If you’re on Micro Focus’s product announcement email list then you might have noticed that a new version of Advanced Authentication (AA) was recently released. We continue to evolve AA to be the most flexible and powerful MFA/strong authentication solution that you can buy. In contrast point solutions are just that, a one trick solution that won’t cover all or your authentication needs or allow to consolidate disparate authentication architectures.
The theme of this new release (v6) was to offer a new level of deployment flexibility enabled through the use of Docker containers. Although Docker containers simplify configuration and maintenance for everyone, it’s especially useful for AA administrators using virtualization engines, hypervisors and cloud architectures. Aside from the simplified administration inherent Docker, it also provides access to a host of automation and management tools. In fact, here is a walkthrough of the top ten Docker tools:
Beyond the new form factor, Advanced Authentication has some other notable additions:
Face Recognition Method
Advanced Authentication supports Windows Hello that allows both face and fingerprint recognition methods to be used for authentication, allowing either or both biometrics to be used as a multi-factor authentication. Face recognition can also be used as a strong authentication in which users can present their face to the camera to get authenticated in a matter of seconds. The face recognition method can also be invoked through Microsoft Cognitive Services (Azure).
Windows 10 Hello
Advanced Authentication now allows non-domain join PCs to authentication into a domain using Windows Hello i.e., face or fingerprint type authentication Windows 10 machines.
New Reporting Portal
Advanced Authentication now provides a new Reporting portal. Administrators can add new reports and customize the existing reports on this portal. The new reports provide information about enrolled users, authenticators, and so on with better graphical representation.
Expanded Support for Federation
Advanced authentication provides an OAuth interface that provides clients an easy way to integrate their applications. Once in place, applications can leverage Advanced Authentication’s policy engine to match the appropriate method(s) to the situation to provide the ‘right’ level of security.
You also have the option to use an XML-based protocol, SAML 2.0. With SAML you can invoke security tokens containing assertions. The assertions are used for sending the information about a user from a SAML authority to a SAML consumer. Advanced Authentication also allows you to set up conditions to allow the authentication such as Geo-fencing.
Support for the SQL Repository
Advanced Authentication now supports the SQL repository. You can add the Microsoft SQL Server and MySQL types of SQL repositories to be consumed by the Advanced Authentication server.
ADFS Multi-Factor Authentication Plug-in
A new Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) plug-in has been introduced to enable the multi-factor functionality for Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS). In comparison with the old ADFS plugin, the new plug-in has been implemented as a standard extension for ADFS.
Windows Authentication Agent
Authentication Agent allows you to perform strong multi-factor authentication on one computer to get authorized access to another computer where it is not possible to display the user interface or connect any external authentication devices. You can install the Authentication Agent on a workstation or laptop. When an authentication is initiated from a computer using Authentication Agent chain, the Authentication Agent on another computer prompts a restricted browser where the user must perform authentication.
Google reCAPTCHA
Advanced Authentication now supports the Google reCAPTCHA as a policy. Using reCAPTCHA, you can prevent the bot attacks on Advanced Authentication web portals by confirming that the user trying to log in is a human, not a robot. This change adds an additional layer of security before users perform the multi-factor authentication.
To learn more about Micro Focus Advanced Authentication, you’ll find the latest information here:
https://www.netiq.com/products/advanced-authentication/
To refresh your memory on Micro Focus’s IAM portfolio, you can start here:
https://www.netiq.com/solutions/identity-access-management/
If you’re a Micro Focus partner, you will find the latest webcasts and presentations on Enablement Central.
Micro Focus Cybersecurity Summit 2018
Mark your calendar and plan to attend the first Micro Focus Cybersecurity Summit, a 2-day premier Security software event September 25-27 at the Omni Shoreham hotel in Washington, DC. The Summit will include an executive track for decision makers, along with workshops, demos and breakouts for technical influencers. Registration is free of charge.
The event will include innovative tracks with exciting customer speakers, covering the full Micro Focus Security portfolio:
- Security Operations
- Data Security
- Application Security
- Identity & Access Management
- Secure Messaging
- Unified Endpoint Management
Each track will feature presentations by key customers showcasing their IT transformations, successes, best practices, and lessons learned using Micro Focus Security solutions to solve their business-critical challenges. Highlights at this year’s Cybersecurity Summit:
- Partner Pavilion
- Demo zones
- Executive Briefing Center for 1:1’s
- Track breakout sessions
- Cybersecurity Summit Social event
- Security workshops -Executive track
Registration will soon be open. Watch for details! Contact your Lifeboat Rep with any questions!
Categories: Vendor Updates