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GitHub

Connect your GitHub organization to Ciphrix using the GitHub App for automated compliance monitoring of your repositories and development workflows.

Capabilities

The GitHub integration provides the following capabilities:

✅ Compliance Checks

Automatically verify security configurations and compliance controls across your GitHub organization including:

  • Repository security settings
  • Branch protection rules
  • Access controls and permissions
  • Code scanning configurations
  • Secrets management
  • Dependency security

How to Connect GitHub

Prerequisites

Before connecting GitHub, ensure you have:

  • GitHub account with access to your organization
  • Organization Owner or Admin permissions
  • Access to install GitHub Apps in your organization

Connection Instructions

Step 1: Initiate GitHub Connection in Ciphrix

You have two options to initiate the GitHub connection:

  1. Navigate to Integration Library

    • Log in to ciphrix.app
    • Go to Integrations in the sidebar
    • Go to the Integration Library tab
    • Search for or browse to GitHub
  2. Connect GitHub

    • Click the Connect button on the GitHub integration tile
    • A connection form will appear
Option B: From Create Connection
  1. Navigate to Create Connection

    • Log in to ciphrix.app
    • Go to Integrations in the sidebar
    • Click Create Connection
  2. Select GitHub

    • From the connection provider dropdown, select GitHub
    • A connection form will appear

Step 2: Fill Connection Details

  1. Enter Connection Information

    • Connection Name: Enter a friendly name for this connection
      • Example: "My Engineering GitHub"
      • Example: "Product Team GitHub"
      • Example: "Main Organization"
    • Connection Identifier: Enter your GitHub organization name
      • This is your GitHub organization's username
      • Example: If your org URL is https://github.com/acme-corp, enter acme-corp
  2. Important: Do not click Create/Save yet

Step 3: Authorize GitHub App

  1. Click Authorize Button

    • Click the Authorize button on the form
    • A popup window will open for GitHub App installation
  2. Click Link

    • In the popup, click the Link button
    • This will redirect you to GitHub's authorization flow

Step 4: Install GitHub App

The GitHub App installation flow will guide you through the following steps:

  1. Select Organization

    • If you have access to multiple organizations, select the ones you want to connect
    • Click on the organization name
  2. Review Permissions

    • GitHub will show you the permissions that Ciphrix is requesting
    • Review the permission scopes carefully
    • These permissions allow Ciphrix to:
      • Read repository metadata and settings
      • Read security configurations
      • Read organization member information
      • Read branch protection rules
      • Read code scanning results
  3. Select Repository Access

    • Choose repository access:
      • All repositories: Grant access to all current and future repositories
      • Only select repositories: Choose specific repositories to monitor
  4. Complete Installation

    • Click Install or Install & Authorize
    • GitHub will process the installation
    • You'll see a success message

Step 5: Complete Connection

  1. Click Finish

    • After successful installation, click the Finish button
    • The popup window will close automatically
  2. Return to Ciphrix

    • You'll be back at the Ciphrix integration form
    • The connection will be finalized automatically

Step 6: Verify Connection

  1. Check Connection Status

    • After completing the authorization, you'll see the integration status
    • Status should show Connected or Active
  2. Initial Scan

    • Ciphrix will automatically begin scanning your GitHub organization
    • Ciphrix scans your environment once a week
    • You can contact support@ciphrix.com to know your next scan date
    • Compliance checks will run automatically
  3. View Results

    • Navigate to Monitoring
    • View compliance check results and findings for your repositories

Permissions Requested

The Ciphrix GitHub App requests the following read-only permissions:

Repository Permissions

  • Administration: Read-only access to repository settings
  • Contents: Read-only access to repository contents
  • Metadata: Read-only access to repository metadata
  • Security events: Read-only access to security alerts

Organization Permissions

  • Members: Read-only access to organization members
  • Administration: Read-only access to organization settings

These permissions allow Ciphrix to:

  • ✅ Read repository configurations and security settings
  • ✅ View branch protection rules
  • ✅ Check access controls and permissions
  • ✅ Review security scanning configurations
  • ✅ Monitor organization member access
  • ❌ Cannot modify any repository settings
  • ❌ Cannot access or read actual code content
  • ❌ Cannot push code or make commits
  • ❌ Cannot create or modify issues, PRs, or discussions

Managing the Integration

Adding More Repositories

To add more repositories to an existing integration:

  1. Go to your GitHub organization settings
  2. Navigate to Settings > GitHub Apps
  3. Find Ciphrix in the installed apps list
  4. Click Configure
  5. Add additional repositories to the access list
  6. Save changes

Revoking Access

To revoke Ciphrix's access to your GitHub organization:

  1. Go to your GitHub organization settings
  2. Navigate to Settings > GitHub Apps
  3. Find Ciphrix in the installed apps list
  4. Click Configure
  5. Scroll to the bottom and click Uninstall
  6. Confirm the uninstallation

Note: This will also disconnect the integration in Ciphrix.

Troubleshooting

Connection Failed

Issue: Authorization popup didn't open or failed

  • Ensure pop-ups are not blocked by your browser
  • Try using a different browser
  • Clear browser cache and cookies
  • Ensure you have a stable internet connection

Authorization Not Completing

Issue: Stuck on authorization screen

  • Verify you have Owner or Admin permissions in the GitHub organization
  • Check that your GitHub session hasn't expired
  • Try closing the popup and clicking Authorize again
  • Ensure the organization name is correct

No Data Appearing

Issue: Integration connected but no compliance data showing for more than 7 days

App Installation Failed

Issue: GitHub App installation failed

  • Verify you have permissions to install apps in your organization
  • Check if your organization has restrictions on third-party apps
  • Ensure your GitHub organization is not suspended
  • Try uninstalling and reinstalling the app

Organization Not Found

Issue: GitHub organization not found during setup

  • Verify the organization name is spelled correctly
  • Ensure the organization exists and you have access to it
  • Check that you're using the organization username, not the display name
  • Confirm the organization is not private or restricted

Need to Change Organization

Issue: Need to connect a different organization

  • Create a new connection in Ciphrix with the new organization name
  • Follow the authorization flow again
  • You can have multiple GitHub connections for different organizations

Support

Need help with GitHub integration?

  • Email: support@ciphrix.com
  • GitHub App Issues: Verify app installation in your GitHub organization settings