Tag: Lifecycle Management

Okta Access Requests using Workflows

Posted on by Leela Krishna Paluru in Okta

Introduction:

In the current digital environment, identity and access management (IAM) is essential for safeguarding an organization’s systems and data. With the growing adoption of cloud-based applications and services, managing access to these resources has become more challenging. Implementing effective identity governance is crucial to ensure that individuals have access to the appropriate resources at the correct time and for legitimate purposes.

The organization has already made significant progress in securing application access by using Okta for Single Sign-On and Adaptive Multi-factor Authentication. These solutions have enhanced security and streamlined user access. Nevertheless, the existing process for requesting access and provisioning remains manual, depending heavily on emails and spreadsheets.

Problem Statement:

The organization’s method for manually requesting and provisioning access is highly inefficient and susceptible to mistakes, resulting in delays for employees, heightened security risks due to inconsistent access controls, and compliance issues that could lead to regulatory violations. The absence of automation and transparency in the access request and provisioning process results in excessive administrative work, escalating costs, and decreased productivity, while also complicating the tracking and auditing of access modifications.

This manual approach places the organization at risk for potential security breaches, insider threats, and damage to its reputation, ultimately obstructing our ability to function effectively, securely, and according to industry regulations and standards.

Use-Case – Presentation:

Use-Case – Demonstration:

Conclusion:

By adopting Okta identity governance, particularly Okta Access Governance, along with Workflows and Lifecycle management, the organization can effectively tackle the issues related to manual access requests and provisioning processes. This approach will allow the organization to automate and simplify access management, enhance security and compliance, and boost operational efficiency. With automated workflows, self-service access requests, and real-time insight into access permissions, we can mitigate the risk of security breaches, enhance user productivity, and ensure adherence to regulations.

Ultimately, this solution will assist the organization in establishing a secure, efficient, and scalable identity governance framework that supports our business objectives and enables the organization to flourish in an increasingly dynamic digital environment.

Reference Links:

Access Requests | Okta

Teams integration with Access Request | Okta

Workflows | Okta

Salesforce Connector | Okta

Microsoft Teams Connector | Okta

Create request type | Okta

Integrating Active Directory with Okta’s Universal Directory

Posted on by Sanjay Selvaraj in Okta
  • Introduction
  • Understanding Okta Universal Directory
  • Key Features of Okta Universal Directory
  • Prerequisites
  • Usecase Overview
  • Technical Demonstration – Integration flow
  • Conclusion
  • Reference Links

Introduction

Active Directory (AD), a directory service developed by Microsoft for Windows domain networks, is primarily used for authentication and authorization, helping organizations manage user access to resources. However, as organizations increasingly adopt cloud-based applications, managing user access across disparate directories has become a challenge for traditional Active Directory (AD)/LDAP systems. Each cloud service often introduces its own user store, leading to a proliferation of login credentials and making it difficult to maintain consistent, secure access control.

This complexity can result in administrative headaches, such as trouble deactivating user accounts when employees leave and a lack of visibility into resource access. To address these issues, many companies turn to Okta, an identity management platform that integrates seamlessly with Active Directory, bridging the gap between on-premises and cloud environments. By using Okta, organizations can continue to leverage their existing AD or LDAP services for user authentication while centralizing User Lifecycle Management, providing a unified dashboard for administrators to ensure consistent, secure access control across all systems.

Understanding Okta Universal Directory 

Okta Universal Directory is a centralized platform designed for managing user identities from various sources. As a core component of the Okta Identity Cloud, Universal Directory provides a centralized view of all users and their respective attributes, making it easier for IT teams to oversee and manage user data. This product enables organizations to maintain a unified profile for a user, no matter where their data comes from. This capability is especially advantageous for enterprises with multiple user directories, as it simplifies user management and bolsters security. 

Key Features of Okta Universal Directory 

  • Centralized User Management: Universal Directory allows you to manage all your user identities in one place. This means that whether your users are employees, partners, or customers, you can easily create, modify, or deactivate their accounts without jumping between different platforms. 
  • Integration with Multiple Sources: It allows integration with various identity sources, including Active Directory (AD), LDAP, and HR systems like Workday. This flexibility ensures that organizations can consolidate user information from different platforms seamlessly. 
  • Customizable User Profiles: Universal Directory supports both Okta user profiles and app-specific user profiles. This capability allows organizations to define and manage user attributes tailored to their applications, ensuring that each app only accesses the data it needs. 
  • Customizable User Attributes: With Universal Directory, you can customize user attributes to fit your organization’s unique needs. This flexibility enables you to collect and store specific information relevant to your users, such as job titles, department details, or location data. 
  • Real-Time Synchronization: Changes made in AD, such as user updates or account deactivations, are synchronized in real-time with Okta. This ensures that terminated employees lose access immediately, enhancing security and compliance. 
  • Delegated Authentication: The integration allows for delegated authentication, meaning that users can authenticate against AD without needing direct access to the AD environment. This feature simplifies the authentication process while maintaining security. 

Prerequisites

Okta Tenant: 

  • You must possess an account with Super Admin role privileges. 

On-Premises Active Directory: 

  • The host server should have at least two CPUs and a minimum of 8 GB RAM.  
  • Host server running Windows server 2016 & above.  
  • .NET framework 4.6.2 and above.  
  • The host server should be a member server part of the same domain.  
  • Okta agent installation wizard should be executed from the host server.  
  • An account with Domain administrator privileges for domain discovery & AD agent application installation in the host server.  
  • Delegated Authentication – Enables the users to use their AD credentials to access Okta & downstream applications. This feature is enabled by default.

Usecase Overview:

Check out the video below to explore Okta’s Universal Directory and how it works with Active Directory integration. Along with that, benefits of Universal Directory & the integration flow.

Technical Demonstration – Integration flow:

Here’s a technical demonstration, a step-by-step approach explaining the integration between Active Directory and Okta.

Conclusion 

Integrating Active Directory with Okta not only streamlines identity management but also enhances security and user experience. With Okta’s Universal Directory, organizations can manage user identities more effectively, ensuring that they are well-equipped to handle the demands of a cloud-first world. This integration empowers IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than being bogged down by the complexities of traditional identity management systems. 

Reference Links

Active Directory Integration | Okta Docs

User Management | Okta Docs