35 lines
2.6 KiB
Markdown
35 lines
2.6 KiB
Markdown
---
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tags:
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- Authentik
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- Docker
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---
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# 🛡️ Authentik Deployment Guide (Modern Identity Provider)
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This guide provides the current, best-practice approach to deploying Authentik, a modern, self-hosted Identity Provider (IdP). Due to its critical position in the authentication chain, deployment must be treated as an **Enterprise Security Implementation.**
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## I. Core Requirements & Prerequisites
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Before initiating any setup, ensure you have:
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1. A dedicated, isolated infrastructure segment for IAM services.
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2. **Centralized Secret Management:** Vault or Key Management Service (KMS) accessible to the deployment pipeline. *Never* use plain text credentials in environment files.
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## II. Deployment Architecture (Containerized Approach)
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Authentik should be containerized (Docker Compose recommended). The architecture must enforce a strict flow:
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`Client App/Service -> Reverse Proxy (TLS 1.3) -> Authentik -> External Database/Oauth Broker`.
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### Key Components to Configure
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* **Database:** Always use PostgreSQL or another robust, network-isolated database container for persistent store.
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* **Authentication Flow:** Design the flow around **OAuth2/OpenID Connect (OIDC)** standards. Do not rely on simple API tokens for service account access that can be hardcoded in other services.
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## III. Modernization Practices & Security Hardening
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### 1. Strong Authentication Flows
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Modern deployments must incorporate:
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* **Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):** Enforce TOTP/WebAuthn across all user roles, including administrators.
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* **Conditional Access:** Implement rules at the IdP level to restrict login attempts based on factors like GeoIP location or trusted network IP ranges.
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### 2. Policy & Automation Integration
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Treat your entire identity schema as code:
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1. **Policy-as-Code (PaC):** Manage user/role group policies using dedicated manifest files and link them into the deployment artifact, rather than clicking through a GUI to set permissions.
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2. **API First:** Any integration with an internal service (e.g., Nextcloud) must be done via Authentik's exposed API endpoints; never modify the receiving service's code to expect direct database writes from another party—let the IdP handle the user lifecycle events.
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> [!NOTE] Modernized Workflow
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In a mature enterprise setup, **Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS)** or advanced OIDC federation layers should mediate between Authentik and legacy systems (like Active Directory). The goal is to make Authentik the central source of truth for *who* has access, while external systems simply consume authenticated tokens granted by Authentik. This abstraction layer prevents security sprawl and greatly simplifies auditing. |