Authifi Service - Security Admin Guide¶
This guide covers how security administrators, tenant administrators, and delegated admins set up, configure, operate, and decommission Authifi administrative accounts.
Compliance: FedRAMP Rev5 Recommended Secure Configuration
Table of Contents¶
- Document Information
- Purpose and Scope
- Administrative Account Types
- Super Administrators
- Tenant Administrators
- Delegated Admins
- Account Lifecycle Management
- Super Administrator Lifecycle
- Tenant Administrator Lifecycle
- Delegated Admin Lifecycle
- Security Settings Reference Tables
- Super Administrator Security Settings
- Tenant Administrator Security Settings
- Delegated Admin Security Settings
- Recommended Secure Configuration
- Security Best Practices
- Compliance Requirements
Document Information¶
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Document Version | 1.0 |
| Last Updated | 2026-01-22 |
| Applies To | Authifi Service |
| Compliance | FedRAMP Rev5 Recommended Secure Configuration |
| Classification | Public |
| Accessibility | Available without authentication at published URL |
Related Documentation:
- Recommended Secure Configuration - Detailed security configuration guidance
- Super Admin Access Requirements - Complete list of super-admin-only operations
- Admin Roles Overview - Role hierarchy and enforcement
- Tenant Administrator Guide - Tenant settings configuration
Purpose and Scope¶
This guide covers administrative profiles available to:
- Authifi internal users (platform operators and support personnel)
- End customers (tenant administrators and delegated administrators)
It covers profiles with elevated permissions that can affect other users or the application's security posture.
Terminology¶
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Super Administrator | Application-level administrator with full control over the Authifi platform. Highest privilege level. Can manage all tenants and platform-wide configurations. |
| Tenant Administrator | Administrator with full control within a single tenant. Cannot access other tenants or super admin functions. |
| Delegated Admin | User with specific elevated permissions for particular resource types without full admin access. |
Note: The Authifi service codebase uses identifiers such as
DEFAULT_ROLE.SYSTEM_ADMIN(role name: "Auth System Admin"),systemAdminsgroup, andisSystemAdminchecks. These refer to Super Administrator in user-facing documentation.Note: Infrastructure Administrators are not covered in this document. Refer to the infrastructure provider's Recommended Secure Configuration Guide.
Administrative Account Types¶
Account Hierarchy¶
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SUPER ADMINISTRATORS (Top-Level Administrative Accounts) │
│ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ • Platform-wide control across all tenants │
│ • License and quota management │
│ • Identity provider trust configuration │
│ • System-level security settings │
│ • Role name: Auth System Admin │
│ • Group: systemAdmins (in default tenant) │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ TENANT ADMINISTRATORS (Privileged Accounts - Tenant Scope) │
│ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ • Full control within assigned tenant │
│ • User/group/application management │
│ • Tenant-level security configuration │
│ • Identity provider setup (except trust status) │
│ • Access via: Admin group membership or admin permissions │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DELEGATED ADMINS (Scoped Permissions) │
│ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ • Limited to specific resource types │
│ • Delegated administration via UMRS roles │
│ • admin::* permissions for targeted capabilities │
│ • Cannot modify tenant-wide settings │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Super Administrators (Top-Level Administrative Accounts)¶
Super Administrators have platform-wide access. They are the highest privilege level available to end customers.
