Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 - ADFS
Dynamics AX 2012 provides flexible
authentication mechanism through the use of Active Directory Federations
Services, Forms-based authentication or Windows Live options. Active Directory
Federation Services (ADFS) is a feature of Windows Server that allows two
companies that have close collaboration to allow their network domains to trust
each other. This is commonly used for example where a business function might
be outsourced and so the outsourced company users would be authenticated
through ADFS to access Dynamics AX. This could also be used in scenarios where
vendors log on Dynamics AX to manage inventory on your behalf. Windows Live is
a common internet based authentication mechanism. This would be used where you
have a large range of customers, vendors or external consultants that needs to
access Dynamics AX for account management activities. Forms-based
authentication validates credentials that are entered in a logon form.
The third major
security enhancement in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 relates to authentication,
which determines who is able to access the ERP solution. With the growing need
to integrate more closely across the supply chain, authentication has become a
pressing need for organizations that need their suppliers, partners, and
customers to be able to directly interface with their ERP. Our new flexible
authentication model makes it much easier for external users to securely access
ERP data through the Enterprise Portal or other web-based applications.
Building on the
Windows Identity Foundation, MS extended the authentication model in Microsoft
Dynamics AX 2012 by using open-standard application programming interfaces
(APIs). This simplifies administration of these external accounts by allowing
authentication using Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS), Windows Live
ID or other similar methods (e.g. Forms based Authentication), without
requiring the external parties to be provisioned in an Active Directory domain.
MS introduce
these enhancements, which dramatically simplify administration, offer greater
flexibility and control over data access, and enhance the compliance, security,
and privacy of your valuable business data. If you’re developing applications
for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, MS recommends you to become familiar with the
new security model and the development tools on the Development Center for
MS Dynamics AX on MSDN.
