Federated authentication (SSO)

OpenID Connect (OIDC)-based Federated Authentication enables secure, standards-based single sign-on (SSO) by allowing users to authenticate through an external identity provider (IdP) such as Microsoft Entra ID instead of relying on locally stored credentials. It establishes a trust relationship between your system (like N-central) and the identity provider, so users can log in with their existing organizational accounts.

Built on top of the OAuth 2.0 protocol, OIDC adds an identity layer that securely communicates user information in the form of cryptographically signed ID tokens. These tokens verify who the user is and what they’re authorized to access.

By delegating authentication to a trusted IdP, OIDC-based federated login provides a seamless sign-in experience while improving security, centralizing user management, and reducing administrative overhead. It’s a key part of implementing modern identity strategies such as Zero Trust, MFA enforcement, and cloud-based access control.