Role Definition¶
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Role Name | Auth System Admin |
| Group | systemAdmins (configured in auth.defaults.systemAdminGroup) |
| Scope | Platform-wide (all tenants) |
| Grant Method | Membership in systemAdmins group or configuration in auth.system.administrators |
Permissions and Operations¶
Platform Management Operations (Super Admin Only):
| Operation | API Endpoint | UI Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create tenant (when restricted) | POST /auth/admin/tenants |
Admins > Tenants > + ADD TENANT | Create new tenants when restrictTenantCreation is enabled |
| Manage licenses | POST/PATCH/DELETE /auth/admin/licenses |
Admins > Licenses | Create, update, and delete licenses |
| Assign licenses to users | PUT /auth/admin/licenses/{id}/rel/{userId} |
API only | Associate users with licenses |
| Manage issuers | POST/PATCH/DELETE /auth/admin/issuers |
API only | Create, update, and delete token issuers |
| Create jobs | POST/PUT/DELETE /auth/admin/tenants/{id}/job |
Resources and Tools > Jobs | Manage scheduled jobs |
| Restore audit logs | POST /auth/admin/tenants/{id}/audit/restore |
API only | Restore deleted audit records |
Identity Provider Operations (Super Admin Only):
| Operation | API Endpoint | UI Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set AAL override | Create/Update IdP endpoints | SSO Integration > Identity Provider Dashboard > Edit | Configure Authentication Assurance Level override |
| Create trusted IdP | POST /auth/admin/tenants/{id}/identity-providers |
SSO Integration > Identity Provider Dashboard > + ADD NEW | Create identity provider with isTrusted: true |
| Modify trust status | PATCH/PUT /auth/admin/tenants/{id}/identity-providers/{id} |
SSO Integration > Identity Provider Dashboard > Edit | Change isTrusted flag on existing IdP |
| Edit trusted IdP | PATCH/PUT /auth/admin/tenants/{id}/identity-providers/{id} |
SSO Integration > Identity Provider Dashboard > Edit | Modify already-trusted identity provider |
Security Operations (Super Admin Only):
| Operation | API Endpoint | UI Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add users to systemAdmins group | PUT /auth/admin/tenants/{id}/groups/{id}/users/rel/{userId} |
Users and Groups > Groups > systemAdmins > Edit | Grant super admin access |
| Create global CORS origins | POST /auth/admin/tenants/{id}/allowed-origins |
API only | Create origins applying to all tenants |
| Manage CORS allow-list | PATCH /auth/admin/allowed-origins/allowlist-enabled |
API only | Enable/disable CORS enforcement |
| Create global notifications | POST /auth/admin/tenants/{id}/system-notification |
Resources and Tools > System Notifications | Create platform-wide notifications |
| Revert system templates | POST /html-templates/{id}/revert-to-system-default |
Resources and Tools > HTML Templates > Revert | Reset templates to defaults |
Bypass Capabilities (Limits Super Admins Bypass):
| Bypass | Description |
|---|---|
| Max tenants limit | Can create tenants beyond license maxTenants |
| Max clients limit | Can create applications beyond license maxClients |
| User expiration | Super admin accounts exempt from automatic expiration |
| Approval chains | Can approve access requests without being in approval chain |
Tenant Administrators (Privileged Accounts)¶
Tenant Administrators have full administrative control within a single tenant. They cannot access other tenants or perform super administrator functions.
Role Definition¶
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Grant Method | Membership in tenant admin group (configured per tenant) |
| Scope | Single tenant |
Permissions and Operations¶
Tenant Configuration:
| Operation | Capability | Security Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Edit tenant settings | Modify session lifetimes, branding, security settings | High - affects all tenant users |
| Configure MFA policies | Enable/disable admin MFA, set TOTP parameters | High - controls authentication strength |
| Manage allowed origins | Add/remove CORS origins for tenant | High - controls application access |
| Configure email settings | Set SMTP server, sender address | Medium - affects communications |
| Manage JWKS keys | Rotate JWT signing keys | High - affects token validation |
| Manage SAML certificates | Upload/rotate certificates | High - affects federation trust |
User and Access Management:
| Operation | Capability | Security Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Create/manage users | Full user lifecycle within tenant | High - controls access |
| Manage groups | Create groups, assign memberships | High - affects permissions |
| Assign roles | Grant/revoke roles and permissions | High - controls authorization |
| Configure access requests | Set up approval workflows | Medium - affects access governance |
| Import/export users | Bulk user operations | High - data access implications |
Application Management:
| Operation | Capability | Security Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Create applications | Register OAuth/SAML clients | High - creates access points |
| Manage client secrets | Generate/rotate secrets | High - controls application authentication |
| Configure redirect URIs | Set valid redirect destinations | High - affects OAuth security |
| Set token lifetimes | Configure access/refresh token durations | Medium - affects session security |
Identity Provider Management:
| Operation | Capability | Security Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Create identity providers | Add OAuth/OIDC/SAML/LDAP IdPs | High - affects authentication |
| Configure claims mapping | Map IdP claims to user attributes | High - affects authorization |
| Test IdP connections | Verify IdP configuration | Low |
Cannot set isTrusted flag |
Requires Super Admin | - |
| Cannot set AAL override | Requires Super Admin | - |
Monitoring and Audit:
| Operation | Capability | Security Impact |
|---|---|---|
| View audit logs | Read all tenant audit entries | Low (read-only) |
| Export audit logs | Export logs to JSON/CSV | Medium - data extraction |
| View login events | Monitor authentication activity | Low (read-only) |
| Export tenant data | Full tenant configuration export | High - contains sensitive configuration |
Delegated Admins¶
Delegated Admins have elevated permissions for specific resource types without full tenant admin access. This supports least-privilege delegation.
