Demystifying Web API Security in Azure - Jimmy Bogard - NDC Sydney 2024

azure api security with managed identities, azure active directory, oauth 2.0, client credentials, authorization code flow, roles, permissions, and more, explained in this informative talk.

Key takeaways
  • Managed identities simplify API security by eliminating the need for client secrets and certificates.
  • Azure Active Directory (AAD) provides a robust identity and access management system that integrates well with .NET.
  • OAuth 2.0 is a standard authorization framework that allows for secure delegation of access to resources.
  • Client credentials flow is suitable for back-end applications that don’t interact with users.
  • Authorization code flow is suitable for interactive client applications.
  • On-premises applications can use client credentials flow or authorization code flow with PKCE.
  • Roles and permissions can be defined and assigned at the Azure resource level.
  • Tokens can include claims that reflect a user’s roles and permissions.
  • Azure Identity Provider can be used to manage and issue tokens.
  • Authentication and authorization are separate concerns that should be treated independently.
  • Token acquisition and validation are critical steps in the authentication and authorization process.
  • Roles and permissions should be assigned to users and groups at the Azure resource level.
  • Azure AD groups can be used to manage access to resources.
  • Tokens can be used to acquire access to Azure resources and services.
  • Azure Identity Provider can issue tokens for both client and server-side scenarios.