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Authentik

Authentik is a modern, open-source Identity Provider (IdP) that offers flexible and secure authentication and authorization solutions for organizations of all sizes. It provides a comprehensive suite of identity management features, allowing businesses to centralize user authentication, implement single sign-on (SSO), and manage access to various applications and services.

Key Features​

  • Single Sign-On (SSO): Enables users to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Supports various second-factor methods for enhanced security.
  • User Lifecycle Management: Facilitates user provisioning, de-provisioning, and self-service capabilities.
  • Access Control: Provides fine-grained access policies based on user attributes and context.
  • Federation: Supports identity federation protocols like SAML, OAuth 2.0, and OpenID Connect.
  • Customizable UI: Offers a flexible, brandable user interface for login and self-service pages.
  • API-first Design: Enables easy integration and automation with other systems.

Use Cases​

  1. Enterprise SSO: Centralize authentication for all corporate applications.
  2. Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM): Manage customer identities and access to services.
  3. API Security: Secure APIs using OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect.
  4. DevOps and Infrastructure Access: Control access to development and infrastructure resources.
  5. Compliance and Auditing: Meet regulatory requirements with comprehensive logging and reporting.

Architecture​

Authentik is designed with a modular, microservices-based architecture that ensures scalability and flexibility. The main components include:

  1. Core Service: Handles the core logic, user management, and policy decisions.
  2. Web Interface: Provides the user-facing frontend for authentication and self-service.
  3. API: Offers a RESTful API for integration and automation.
  4. Outposts: Edge proxies that can be deployed close to applications for improved performance and offline capabilities.
  5. Providers: Modules that implement various authentication and federation protocols.
  6. Stages: Configurable authentication steps that can be combined to create complex flows.
  7. Policies: Rules that determine access rights and trigger actions based on conditions.

Integration​

Authentik integrates with a wide range of systems and protocols, including:

  • LDAP and Active Directory
  • SAML 2.0
  • OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect
  • SCIM for user provisioning
  • Various MFA providers (TOTP, WebAuthn, etc.)
warning

While Authentik provides a comprehensive identity management solution, proper configuration and security best practices are essential for maintaining a secure environment.