Microsoft Identity platform (formerly known as Azure Active Directory for developers) provides an expansive platform for developers to build applications that can sign in all Microsoft identities, provides secured access to your resources and contains capabilities that can protect, manage and secure users and access. This platform is emerging as a robust choice for organizations seeking a comprehensive machine-identity solution. Developers must have a profound knowledge of how to authenticate and authorize users using the Microsoft Identity platform particularly when preparing for the Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure – AZ-204 exam.
Authentication:
Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user by obtaining some sort of credentials and using those credentials to verify the user’s identity. If the credentials are valid, the authorization process starts. Microsoft Identity supports both two types of authentication: OpenID Connect and OAuth 2.0.
1. OpenID Connect
OpenID Connect provides an identity layer on top of the OAuth 2.0 protocol. It allows clients to verify the identity of the End-User based on the authentication methods provided by Microsoft Identity, Cloud Identity Provider. It also provides basic profile information about the End-User in an interoperable and REST-like manner.
Example code:
c#
services.AddAuthentication(options =>
{
options.DefaultAuthenticateScheme = JwtBearerDefaults.AuthenticationScheme;
options.DefaultChallengeScheme = JwtBearerDefaults.AuthenticationScheme;
}).AddJwtBearer(options =>
{
options.Authority = “https://login.microsoftonline.com/{tenant}”;
options.TokenValidationParameters = new TokenValidationParameters
{
ValidateIssuer = true,
ValidIssuer = “https://login.microsoftonline.com/{tenant}”,
ValidateAudience = true,
ValidAudience = appId,
ValidateLifetime = true,
};
});
2. OAuth 2.0
OAuth 2.0 is an open standard for access delegation, which is commonly used as a way for Internet users to grant websites or applications access to their information on other websites but without giving them the passwords.
Example code:
c#
public AuthenticationContext authContext = new
AuthenticationContext(“https://login.microsoftonline.com/{tenant}”);
public ClientCredential creds = new ClientCredential(clientId: clientId, clientSecret: clientSecret);
Authorization:
Authorization is the process of verifying what you are authorized to do. In terms of Microsoft Identity, it relies on OAuth 2.0 and it uses scopes, not roles, as in traditional authorization:
1. Scopes:
Scopes are permissions that are defined for a resource. They are used in requests to access secured resources.
Example:
c#
IMVCClient withoutscopes = new MVCClient(new Uri(“http://localhost:5000”));
IMVCClient withscopes = new MVCClient(new Uri(“http://localhost:5000”),
new string[] { “Liquidprojections.History”, “Liquidprojections.Dashboard” });
Summary:
Authentication and authorization are critical components in Azure application development and security. Knowing how to implement these using Microsoft Identity platform will not only help you to develop secure applications but also in passing the AZ-204 exam. As we have discussed, Microsoft Identity platform supports OpenID Connect and OAuth 2.0 for authentication and uses scopes for authorization. Remember, it’s imperative to always keep your application’s data secure by only allowing authenticated and authorized users to access it.
References:
Practice Test
True/False: Microsoft Identity platform uses OAuth 0 to enable secure application access.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: OAuth 0 is a protocol used by the Microsoft Identity platform to authorize applications.
What are the key components of Microsoft Identity Security platform?
- A. Azure Active Directory
- B. Microsoft Graph API
- C. Microsoft Account (MSA)
- D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Explanation: All listed components are part of Microsoft Identity platform and work in tandem to provide identity and access capabilities.
True/False: Microsoft Identity platform supports B2B and B2C scenarios.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Microsoft Identity platform supports a range of scenarios, including B2C (Business to Consumer) and B2B (Business to Business).
What protocol does Microsoft Identity platform use for single sign-on (SSO)?
- A. OAuth 0
- B. OpenID Connect
- C. SAML
- D. LDAP
Answer: B. OpenID Connect
Explanation: OpenID Connect (OIDC) is used by Microsoft Identity platform to provide single sign-on functionality.
True/False: Microsoft Identity platform can only be used to authenticate and authorize users within Azure.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: It can be used for applications both within and outside of Azure, including those developed by third parties and those hosted on-premises.
Which Microsoft service provides a unified and streamlined user access experience?
- A. Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)
- B. Microsoft Graph API
- C. Microsoft Account (MSA)
- D. OAuth 0
Answer: A. Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)
Explanation: Azure AD provides single sign-on and multi-factor authentication to help protect users from 9% of cybersecurity attacks.
