---
title: "Should I set up directory sync?"
canonical_url: "https://docs.getdx.com/knowledgebase/should-i-set-up-directory-sync/"
md_url: "https://docs.getdx.com/knowledgebase/should-i-set-up-directory-sync.md"
last_updated: "2026-05-08"
---

# Should I set up directory sync?
In DX, directory sync serves two potential purposes:

### [SCIM-based role management](https://docs.getdx.com/scim-role-management/)

DX lets you manage user roles through our UI. If necessary, you can use SCIM to assign DX roles through IdP groups.

### [Setting user properties](https://docs.getdx.com/user-properties/)

DX relies on specific user fields for different features within the product. Typically, we recommend setting user fields through CSV uploads or the DX Web API. However, there are two common situations where directory sync is recommended:

- Setting GitHub or GitLab usernames if they can't be populated automatically.
- Setting employee start dates for onboarding metrics and surveys

### [Provisioning users](https://docs.getdx.com/provisioning)

If an account sends snapshot notifications out exclusively by email, then DX will allow the directory sync to provision users. For any integration-based accounts (Slack, Microsoft Teams, Webex), users must be provisioned through that integration to ensure that DX can notify those individuals.
---

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