Session 3: Azure AD External Identity Provider Integration with Anypoint Platform | SAML 2.0

Introduction

This tutorial provides a clear guide on integrating Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) as an external identity provider in Anypoint Platform using SAML 2.0. Understanding how SAML authentication works is crucial for securely managing user identities and resources in your applications. We will cover the steps needed to set up this integration effectively.

Step 1: Understand SAML Authentication

• SAML stands for Security Assertion Markup Language.
• It is an XML-based open standard for transferring identity data.
• There are two main components:
  • Identity Provider (IdP): Authenticates users and passes identity and authorization information to the service provider.
  • Service Provider (SP): Trusts the IdP and grants access to the appropriate resources based on the provided identity.

Step 2: Configure Azure AD as an Identity Provider

1. Access Azure Portal:

   • Log in to the Azure portal with your administrator credentials.

2. Register a New Application:

   • Navigate to Azure Active Directory > App registrations.
   • Click on New registration.
   • Provide a name for your application (e.g., Anypoint Integration).
   • Set the redirect URI to your Anypoint Platform URL.
   • Click Register.

3. Set Up SAML Configuration:

   • In the application settings, go to Authentication.
   • Under SAML, click on Single sign-on.
   • Fill in the required fields:
     • Identifier (Entity ID): This is usually the URL of your Anypoint application.
     • Reply URL (Assertion Consumer Service URL): The URL where Azure AD will send SAML assertions.

4. Download the Federation Metadata XML:

   • In the SAML settings, you can find the option to download the federation metadata XML.
   • Save this file as it contains the necessary configuration for the Anypoint Platform.

Step 3: Configure Anypoint Platform for SAML Authentication

1. Access Anypoint Platform:

   • Log in to your Anypoint Platform account.

2. Navigate to Access Management:

   • Go to the Access Management section.

3. Add External Identity Provider:

   • Click on Identity Providers and select Add Identity Provider.
   • Choose SAML as the type of identity provider.

4. Fill in SAML Details:

   • Provide the Entity ID and ACS URL obtained from the Azure AD configuration.
   • Upload the federation metadata XML file you downloaded earlier to configure the identity provider settings.

5. Test the Configuration:

   • After saving the settings, perform a test to ensure that SAML authentication is working correctly.
   • Verify that users can log in through Azure AD.

Step 4: Manage User Access and Roles

• Assign users or groups from Azure AD to the registered application.
• Define roles in Anypoint Platform that correspond to Azure AD user roles to manage permissions effectively.

Conclusion

Integrating Azure AD with Anypoint Platform using SAML 2.0 enhances your application's security and simplifies user management. Key steps include understanding SAML authentication, configuring Azure AD as an identity provider, setting up Anypoint Platform, and managing user access.

Next steps may include testing the integration with different user accounts and exploring additional security features offered by Azure AD. Ensure to keep your configurations updated to maintain security and compliance.