ADFS Authentication (SAML)

Ivanti Neurons currently offers the option to choose ADFS (Active Directory Federation Services) as the external authentication provider for your tenant. ADFS authentication is a single sign-on (SSO) system that enables users to securely access applications and resources across different domains with a single login using security tokens. This streamlines user experience, improves security by reducing password reuse, and simplifies identity management for organizations.

ADFS authentication only supports the SAML based sign-in method.

Configure and Enable External Authentication

  1. In the Ivanti Neurons Platform, navigate to Admin > Authentication.

    The Authentication page appears.

  2. In the External Authentication (SSO) section, click Configure & Enable.

    The Enable External Authentication (SSO) page appears.

  3. From the Provider drop-down, select ADFS.

    The ADFS SAML 2.0 Configuration Settings page appears. It is recommended to leave this tab open for future reference when configuring details in the ADFS Service Manager console.

  4. On the ADFS SAML 2.0 Configuration Settings section, you can select the following options:

    • Enable Signed requests: Enable this option to send digitally signed requests to an external authentication provider and configure the provider to validate whether the signed requests are from the Ivanti Neurons tenant. Alternatively, you can disable this option to stop sending signed requests.

    • Enable Encrypted assertions: Enable this option to receive encrypted user information from the external authentication provider, and you can configure the Neurons tenant to decrypt the information. Alternatively, you can disable this option to stop receiving encrypted user information.

  5. Click Apply Changes.
    Once you apply the changes, you can download the identity information, such as service provider metadata and certificate, for a SAML-based SSO system as given below:

    • Download SP metadata: Click this option to download the service provider metadata along with the certificate in XML format.

    • Download certificate only: Click this option to download only the certificate (in .pem format).

  1. Log in to the ADFS Service Manager console.
    The Dashboard appears.

  2. From the Service Manager's Dashboard, navigate to Tools > AD FS Management.
    The AD FS management wizard appears.

  3. On the Actions section, expand AD FS and select the Add Relying Party Trust option.

    The Add Relying Party Trust Wizard appears with multiple steps to perform the configuration.

  4. On the Welcome step, select the Claims aware option and click Start.

  5. On the Select Data Sources step, select Enter data about the relying party trust manually. Then, click Next.

  6. On the Specify Display Name step, enter a name for the relying party trust. Then, click Next.

  7. On the Configure Certificate step, you can upload the encryption certificate (in .cer format) that you downloaded from Ivanti Neurons.
    To upload an encryption certificate, click Browse. This configures the encrypted assertions for ADFS. Then, click Next.

    For more information about downloading the certificate, refer to the steps under the Configure and Enable External Authentication (Ivanti Neurons Platform) section.

  1. On the Configure URL step, select Enable support for the SAML 2.0 WebSSO protocol options and copy-paste the service URL from the Neurons Platform. Then, click Next.

    For the service URL, go back to the Ivanti Neurons and copy the Assertion Consumer Service URL from the ADFS SAML 2.0 Configuration Settings section.

  2. On the Configure Identifiers step, enter the Relying party trust identifier, and click Add. Then, click Next.

    For the Relying party trust identifier, go back to Ivanti Neurons and copy the Entity ID under the ADFS SAML 2.0 Configuration Settings section.

  1. On the Choose Access Control Policy step, choose a policy under the Choose an access control policy section based on your organizational requirements. Then, click Next to complete the setup.

    This closes the Add Relying Party Trust Wizard and creates the relying party trust configuration.

  1. On the AD FS management wizard, select the Relying Party Trusts folder.
    This displays the relying party trust configuration you created.

  2. Double-click the relying party trust configuration you created and navigate to the Signature tab.

  3. Click Add to browse and upload the signature verification certificate.

    For more information about downloading the certificate, refer to steps under the Configure and Enable External Authentication (Ivanti Neurons Platform) section.

Ensure that the ADFS configuration includes the required claims that are applicable for Ivanti Neurons.

  1. On the AD FS management wizard, click the Edit Claim Issuance Policy option under the Actions section.

    The Edit Claim Issuance Policy wizard for the selected relying party trust configuration you created.

  2. Click Add Rule.

    The Add Transformation Claim Rule Wizard appears with configuration steps.

  3. On the Choose Rule Type step, select Send LDAP Attributes as Claims option and click Next.

  4. On the Configure Claim Rule step, enter a claim name, select attribute store, and perform required mappings for LDAP attributes.

    Ensure that, the following mappings are configured:

    • E-mail-Addresses -> E-mail Address

    • Given-Name -> Given Name

    • Surname -> Surname

    • E-mail-Addresses -> Name ID

  5. Then, click Finish.
    The Edit Claim Issuance Policy wizard appears.

  6. Click Apply.

Once the ADFS configuration is complete, you must apply the identity provider metadata endpoint URL in the Ivanti Neurons application.

  1. Identify and copy the metadata URL of your ADFS provider.

    The IdP metadata URL of your ADFS provider will be in the following format:
    https://<adfs-federation-service-name>/FederationMetadata/2007-06/FederationMetadata.xml"

  2. Go back to Ivanti Neurons Platform and paste the URL in the Identity Provider Metadata Endpoint URL field.
    This will validate the URL.

  3. Click Continue to proceed.

You must connect with your ADFS server to validate your connection settings.

  1. On the Validate Connection Settings page, click Validate Settings.

    The validation takes place automatically. You will receive a confirmation screen if login is successful.

  2. Return to the Validate Connection Settings page and select the check box to confirm login success.

  3. Click Continue to proceed to the Convert your Ivanti Neurons platform account page.

ADFS is now configured, but it is not enabled.

To enable, you need to convert your Ivanti Neurons Platform accounts to use ADFS instead.