True/False: Microsoft Identity platform supports application-specific consent.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: This feature allows users to grant permissions to applications to access specific resources.
What is the role of Microsoft Graph API in Microsoft Identity platform?
- A. User Authentication
- B. Providing Graphical User Interface
- C. User Authorization
- D. Accessing data in Microsoft 365
Answer: D. Accessing data in Microsoft 365
Explanation: Microsoft Graph is used to build apps that interact with the data of millions of users in Microsoft
True/False: Azure AD B2C is a specific component of the Microsoft Identity platform specializing in customer identity access management.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure AD B2C (Business-to-Consumer) is a customer identity access management solution capable of supporting millions of users and billions of authentications per day.
Which of the following is not a grant type supported in the OAuth 0 Authorization Code Grant flow on Microsoft Identity?
- A. Authorization code
- B. Client credentials
- C. Implicit
- D. Password
Answer: C. Implicit
Explanation: The OAuth 0 Authorization Code Grant flow on Microsoft Identity platform does not support Implicit grant type.
Interview Questions
What is the primary purpose of the Microsoft Identity Platform?
The Microsoft Identity Platform is a cloud-based service that provides developers with a powerful framework for authenticating and authorizing users in their applications.
Can you explain the difference between authentication and authorization in the context of the Microsoft Identity Platform?
Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user, system, or application. Authorization, on the other hand, is the process of providing these authenticated entities with access to specific resources or functions based on their identity.
What algorithm is typically used to encrypt identity tokens in the Microsoft Identity Platform?
JSON Web Tokens (JWT) encrypted with the RSA algorithm are typically used to encrypt identity tokens within the Microsoft Identity Platform.
What is a ‘tenant’ in the Microsoft Identity Platform?
A ‘tenant’ in the Microsoft Identity Platform represents an organization. It is a dedicated instance of Azure Active Directory that an organization or an app developer has access to.
What does AD in Azure AD stand for and what does it provide?
AD stands for Active Directory. Azure AD, or Azure Active Directory, provides identity and access management services in the cloud.
What is OpenID Connect and why is it relevant to Azure AD?
OpenID Connect is an authentication protocol that lets apps use Azure AD for sign-in and access control. It builds on the process flow of OAuth 2.0 and allows clients to verify the identity of end-users based on their authentication performed by an authorization server.
How does Azure AD B2C differ from Azure AD?
While Azure AD is designed for employee sign-in and access management, Azure AD B2C is a customizable, identity as a service (IDaaS) solution for consumer-facing applications. It provides a secure sign-in and protection for your consumer customers.
What is the purpose of claims in the context of Azure AD?
Claims provide information about a user that has been authenticated. This can include information like the user’s name, email address, or roles. A claim is included in the security token which an application receives upon successful user’s authentication.
What is the role of the application identifier (AppID) in Microsoft Identity?
The AppID in Microsoft Identity is a unique identifier for your application. It is used in the protocol by the client application to communicate who is making the request to the identity provider (Azure AD).
How is a scope used in the Microsoft Identity platform?
The scope in Microsoft Identity platform is used to limit application access to user data. It is a permission that is granted by the user to the client to access its data.
What is the purpose of refresh tokens on Microsoft Identity Platform?
The purpose of refresh tokens in Microsoft’s Identity Platform is to obtain new access tokens. This is done when the current access token becomes invalid or expires.
What grant flow does Microsoft recommend for server-to-server interactions?
Microsoft recommends using the client credentials grant flow for server-to-server interactions. This flow is optimized for confidential client scenarios where an application needs to access web-hosted resources, such as web APIs.
What is multi-factor authentication and how is it used in Azure AD?
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a process where a user is prompted during the sign-in process for an additional form of identification, such as receiving a phone call, text message, or email, or using an app notification. MFA is used in Azure AD to provide an extra layer of security.
What is the ‘Implicit Grant Flow’ in OAuth 2.0?
The ‘Implicit Grant Flow’ in OAuth 2.0 is a simplified flow that is meant for user-agent-only applications, like single page applications or SPAs. This flow, however, is no longer recommended due to its security limitations.
What is the role of a JWT (JSON Web Token) in Azure AD?
A JWT (JSON Web Token) in Azure AD is used to securely pass claims between the application and the server. It is a standard way of representing security claims in the format of a JSON object. The claims in a JWT are encoded as a JSON object that is digitally signed using JSON Web Signature (JWS).
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