Authentication

Introduction One of the most common sources of confusion in identity and access management is the difference between authentication and authorization. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they represent distinct concepts that serve different purposes in security systems. Authentication: Who Are You? Authentication is the process of verifying someone’s identity. It answers the question: “Who are you?” Common Authentication Methods Something you know: Passwords, PINs, security questions Something you have: Hardware tokens, mobile devices, smart cards Something you are: Biometrics (fingerprints, face recognition, iris scans) Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Combining multiple methods for stronger security Authentication Flow Example ...

Introduction Managing Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) resources requires proper authentication and tooling. Whether you’re automating app registrations, configuring conditional access policies, or managing users and groups, Azure CLI and Terraform provide powerful infrastructure-as-code capabilities. In this article, you’ll learn: How to install and configure Azure CLI How to authenticate with az login --allow-no-subscriptions How to obtain Microsoft Graph access tokens How to configure Terraform’s AzureAD provider What happens behind the scenes during authentication Why Azure CLI and Terraform? Azure CLI provides direct command-line access to Azure and Entra ID resources. It’s essential for: ...

Introduction Modern identity systems rely on standardized protocols to handle authentication and authorization. The three most important protocols you’ll encounter are OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect (OIDC), and SAML. Understanding when to use each is crucial for building secure applications. OAuth 2.0: Authorization Framework OAuth 2.0 OAuth 2.0 is the industry-standard framework for delegated authorization, allowing third-party applications to access user data (e.g., Google Drive, Facebook) without exposing passwords. It works by issuing access tokens to applications via specific flows, such as Authorization Code or Client Credentials, enabling secure, limited access to resources. ...

Introduction Modern identity systems rely heavily on tokens to represent identity and authorization. Understanding the different types of tokens, their purposes, and lifecycles is essential for building secure applications. What is a Token? A token is a piece of data that represents something. In identity systems, tokens typically represent: Who you are (identity) What you can access (authorization) For how long (lifetime) Tokens are usually implemented as: JWT (JSON Web Token): Self-contained, can be validated without server calls Opaque tokens: Random strings that require server lookup Structured tokens: Custom formats specific to certain systems The Three Main Token Types 1. Access Token Purpose: Grants access to protected resources (APIs, services) ...