7.4

Integrating Alternative User Authentication Products with Directories
Management
Typically, when you initially configure Directories Management, you use the connectors supplied with your
existing vRealize Automation infrastructure to create an Active Directory connection for user ID and
password based authentication and management. Alternatively, you can integrate Directories
Management with other authentication solutions such as Kerberos or RSA SecurID.
The identity provider instance can be the Directories Management connector instance, third-party identity
provider instances, or a combination of both.
The identity provider instance that you use with the Directories Management service creates an in-
network federation authority that communicates with the service using SAML 2.0 assertions.
When you initially deploy the Directories Management service, the connector is the initial identity provider
for the service. Your existing Active Directory infrastructure is used for user authentication and
management.
The following authentication methods are supported. You configure these authentication methods from
the administration console.
Table 2‑8. User Authentication Types Supported by Directories Management
Authentication Types Description
Password (on-premise deployment) Without any configuration after Active Directory is configured, Directories Management
supports Active Directory password authentication. This method authenticates users
directly against Active Directory.
Kerberos for desktops Kerberos authentication provides domain users with single sign-in access to their apps
portal. Users do not need to sign in again after they sign in to the network.
Certificate (on-premise deployment) Certificate-based authentication can be configured to allow clients to authenticate with
certificates on their desktop and mobile devices or to use a smart card adapter for
authentication.
Certificate-based authentication is based on what the user has and what the person
knows. An X.509 certificate uses the public key infrastructure standard to verify that a
public key contained within the certificate belongs to the user.
RSA SecurID (on-premise deployment) When RSA SecurID authentication is configured, Directories Management is configured
as the authentication agent in the RSA SecurID server. RSA SecurID authentication
requires users to use a token-based authentication system. RSA SecurID is an
authentication method for users accessing Directories Management from outside the
enterprise network.
RADIUS (on-premise deployment) RADIUS authentication provides two-factor authentication options. You set up the
RADIUS server that is accessible to the Directories Management service. When users
sign in with their user name and passcode, an access request is submitted to the RADIUS
server for authentication.
RSA Adaptive Authentication (on-
premise deployment)
RSA authentication provides a stronger multi-factor authentication than only user name
and password authentication against Active Directory. When RSA Adaptive Authentication
is enabled, the risk indicators specified in the risk policy set up in the RSA Policy
Management application. The Directories Management service configuration of adaptive
authentication is used to determine the required authentication prompts.
Configuring vRealize Automation
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