--- title: "Connect to a Custom Service" url: https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/connections/establish-custom-connection/ description: "Catalyst Connections enables you to execute secure integrations with Zoho and other third-party services by handling all token management functionalities" last_updated: 2026-08-17T12:16:04Z service: Cloud Scale type: general related_links: - name: "Catalyst Signals" url: /en/signals/help/events/ --- # Establish a Connection with a Custom Service Using the **Custom Service** option, you can create a Connection with a service that is not listed or configured as a Default Service. Potentially, using this feature, you can create a successful connection with any Zoho or third-party service. To create a connection, you need to first configure the required service as a **Custom Service**. To configure a service as a Custom Service: 1. Navigate to the **Custom Services** option under the *SERVICES* section in the *Connections* component and click **Create Service**. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_cs_start](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_cs_start.webp) 2. Provide a name for the service and choose the required **Authentication Type**: ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_cs__auth_type_sel](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_cs__auth_type_sel.webp) This choice will decide the manner in which you authenticate the connection request. **API Key** You can choose the **API Key** option if you wish to authenticate the connection request using a uniquely generated string. - Choose the required **Parameter Type** from the drop-down. This option can be used to configure the format type in which the required credentials are going to be passed. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_cs_parameter](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_cs_parameter.webp) 3. Provide the required parameter details in the respective field, and click **Create Service** to configure the required service as the custom service. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_apikey_done](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_apikey_done.webp) 4. Click **Create Connection** to begin configuring a connection with the custom service you created. Click **Create And Connect** once you provide a name for your connection. The **Connection Link Name** input field will be populated automatically. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_apike_name](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_apike_name.webp) 5. Provide the required credentials to the service you configured to authenticate the connection request. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_apike_logon](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_apike_logon.webp) Your connection with the *Custom Service* will be active and live. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_apike_created](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_apike_created.webp) From here on, Catalyst will ensure that the Connections component produces the required tokens to keep the connection live. You can now share data and functionality with the custom service. **Basic Authentication** You can choose the **Basic Authentication** option if you wish to authenticate the connection request by passing the required credentials using the *Query String*. - You cannot use any other parameter type other than **Query String** to pass the required credentials, and it will be automatically selected when you select this authentication type. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_ba_name](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_ba_name.webp) 3. Click **Create Service** to configure the required service as the custom service. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_ba_done_service](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_ba_done_service.webp) 4. Click **Create Connection** to begin configuring a connection with the custom service you created. Click **Create And Connect** once you provide a name for your connection. The **Connection Link Name** input field will be populated automatically. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_ba_connection_start](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_ba_connection_start.webp) 5. Provide the required credentials to the service you configured to authenticate the connection request. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_ba_logon](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_ba_logon.webp) Your connection with the *Custom Service* will be active and live. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_ba_cs_connection_done](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_ba_cs_connection_done.webp) From here on, Catalyst will ensure that the Connections component produces the required tokens to keep the connection live. You can now share data and functionality with the custom service. **OAuth2** You can choose the **OAuth2** option if you wish to authenticate the connection request using access tokens based on *OAuth2* protocol. - Choose the required **Parameter Type** from the drop-down. This will determine the manner in which you wish to share your tokens. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_ba_cs_auth2_sel_aparam](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_ba_cs_auth2_sel_aparam.webp) - Select the required **Grant Type** from the drop-down. This selection will determine the manner in which you will obtain the required access tokens. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_ba_cs_auth2_sel_granttype](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_ba_cs_auth2_sel_granttype.webp) - Provide the authorizing credentials and URLs based on your requirement. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_ba_cs_tokens_gen](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_ba_cs_tokens_gen.webp) - Enter the required **Scopes** to define the nature of access that connecting with the custom service will offer. You will also need to enter the display names of the scopes in the **Scope Display Name** input field. This will be the name that is displayed when you select **Scopes** to configure your connection with the service ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_auth2_cs_scopes](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_auth2_cs_scopes.webp) > **Info:** * Use the `add` icon to add more scopes. * Use the `delete` icon to delete a scope. 6. Click **Create Service** to establish the custom service. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_auth2_cs_scopes_created](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_auth2_cs_scopes_created.webp) 7. Click **Create Connection** to begin configuring a connection with the custom service you created. The **Connection Link Name** input field will be populated automatically. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_auth2_cs_connections_name](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_auth2_cs_connections_name.webp) 8. Select the required scopes from the list of scopes and click **Create And Connect**. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_auth2_cs_scopes_sel_con](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_auth2_cs_scopes_sel_con.webp) 9. Perform the required authentication to authorize the connection request. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_auth2_cs_connect_service_auth](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_auth2_cs_connect_service_auth.webp) The connection will be made active and live. ![catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_auth2_cs_live](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/connections/catalyst_cloudscale_connections_custom_service_auth2_cs_live.webp) From here on, Catalyst will ensure that the Connections component produces the required tokens to keep the connection live. You can now share data and functionality with the custom service.