Provisioning and synchronization in Canvas

Question

There seem to be two ways to provision and synchronize users, accounts, terms, courses, sections, enrollments, and logins in Canvas: SIS, REST API (or a combination of both by using the REST API to perform the SIS import). The SIS CSV import seems to be simplest. Curious about those that have an identity management system and whether or not Canvas provisioning is integrated into such a system and, if so, how it is being done.

JWaubWCC · Answer

Thanks.

When integrating the REST API calls into your SIS, for the machine-to-machine access, did you create a special user, assign a role to them with the permission to make modifications to students, courses, etc., and then create an access token for that user for the integration?

jerry_nguyen · Answer

@JWaubWCC

Our Canvas is integrated with a SIS, where user creation and enrolments are handled automatically via the REST API (managed by the SIS platform).

Alternatively, if your system isn’t integrated with Canvas, you can:

* Export your data and transform it into a Canvas-compatible SIS CSV format, or
* Use an automation platform (e.g. Power Automate, Azure Logic Apps, or n8n) to make REST API calls directly to Canvas.