How To Set Up Azure AD B2C for Customer Identity and Access Management

Setting up Azure AD B2C for customer identity and access management is essential for securing and managing user authentication and authorization for your web and mobile applications. Azure Active Directory B2C (Azure AD B2C) is a cloud-based identity service designed to allow businesses to enable secure access for their customers while maintaining a seamless user experience.

Below, you will find a detailed, step-by-step guide to configure Azure AD B2C for customer identity and access management. This includes the benefits, use cases, and the technical details needed to integrate it effectively into your applications.

Benefits of Using Azure AD B2C for Customer Identity and Access Management

1. Scalability: Supports millions of users and scales dynamically to handle peak demands.
2. Security: Ensures robust security measures with multi-factor authentication (MFA) and compliance with data protection standards like GDPR.
3. Customization: Provides flexible branding options to create a consistent user experience across applications.
4. Integrations: Compatible with various identity providers like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft accounts.
5. Cost-Effective: Pay-as-you-go pricing model that aligns with your business needs.

Prerequisites for Setting Up Azure AD B2C

Before starting the setup process, ensure you have the following:

• An Azure account with administrator access.
• Access to the Azure AD B2C tenant.
• Knowledge of the application’s identity requirements.
• Familiarity with the OAuth 2.0 or OpenID Connect protocols (optional but recommended).

Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up Azure AD B2C for Customer Identity and Access Management

Step 1: Create an Azure AD B2C Tenant

1. Log in to the Azure portal:
   • Go to Azure Portal and log in using your Azure credentials.
2. Create a new Azure AD B2C tenant:
   • Navigate to the left-hand menu and select Create a resource > Identity > Azure Active Directory B2C.
   • Fill in the required details:
     • Organization name: A unique name for your directory.
     • Domain name: A unique domain name (e.g., yourdomain.onmicrosoft.com).
     • Region: Select the geographic region closest to your customers.
   • Click Create to provision your B2C tenant.
3. Link the B2C tenant to your subscription:
   • Once created, return to the Azure portal, switch to the new B2C directory, and associate it with your subscription for billing and management.

Step 2: Register Your Applications

1. Switch to your Azure AD B2C tenant:
   • In the portal, click on your profile in the top right corner and select the new B2C directory.
2. Register web or mobile applications:
   • Go to App registrations and click New registration.
   • Enter the following details:
     • Name: A descriptive name for the application.
     • Supported account types: Select “Accounts in any identity provider or organizational directory.”
     • Redirect URI: Add a redirect URI based on your application type:
       • For web apps: https://yourapp.com/signin-oauth
       • For mobile apps: yourapp://callback
   • Click Register.
3. Record application credentials:
   • Once registered, navigate to Certificates & secrets to generate and save the client secret. This will be needed for API integrations.

Step 3: Configure Identity Providers

1. Access Identity Providers:
   • In the Azure AD B2C portal, go to Identity Providers under the Policies section.
2. Add external identity providers:
   • Select popular social providers such as Google, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
   • Follow the prompts to configure the settings:
     • Provide API keys and secrets obtained from the provider.
     • Specify callback URLs required by the identity provider.
   • Save the configuration.
3. Enable email sign-up and local accounts:
   • For local accounts, ensure Email sign-up is enabled under User flows.

Step 4: Define User Flows (Policies)

1. Create a new user flow:
   • Navigate to User Flows and click New user flow.
   • Choose the desired flow type:
     • Sign up and sign in: Combined flow for new and returning users.
     • Profile editing: Allows users to manage their account details.
     • Password reset: Enables self-service password recovery.
   • Select a version (Recommended: Recommended version).
2. Customize user flow settings:
   • Add identity providers configured earlier.
   • Enable MFA for enhanced security.
   • Customize the branding, such as logos, colors, and layout.
3. Test the flow:
   • Click Run now to preview the user experience and ensure the flow works as intended.

Step 5: Integrate Azure AD B2C into Applications

1. Obtain application credentials:
   • Go to the Overview section of your app registration and copy the Application (client) ID and Directory (tenant) ID.
2. Update application configuration:
   • For web applications, update the configuration file (e.g., appsettings.json or web.config) with the client ID, tenant ID, and client secret.
   • For mobile applications, configure the SDK (e.g., MSAL) to include the Azure AD B2C settings.
3. Implement authentication code:
   • Use libraries like MSAL.js (JavaScript), MSAL.NET (C#), or MSAL Android/iOS to enable authentication.
   • Use the redirect URI and access tokens in your application logic to manage user sessions.

Step 6: Test and Monitor Your Azure AD B2C Setup

1. Conduct functional testing:
   • Ensure all identity providers work as expected.
   • Test the end-to-end sign-up, sign-in, and password recovery flows.
2. Enable logging and analytics:
   • Use Azure Monitor to track activity logs, sign-in patterns, and error reports.
3. Audit security settings:
   • Periodically review MFA settings, application permissions, and audit logs.

Features of Azure AD B2C for Identity Management

1. Customizable User Journeys:
   • Use custom policies for advanced scenarios, including complex user journeys.
2. API Integration:
   • Securely expose APIs using Azure AD B2C for access control.
3. Data Sovereignty:
   • Choose the region for data residency to comply with local regulations.
4. Built-in Analytics:
   • Gain insights into user sign-in activity and app usage.

Frequently Asked Questions Related to Azure AD B2C for Customer Identity and Access Management