Admin Scope Permissions¶
| Scope | Capability | Typical Use Case |
|---|---|---|
admin::admin-permissions:edit |
Create/modify privileged groups, roles, permissions | Security team managing RBAC |
admin::system-templates:edit |
Create/modify system HTML and email templates | Branding team |
admin::trusted-provider:edit |
Modify trusted IdPs, configure secondary unique attributes | IdP administrators |
admin::provider-scripts:edit |
Configure IdP claims mapping scripts | Integration specialists |
admin::view:idp-secrets |
View unmasked IdP secrets in API responses | Integration debugging |
admin::access-scripts:edit |
Modify SAML access scripts | SAML integration team |
admin::clients:edit |
Update client applications | Application administrators |
admin::user-ssh-secret:edit |
Create/update SSH access requests | DevOps team |
Naming Convention: By convention, delegated admin permissions use the
admin::prefix. However, this naming convention alone does not make an entity privileged; theisPrivilegedflag must be set on the permission, role, or group.
User-Managed Role System (UMRS)¶
UMRS enables resource-server-scoped delegation where designated managers can grant specific Access Roles.
Note: UMRS grants Access Roles in a resource-server context. Authifi securely manages the role policy; interpretation and enforcement of those roles in the application or API is application-dependent.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| UMRS Role | Access Role defining what access is granted |
| Manager Group | Who can grant this Access Role |
| Resource Server | Authorization context (client-linked or standalone API) |
| Time-Limited Grants | Supports expiration dates |
| Extension Requests | Users can request grant extensions |
Account Lifecycle Management¶
Super Administrator Lifecycle¶
Setup and Provisioning¶
Prerequisites:
- Existing super administrator account to perform assignment
- User account exists in the platform
- User authenticates via a trusted identity provider (
isTrusted: true) - MFA enrolled (WebAuthn/FIDO2 strongly recommended, TOTP minimum)
Provisioning Process:
| Step | Action | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Existing super admin accesses system configuration | Authenticate with MFA |
| 2 | Add user to systemAdmins group |
Confirm group membership |
| 3 | System grants Auth System Admin role automatically |
Verify role assignment |
| 4 | Security alert sent to all existing super admins | Confirm alert delivery |
| 5 | Verify MFA enrollment | Check TOTP/WebAuthn registration |
| 6 | Document business justification | Record approval and justification |
Temporary Access (for audits, incident response):
| Step | Action | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Specify expiration date/time | Required |
| 2 | Document temporary access reason | Required |
| 3 | Access automatically revoked after expiration | Automatic |
| 4 | All actions logged with temporary flag | Automatic |
Security Checklist:
- [ ] User authenticates via trusted identity provider
- [ ] MFA enabled and enrolled (WebAuthn or TOTP)
- [ ] User identity verified through out-of-band channel
- [ ] Business justification documented
- [ ] All existing super admins notified
- [ ] User acknowledged security responsibilities
- [ ] Backup contact information recorded
- [ ] Temporary access expiration set (if applicable)
Operation Requirements¶
Authentication Requirements:
| Requirement | Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Identity Provider | Must be marked isTrusted: true |
Required |
| MFA | Mandatory for all super admin actions | Required |
| MFA Type | WebAuthn/FIDO2 or TOTP | WebAuthn preferred |
| Session Lifetime | Configurable | 2-8 hours maximum |
| Idle Timeout | Configurable | 30-60 minutes maximum |
Operational Security:
| Practice | Description |
|---|---|
| Dedicated admin account | Separate from day-to-day user account |
| Secure workstation | Use company-managed devices only |
| Network security | Use VPN; avoid public WiFi |
