Keycloak addresses these issues by providing a unified platform for managing identities and access. ...

Dec 18, 2025 · 5 min · 956 words · IAMDevBox