About authentication

Authentication in N-central is the process of verifying a user's identity before granting access to the platform. It ensures that only authorized users—such as IT administrators, technicians, and service providers—can log in and interact with devices, configurations, and customer environments managed through N-central.

How authentication works in N-central

When a user attempts to log in, N-central checks their credentials against the authentication method currently in use. This may involve:

• Verifying a local username and password stored in N-central

• Redirecting the user to an external identity provider like Microsoft Entra ID

• Checking group membership via LDAP or Active Directory

• Prompting for a second factor (like a code or app-based approval) if MFA is enabled

N-central supports the following N-central authentication methods to align with your organization’s identity and security practices:

• Local authentication

• LDAP or Active Directory authentication

• OpenID Connect (OIDC)-based Federated Authentication (SSO)

• N-able Login

• N-able Login federated with Entra ID