Microsoft authentication in asp net core 2 and azure app services

Introduction

Microsoft authentication is a crucial aspect of building secure web applications. In this article, we will explore how to implement Microsoft authentication in ASP.NET Core 2 and Azure App Services. We will provide step-by-step instructions along with code examples to help you understand the process.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the implementation, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

• Visual Studio installed on your machine
• An Azure account
• An ASP.NET Core 2 project set up

Step 1: Registering the Application in Azure Active Directory

The first step is to register your application in Azure Active Directory (AAD). This will allow your application to authenticate users using Microsoft accounts. Follow these steps:

1. Go to the Azure portal and navigate to Azure Active Directory.
2. Select “App registrations” and click on “New registration”.
3. Provide a name for your application and select the appropriate account type.
4. Enter the redirect URI for your application. This is the URL where users will be redirected after authentication.
5. Click on “Register” to create the application.
6. Note down the “Application (client) ID” as we will need it later.

Step 2: Configuring Authentication in ASP.NET Core 2

Now that we have registered our application in AAD, let's configure authentication in our ASP.NET Core 2 project. Follow these steps:

1. Open your ASP.NET Core 2 project in Visual Studio.
2. Open the “Startup.cs” file.
3. In the “ConfigureServices” method, add the following code:

services.AddAuthentication()
    .AddMicrosoftAccount(options =>
    {
        options.ClientId = "YOUR_CLIENT_ID";
        options.ClientSecret = "YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET";
    });

Replace “YOUR_CLIENT_ID” and “YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET” with the respective values from the Azure portal.

4. In the “Configure” method, add the following code:

app.UseAuthentication();

Step 3: Implementing Authentication in Controllers

Now that we have configured authentication, let's implement it in our controllers. Follow these steps:

1. Create a new controller or open an existing one.
2. Add the “[Authorize]” attribute to the controller or specific actions that require authentication.

[Authorize]
public class HomeController : Controller
{
    // Controller actions
}

By adding the “[Authorize]” attribute, only authenticated users will be able to access the controller or actions.

Step 4: Testing the Authentication

Now that everything is set up, let's test the authentication in our application. Follow these steps:

1. Run your ASP.NET Core 2 project in Visual Studio.
2. Access a controller or action that requires authentication.
3. You will be redirected to the Microsoft login page.
4. Enter your Microsoft account credentials and authenticate.
5. After successful authentication, you will be redirected back to your application.

Conclusion

In this article, we have learned how to implement Microsoft authentication in ASP.NET Core 2 and Azure App Services. We have covered the steps to register the application in Azure Active Directory, configure authentication in ASP.NET Core 2, implement authentication in controllers, and test the authentication process. By following these steps, you can ensure secure authentication for your ASP.NET Core 2 web applications.