# Jira Integration

### Overview

Rally integrates directly with your Jira environment, maintaining a seamless connection between your discussions and tickets. Each Rally session links to its Jira issues, ensuring important updates are synchronized.

### Adding Issues to Sessions

You can add issues to Rally sessions in two ways:

* [Through the Rally Jira app](https://rally.gitbook.io/rally-docs/getting-started-with-rally/quick-guide-to-hosting-your-first-rally-session-on-jira/adding-issues-from-your-rally-for-jira-app)
* [Using the session picker directly from a Jira issue](https://app.gitbook.com/o/SVAqzVTIFCWeEOXiC9gx/s/9XzLyIq1fXF9ajF4Hpw6/~/changes/2/getting-started-with-rally/quick-guide-to-hosting-your-first-rally-session-on-jira/adding-issues-from-your-jira-board-with-the-session-picker)

Rally pulls all essential information about your issues into your sessions

### Session Access

All Rally sessions are accessible through direct links in their associated Jira issues, making it easy to reference discussions and decisions.

### Permissions

Rally verifies user access through Atlassian authentication. Only members of your Atlassian organization can join sessions.

<figure><img src="https://2054386653-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F9XzLyIq1fXF9ajF4Hpw6%2Fuploads%2FGHdY988xZqZvLBlvm6po%2Fauthh.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=0f8e0b62-b61c-4b95-851f-4b532f47c438" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Templates and Jira

Both Rally templates maintain specific Jira connections:

* [ALIGN](https://rally.gitbook.io/rally-docs/rally-templates/templates/align-template): Keeps discussion context with issues
* [ASSIGN](https://rally.gitbook.io/rally-docs/rally-templates/templates/assign-template): Updates task assignments

Remember: Rally works where your team already does - in Jira - keeping everything organized and accessible.
