Federated Microsoft Entra ID

Federated authentication lets users sign in through an external identity provider (IdP) instead of using credentials stored in the system. N-central uses OpenID Connect (OIDC) to support federated authentication with providers such as Microsoft Entra ID, legacy Azure AD, Ping Identity, Google Identity Platform, and Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS). This approach creates a trusted relationship between N-central and the identity provider, allowing users to sign in with their existing organizational accounts.

OpenID Connect builds on the OAuth 2.0 protocol and adds an identity layer that securely exchanges user information. During sign‑in, the identity provider issues cryptographically signed ID tokens that confirm the user’s identity and supply claims that N-central uses to apply access controls.

By delegating authentication to a trusted identity provider, federated authentication simplifies sign‑in, strengthens security, and centralizes user identity management. It also supports modern security practices such as multi‑factor authentication (MFA), Zero Trust principles, and cloud‑based access control.

The latest N-central capabilities - including Ecoverse features and views such as Assets View and Vulnerability Management - are only available when using N-able Login.

Discover the paths to move from another authentication method to N-able login.

Learn how to Enroll existing users into N-able Login and view information on transitioning existing N-central Users to N-able Login with Entra ID.