Azure Active Directory Business to Consumer (Azure AD B2C) provides a flexible identity management solution that allows you to customize your user journeys. One of the powerful features in Azure AD B2C is the ability to create a unified sign-in and sign-up process using the CombinedSignInAndSignUp policy. However, this can be enhanced further with the ClaimsProviderSelection step, allowing you to direct users based on specific claims or identity providers.
Problem Scenario
Imagine you want to create a user journey in Azure AD B2C where users can either sign in or sign up, but only through certain identity providers based on certain conditions. The scenario involves implementing a ClaimsProviderSelection step before the CombinedSignInAndSignUp policy.
Here’s a snippet of the original code that represents a simplified version of this scenario:
{
"Type": "ClaimsProviderSelection",
"ClaimsProviders": [
{
"DisplayName": "Local Account SignIn",
"TechnicalProfiles": [
"Local Account Sign-In"
]
},
{
"DisplayName": "Social Account SignIn",
"TechnicalProfiles": [
"Google-OAUTH2",
"Facebook-OAUTH2"
]
}
],
"DefaultClaimsProvider": "Local Account Sign-In"
}
In this code, you define a ClaimsProviderSelection that lists the available identity providers. The goal is to ensure that once a user selects their provider, they are directed to the CombinedSignInAndSignUp process, effectively streamlining both authentication options.
Using CombinedSignInAndSignUp After ClaimsProviderSelection
Step-by-Step Implementation
To implement CombinedSignInAndSignUp after ClaimsProviderSelection, you'll first need to define the user journey in your policy file. Here’s how you can do it:
-
Define the ClaimsProviderSelection: As seen in the initial code, you set up which providers are available to the user.
-
Configure CombinedSignInAndSignUp: After the claims provider selection, the next step will be to specify the
CombinedSignInAndSignUptechnical profile. -
Modify the User Journey: Integrate the
CombinedSignInAndSignUpinto your user journey like this:
{
"UserJourneys": {
"UserJourney": {
"OrchestrationSteps": [
{
"Type": "ClaimsProviderSelection",
"ClaimsProviders": [ "Local Account Sign-In", "Google-OAUTH2", "Facebook-OAUTH2" ]
},
{
"Type": "CombinedSignInAndSignUp",
"TechnicalProfileReferenceId": "Local Account Sign-Up-Email"
}
]
}
}
}
Analysis and Benefits
The beauty of this configuration lies in its flexibility. By utilizing the ClaimsProviderSelection step, you can conditionally display different authentication methods based on business rules or user segmentation. This prevents overwhelming new users with options while providing returning users with a quick sign-in process.
- User Experience: This approach improves user experience by guiding users through the sign-in/sign-up process seamlessly.
- Flexibility: You can easily expand or modify the identity providers without altering the overall user journey structure.
- Security: By validating claims and managing providers, you can ensure that user data is managed securely and according to your organization’s policies.
Practical Example
Consider an e-commerce platform that has both local (email/password) and social (Facebook, Google) login options. You might want new users to sign up using their email while allowing existing users the option to quickly sign in with Google or Facebook.
Using the setup above, new users can select to sign up via their email. If they attempt to sign in using a social account, they can be directed to the appropriate social provider screen without having to create a new account.
Conclusion
By utilizing the ClaimsProviderSelection step followed by the CombinedSignInAndSignUp technical profile, Azure AD B2C developers can create tailored authentication experiences that are both user-friendly and efficient. This approach not only enhances the security of user data but also simplifies the user journey.
Useful Resources
By implementing these best practices, you can ensure a superior experience for users interacting with your Azure AD B2C solution. Happy coding!
