How to Add an Organization to Bitwarden: A Comprehensive Guide

Adding an organization to Bitwarden allows you and your team to securely share passwords and sensitive information. To add an organization, you’ll need a Bitwarden account and a paid subscription if you intend to use the features associated with organizations (e.g., unlimited members, custom policies, etc.). The basic process involves creating the organization within your Bitwarden account, inviting members, and configuring permissions and collections to manage access.

Creating Your Bitwarden Organization

The process of creating an organization in Bitwarden is straightforward but essential for team password management. Follow these steps carefully:

1. Log in to your Bitwarden account: Access the Bitwarden web vault (recommended for initial setup) or desktop application. Ensure you’re logged in with the account that will own the organization. This account will typically become the organization’s owner.
2. Navigate to Organizations: In the web vault, find the “Organizations” tab in the left-hand navigation menu. In the desktop app, the location might vary slightly but will be clearly labeled.
3. Click “Create Organization”: You’ll see a prominent button or link to create a new organization. Click it.
4. Enter Organization Details:
   • Organization Name: Choose a descriptive and easily recognizable name for your organization. This is how it will appear to all members.
   • Billing Email: Enter an email address that will be associated with billing and subscription management for the organization. It’s generally best practice to use a group email address, or a dedicated administrator’s email address.
   • Choose your plan: If you’re not already subscribed to a paid plan, you’ll be prompted to choose a plan that fits the needs of your team. Bitwarden offers various plans depending on the number of users, features required, and level of support needed. Select the appropriate plan.
5. Review and Confirm: Carefully review the information you’ve entered. Once you’re satisfied, confirm the creation of the organization.
6. Initial Configuration: After the organization is created, you’ll be taken to its settings page where you can further configure it.

Inviting Members to Your Organization

Once your organization exists, the next step is to invite members to join.

1. Navigate to the “Members” Tab: Within the organization’s settings, find the “Members” tab.
2. Click “Invite User”: You’ll see a button or link to invite new users. Click it.
3. Enter Member’s Email Address: Enter the email address of the person you want to invite. Ensure the email address is correct, as this is how the invitation will be sent.
4. Assign Permissions: Choose the appropriate permissions for the new member. You can typically choose between:
   • Member: Basic access to shared items within the organization.
   • Admin: Elevated privileges, including the ability to manage members, collections, and policies.
   • Owner: The highest level of access. An owner can perform any action within the organization, including deleting it.
5. Send Invitation: Click the “Invite” button to send the invitation email.
6. Member Acceptance: The invited member will receive an email with a link to accept the invitation and join the organization. They’ll need to have a Bitwarden account (or create one if they don’t already).

Configuring Collections and Permissions

Collections are essential for organizing and controlling access to shared passwords and other sensitive information within your organization.

1. Create Collections:
   • Navigate to the “Collections” tab within the organization’s settings.
   • Click “Create Collection”.
   • Give the collection a descriptive name that reflects its purpose (e.g., “Development Team Passwords”, “Finance Department Credentials”).
   • You can optionally add a description to further clarify the collection’s purpose.
2. Assign Permissions to Collections: For each collection, you need to define which members have access and what level of access they have.
   • Select a collection.
   • You’ll see a list of organization members.
   • For each member, choose the appropriate access level:
     • Read Only: The member can view the items in the collection but cannot edit them.
     • Write: The member can view and edit items in the collection.
     • Owner: The member has full control over the collection, including the ability to manage permissions and delete the collection.
3. Add Items to Collections: Once you have collections and permissions configured, you can start adding passwords and other sensitive information to them.
   • When creating a new item in Bitwarden, you can choose which organization and collection it belongs to.
   • You can also move existing items to different collections.

Advanced Organization Settings

Beyond the basic setup, Bitwarden offers several advanced organization settings to further customize your team’s password management experience:

• Policies: Enforce specific security policies for your organization, such as password complexity requirements, two-factor authentication enforcement, and session timeout settings.
• Directory Connector: Integrate Bitwarden with your existing directory services (e.g., Active Directory, LDAP) for automated user provisioning and de-provisioning.
• Event Logs: Monitor activity within your organization, such as logins, password changes, and collection modifications. This can be helpful for auditing and security purposes.
• Custom Fields: Add custom fields to vault items to store additional information relevant to your organization.
• Single Sign-On (SSO): Configure SSO to allow users to log in to Bitwarden using their existing corporate credentials.

By carefully configuring these settings, you can tailor Bitwarden to meet the specific needs of your organization and enhance its overall security posture.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions related to adding and managing organizations in Bitwarden:

1. What are the benefits of using an organization in Bitwarden?

   • Organizations enable secure password sharing among team members, centralized management of sensitive information, and enforcement of security policies.

2. How much does it cost to add an organization to Bitwarden?

   • Bitwarden offers a free tier for individuals, but organizations typically require a paid subscription to unlock features like unlimited members, custom policies, and advanced reporting. Specific pricing varies based on the plan and number of users.

3. Can I have multiple organizations in Bitwarden?

   • Yes, you can create and manage multiple organizations under a single Bitwarden account. This is useful for managing different teams or projects.

4. What happens if I delete an organization in Bitwarden?

   • Deleting an organization is a permanent action. All data within the organization, including passwords and notes, will be permanently deleted and unrecoverable. Exercise extreme caution before deleting an organization.

5. How do I transfer ownership of a Bitwarden organization?

   • An owner can promote another member to owner status within the organization’s “Members” tab. The existing owner then needs to demote themselves, or leave the organization.

6. What are the different roles and permissions within a Bitwarden organization?

   • The main roles are Member, Admin, and Owner, each with increasing levels of access and control over the organization’s resources.

7. Can I use two-factor authentication (2FA) with my Bitwarden organization?

   • Yes, and it is highly recommended. You can enforce 2FA for all members of your organization through the organization’s policies.

8. How do I recover a deleted item from a Bitwarden organization?

   • Deleted items are typically moved to the “Trash” folder. You can restore them from there within a certain timeframe (usually 30 days). After that, they are permanently deleted.

9. How do I integrate Bitwarden with my existing directory service (e.g., Active Directory)?

   • Bitwarden offers a Directory Connector feature that allows you to synchronize users and groups from your directory service. This requires a paid plan.

10. What is the difference between a collection and a folder in Bitwarden?

    • Folders are private and for individual use. Collections are shared within an organization and controlled by access permissions.

11. How do I audit activity within my Bitwarden organization?

    • Bitwarden provides event logs that track activity such as logins, password changes, and collection modifications. This feature is typically available on paid plans.

12. Can I customize the branding of my Bitwarden organization?

    • Some Bitwarden plans offer custom branding options, allowing you to add your company logo and customize the appearance of the web vault and apps.

13. How do I remove a member from a Bitwarden organization?

    • As an Admin or Owner, you can remove a member from the organization within the “Members” tab.

14. What happens to a member’s access when they leave the organization?

    • When a member is removed from the organization, they immediately lose access to all shared passwords and sensitive information.

15. Where can I find more detailed documentation and support for Bitwarden organizations?

    • Bitwarden provides extensive documentation and support resources on their website, including articles, FAQs, and a community forum. You can find it at https://bitwarden.com/help/.