Exploring Azure AD B2C Custom Policy Implementation
Azure AD B2C's integration of several authentication mechanisms improves user flexibility and security. Custom policies become essential in situations when users must choose between an authenticator app, email address, and phone number for multi-factor authentication (MFA). These policies guarantee a smooth and safe user experience by enabling customized user journeys that suit different authentication preferences.
Technical implementation in Azure's architecture is frequently the problem, especially when combining time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) with other techniques. Precise user journey management and configuration are necessary for successfully blending these options into the user flow. However, this can sometimes result in problems like ongoing MFA selection prompts after deployment.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| <ClaimType> | Defines a claim type in the policy, describing the display attributes, limitations, and data type. |
| <UserJourney> | Outlines the steps a user takes to create a custom policy. |
| <OrchestrationStep> | Describes a specific stage, along with its type and order, in a user journey. |
| <Precondition> | Defines an if-then statement that controls flow depending on user input or historical data, and it must be satisfied for the orchestration phase to proceed. |
| <ClaimsProviderSelections> | Lists the claims providers that can be chosen at a particular stage of the user journey. |
| <ClaimsExchange> | Describes the process of exchanging claims with a claims provider and indicates which claims must come from which source. |
Describe the Azure AD B2C Custom Policies Integration
In order to establish custom multi-factor authentication (MFA) options within Azure AD B2C, the scripts described above are necessary. The <ClaimType> tag is essential since it specifies the kinds of claims that users can choose from, including email, phone, and TOTP (Time-based One-time Password). This claim type is essential to developing a dynamic and user-specific authentication process because it also determines the input possibilities that the user can choose from. Users' decisions here impact how their authentication process unfolds and allow for customized security features.
The entire login or sign-up process is organized by the <UserJourney> and <OrchestrationStep> tags. Preconditions, which are used to direct the flow based on the prior input or user state, can be present in any orchestration phase. The <Precondition> tag, for example, assesses if a specific claim—such as a selected MFA method—has been set. If so, it can expedite the process by skipping some steps. Because of its capacity to be customized, Azure AD B2C can better meet the needs and preferences of its users while also improving security.
Multi-Factor Authentication Integration with Azure AD B2C
Setting Up XML for Custom Policies
<ClaimType Id="extension_mfaByPhoneOrEmail"><DisplayName>Please select your preferred MFA method</DisplayName><DataType>string</DataType><UserInputType>RadioSingleSelect</UserInputType><Restriction><Enumeration Text="Phone" Value="phone" SelectByDefault="true" /><Enumeration Text="Email" Value="email" SelectByDefault="false" /><Enumeration Text="Authenticator App" Value="TOTP" SelectByDefault="false" /></Restriction></ClaimType><UserJourney Id="SignUpOrSignInMFAOption"><OrchestrationSteps><OrchestrationStep Order="1" Type="CombinedSignInAndSignUp" ContentDefinitionReferenceId="api.signuporsignin"><ClaimsProviderSelections><ClaimsProviderSelection ValidationClaimsExchangeId="LocalAccountSigninEmailExchange" /></ClaimsProviderSelections><ClaimsExchanges><ClaimsExchange Id="LocalAccountSigninEmailExchange" TechnicalProfileReferenceId="SelfAsserted-LocalAccountSignin-Email" /></ClaimsExchanges></OrchestrationStep></OrchestrationSteps></UserJourney>
The script for the MFA Selection Process
Configuring Custom Policies in XML
<OrchestrationStep Order="5" Type="ClaimsExchange"><Preconditions><Precondition Type="ClaimEquals" ExecuteActionsIf="true"><Value>extension_mfaByPhoneOrEmail</Value><Value>email</Value><Action>SkipThisOrchestrationStep</Action></Precondition><Precondition Type="ClaimEquals" ExecuteActionsIf="true"><Value>extension_mfaByPhoneOrEmail</Value><Value>phone</Value><Action>SkipThisOrchestrationStep</Action></Precondition><Precondition Type="ClaimEquals" ExecuteActionsIf="true"><Value>extension_mfaByPhoneOrEmail</Value><Value>TOTP</Value><Action>SkipThisOrchestrationStep</Action></Precondition></Preconditions></OrchestrationStep>
Advanced Azure AD B2C Custom Policy Integration Techniques
Examining the interactions between Azure AD B2C custom policies and other systems and APIs is necessary to grasp the deeper nuances of these policies. In addition to managing user authentication, custom rules in Azure AD B2C can be set up to communicate with other APIs to improve verification procedures or obtain extra user data when the user is authenticating. With the help of this feature, businesses may create conditional access scenarios and complicated security requirements that go beyond standard MFA deployments.
Including risk-based authentication, for example, in which the system assesses the risk of a login attempt based on user behavior and extra information from outside threat intelligence sources. This sophisticated method enhances security dynamically based on real-time assessments by using ClaimsExchange to call external APIs and Preconditions to determine the flow depending on the API answer.
Common Questions Regarding Custom Policies for Azure AD B2C
- What does Azure AD B2C custom policies' <ClaimType> mean?
- The data components that can be gathered, saved, and altered during user interactions in the identity platform are defined by the <ClaimType>.
- How can I only enforce MFA in specific circumstances?
- Using <Precondition> tags inside <OrchestrationStep>s to verify for particular criteria prior to requesting MFA, conditional MFA can be implemented.
- Can external APIs be called by Azure AD B2C custom policies?
- Yes, by using <ClaimsExchange>, which enables the policies to transmit and receive data from third-party services, they can communicate with external APIs.
- What advantages do <UserJourney>s offer when it comes to Azure AD B2C?
- <UserJourney>s enable the creation of unique user-friendly paths through the authentication process, suited to different user scenarios and circumstances.
- In Azure AD B2C, how can I debug a custom policy?
- Uploading policies in "Development" mode allows for extensive error logs to be enabled, which aids in debugging and helps find problems with the policy's implementation.
Concluding Remarks Regarding Azure AD B2C Customizations
By giving customers the choice to select their preferred authentication method, implementing Azure AD B2C with email, phone, and TOTP authentication options not only increases security but also offers flexibility. The process of creating these options shows how effective custom policies can be in handling complicated authentication scenarios. The difficulty in integrating these systems is to keep them secure and user-friendly at the same time, proving Azure AD B2C's adaptability to a range of requirements.