  1. On the Enable Ivanti Neurons Platform accounts page, click Sign Out & Enable.
    The Ivanti Neurons Sign In page appears.
  2. Select the Sign In with ADFS and enter your ADFS credentials, the conversion will then be complete.
    To verify, login in Neurons, go to Admin > Authentication, and see that ADFS is the external authentication provider.

    3. The same user must configure ADFS authentication and Sign in and validate the credentials in Ivanti Neurons, to avoid an Access Denied error.

All members will receive an email to confirm the account has been converted and that they must access the tenant with ADFS credentials going forward. If the member does not have ADFS credentials, they will not be able to access Ivanti Neurons.

External Authentication (SSO) will now display with an Enabled status.

Configure Auto Provisioning

Enabling auto provisioning will automatically grant access to Ivanti Neurons for all members within the ADFS Registration without having to go through the manual invite process. When a new member logs in for the first time, a new Ivanti Neurons Platform account will be provisioned in Ivanti Neurons > Members. All new auto-provisioned members will be granted the access control roles defined in the set up.

  1. In Ivanti Neurons Platform navigate to Setup > Authentication.

    The Authentication Method page appears.

  2. In the External Authentication section, click Actions and select Enable auto provisioning.

  3. From the Default roles drop-down, select the access control role that you want to be assigned to all new members.

    To set up Roles, go to Ivanti Neurons > Admin> Roles.

  4. Click Enable Auto Provisioning to confirm the role selection and enable auto provisioning for all new members.

Once enabled, you can edit default access control roles and disable auto provisioning. These changes will only apply to members provisioned after the modifications and will not affect existing members.

(Optional) Update Provider Setting (Ivanti Neurons Platform)

This action enables you to choose whether to use a signed requests, encrypted assertions, or both.

  1. In Ivanti Neurons Platform, navigate to Admin > Authentication.

    The Authentication page appears.

  2. In the External Authentication section, click Actions > Update provider setting.

    The Update SAML provider page appears.

  3. In ADFS Configuration Settings, you can select the following:

    • Enable Signed requests: Enable this option to send digitally signed requests to an external authentication provider and configure the provider to validate whether the signed requests are from Ivanti Neurons tenant. Alternatively, you can disable this option to stop sending signed requests.

    • Enable Encrypted assertions: Enable this option to receive an encrypted user information from the external authentication provider and you can configure the Neurons tenant to decrypt the information. Alternatively, you can disable this option to stop receiving encrypted user information.

  4. Click Apply Changes.

    Now, you can download the updated service provider metadata file and certificate based on your requirements.

    Once you have downloaded the updated encrypted certificate, ensure that the new certificate is uploaded to the ADFS system manager. To upload the certificate, refer to the ADFS Setup (Server Manager console) section.

  5. Click Continue to validate the metadata.

  6. On the Validate SAML Provider Setting page, click Validate Setting.

  7. A new tab opens on your organization’s sign-in page. Enter your credentials and sign in.

    The validation takes place automatically. You will receive a confirmation screen if login is successful.

  8. Return to the Validate New Provider Setting page and select the check box to confirm login success.

  9. Click Continue to proceed.

  10. Click Save changes to complete the process.

    A notification confirming the successful update of client secret is received.

(Optional) Update Certificate (Ivanti Neurons Platform)

You can use this option to update the expired certificate or when a certificate is about to expire.

The renew function is intended to be used during low usage hours. Once Neurons renews the certificate, it begins using it immediately. This will cause failed authentication events at the Identity Provider until the IdP is updated to expect the new certificate. Please plan accordingly and ensure that coordinated changes occur in your IdP software.

  1. In Ivanti Neurons Platform, navigate to Admin > Authentication.
    The Authentication page appears.

  2. In the External Authentication section, click Actions >Update certificate.
    The Update Certificate screen appears.

  3. Click Continue.
    The Update tab appears.

  4. On the Update tab, you can download the service provider metadata and certificate.

    Once you have downloaded the encrypted certificate, ensure that the new certificate is uploaded to the identity provider console before validating.

  5. Click Continue to go to the Validate New Certificate page.

  6. Click Validate Certificate.
    The validation takes place automatically. You will receive a confirmation screen if login is successful.

  7. Return to the Validate Connection Settings page and select the check box to confirm login.

  8. Click Continue.
    The Save New Certificate page appears.

  9. Click Save Changes.

(Optional) Download SP Metadata or Certificate (Ivanti Neurons Platform)

If the external authentication setup for ADFS has to be redone due to issues or errors, it will require either the certificate or the SP metadata. These can be downloaded from the actions drop-down from Ivanti Neurons, as below:

  1. In the Ivanti Neurons Platform, navigate to Admin > Authentication.

    The Authentication page appears.

  2. In the External Authentication (SSO) section, click Actions. From the drop-down, you can click the following:

    • Download SP metadata: Click this option to download the service provider metadata along with the certificate in XML format.

    • Download certificate only: Click this option to download only the certificate (in .pem format).

    The SP metadata file would have the last saved version of provider configuration settings, and the certificate would be the last active certificate.

(Optional) Delete Authentication Method (Ivanti Neurons Platform)

  1. In the Ivanti Neurons Platform, navigate to Admin > Authentication.

    The Authentication page appears.

  2. In the External Authentication (SSO) section, click Actions > Delete authentication method.

    The Delete External Authentication screen appears.

  3. Click Sign Out & Re-authenticate.

    Ivanti Neurons is signed-out.

  4. Click Sign in with email and password.

  5. Enter the credentials and click Sign In.

  6. Navigate to Admin > Authentication > External Authentication, then click Actions > Delete authentication method.

    Delete External Authentication screen appears.

  7. Click Delete Authentication Method.

    The existing authentication method is now deleted.