# Getting Started

## Preparing Your Environment {#preparing-your-environment}


To make sure you're ready to deploy Bridge, there are a few steps you can take right away.


### Gather Configuration Data {#gather-configuration-data}


- Entity ID(s) for the applications you are configuring
- Preferred NameID format and value
- Attributes you want in assertions, including any defined transformation rules
- Information on how MFA is done for your institution 


### Prepare Existing Signing/Encryption Certificates {#prepare-existing-signingencryption-certificates}




> [!WARNING]
> **Heads Up!**
>
> Existing signing/encryption certificates can only be used with SAML protocol & DNS Add-On enabled.



If you are porting over an existing configuration, please provide this information to your implementation lead using a secure mechanism, such as 1Password, Bitwarden, or another service.