Microsoft delivers multi-factor authentication to Windows Azure

The Windows Azure Multi-Factor Authentication product is an additional security measure to validate the identity of users. A secondary-authentication process gets initiated typically via an automated phone call to a mobile device or via a text message requiring a password. Microsoft also offers applications for smartphones and tablets running Android, iOS or Windows Phone operating systems that IT pros can use to send authentication push notifications. The notifications get sent after users log onto a computing environment.

The new multi-factor authentication service works with Microsofts cloud services, including Windows Azure, Office 365, Windows Intune and Dynamics CRM Online. The server version gets installed by downloading it through the Windows Azure Management Portal. It can be configured to work with an organizations virtual private networks and remote access gateways using RADIUS, LDAP or IIS. Multi-factor authentication can be added to Web sites using IIS, as enabled via forms or HTTP authentication. Windows Azure Multi-Factor Authentication works with Terminal Services implementations, too. The server version, although premises based, still uses Microsofts cloud to deliver multi-factor authentication messages to end users, according to a Microsoft Channel 9 video description.

Microsoft also released a software development kit that allows developers to build the multi-factor authentication process into an applications sign-in process. The kit allows developers to tap an existing database of users.