What is Azure AD B2C?
Azure AD B2C is an identity management service for consumer-facing applications. Unlike Azure AD, which is mostly used for managing identities inside an organization (employees, partners), Azure AD B2C is built to handle millions of external users — your customers, clients, or consumers.
It lets developers add authentication and authorization to apps without building these complex features from scratch. The service supports web, mobile, and desktop applications.
How Azure AD B2C Works
- User Flows and Custom Policies:
Azure AD B2C uses “user flows” (also called built-in policies) for common identity tasks: sign-up, sign-in, password reset, and profile editing. For more complex requirements, you can create “custom policies” to customize the identity experience exactly how you want. - Authentication Protocols:
Supports industry standards like OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and SAML, enabling seamless integration with a wide range of apps and platforms. - Social and Local Identities:
Users can sign up and sign in using:- Local accounts (email, username + password)
- Social identities (Google, Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft accounts, Apple, LinkedIn, and more)
- Enterprise identities (via federation with other identity providers if needed)
- Token Issuance:
After authentication, Azure AD B2C issues security tokens (JWT tokens) that apps use to verify user identity and permissions.
Typical Use Cases
- Customer Portals:
Providing customers with secure access to self-service portals (e.g., banking, telecom, retail). - Mobile and Web Apps:
Integrate customer login in apps with SSO and social identity support. - E-commerce Platforms:
Secure authentication for buyers and sellers, supporting transactions and profiles. - Government Services:
Citizen access to public services via a single identity solution. - IoT and Connected Devices:
Securely identify and authenticate users or devices.
Architecture Overview
- Applications:
Your web or mobile apps call Azure AD B2C to authenticate users. - Identity Providers:
Azure AD B2C interacts with social IdPs (Google, Facebook) and local accounts. - Token Service:
After user authentication, Azure AD B2C issues tokens your app trusts. - User Data Storage:
User profiles and credentials are stored securely in Azure AD B2C.
Benefits of Using Azure AD B2C
- Scalability:
Designed to handle millions of users with high availability. - Security:
Microsoft maintains and updates the platform with the latest security standards and compliance (e.g., GDPR, ISO, SOC). - Customization:
Customize the UI and workflows to match your brand and user experience. - Cost-Effective:
Pay-as-you-go pricing, no upfront infrastructure costs. - Global Reach:
Azure’s global data canters ensure low-latency authentication worldwide.