| Session management | Log out when done; never save passwords in browser |
| Alert monitoring | Review and respond to security alerts within 24 hours |
Decommissioning¶
Immediate Actions:
| Step | Action | Automated? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Remove user from systemAdmins group |
Manual |
| 2 | Auth System Admin role automatically revoked |
Automatic |
| 3 | Security alert sent to remaining super admins | Automatic |
| 4 | Audit log entry created with reason | Automatic |
| 5 | Revoke all active sessions immediately | Manual |
| 6 | Revoke all active OAuth grants | Manual |
Post-Decommission Actions:
| Action | Timeframe | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Audit log review | Within 48 hours | Export and review last 90 days of activity |
| Secret rotation | Within 24 hours if compromised | Rotate any shared secrets accessed |
| Account retention | Indefinite (disabled) | Maintain for audit trail; do not delete |
| Compliance documentation | Within 7 days | Document removal in change management system |
Secret Rotation Priority (if applicable):
- Credentials accessed in last 30 days (highest priority)
- API keys and service account credentials
- Encryption keys (if compromise suspected)
- All secrets accessed during tenure (lower priority)
Tenant Administrator Lifecycle¶
Setup and Provisioning¶
Method 1: Group-Based Assignment (Recommended)
| Step | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify or create tenant admin group | Group exists |
| 2 | Add user to admin group | Membership recorded |
| 3 | User gains tenant admin capabilities | Automatic |
| 4 | Verify MFA enrollment | Confirm TOTP/WebAuthn setup |
Method 2: Direct Permission Assignment
| Step | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assign tenant-admin-capable permissions to user | Permissions granted |
| 2 | Specify permission scopes (e.g., auth.admin.*) |
Scopes applied |
| 3 | User gains targeted admin capabilities | Based on scopes |
Security Recommendations:
- Use group-based assignment for easier auditing
- Require MFA enrollment before granting admin access
- Document business justification for each admin
- Set up regular access reviews (quarterly minimum)
Operation Requirements¶
Authentication Requirements:
| Requirement | Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Identity Provider | Trusted IdP recommended | Strongly recommended |
| MFA | Per tenant "Enable Admin MFA" setting | Enable in production |
| Session Lifetime | Tenant configurable | 4-8 hours for admin contexts |
| Idle Timeout | Tenant configurable | 30-60 minutes |
Configurable Security Settings (Tenant Admin Controls):
| Setting | Description | Recommended Value |
|---|---|---|
| Enable Admin MFA | Require MFA for admin actions | true |
| Always Require MFA When Set | Enforce MFA for enrolled users | true |
| TOTP Suspension Threshold | Failed attempts before suspension | 5 |
| TOTP Lockout Threshold | Failed attempts before lockout | 10 |
| TOTP Suspension Period | Suspension duration (minutes) | 2 |
| Session Lifetime | Maximum session duration | 14400-28800 seconds |
| Idle Session Lifetime | Inactivity timeout | 1800-3600 seconds |
Decommissioning¶
| Step | Action | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Remove user from tenant admin group | Immediate |
| 2 | User loses tenant admin capabilities | Immediate |
| 3 | Revoke active sessions | Immediate |
| 4 | Export and review audit logs (90 days) | Within 48 hours |
| 5 | Document removal | Within 7 days |
Delegated Admin Lifecycle¶
Setup and Provisioning¶
Method 1: Direct Scope Assignment
| Step | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify required admin::* permissions |
Scopes identified |
| 2 | Assign permissions to user | Permissions granted |
| 3 | User gains delegated admin capabilities | Limited to assigned scopes |
Method 2: UMRS Role Grant
| Step | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Create UMRS Access Role scoped to a resource server | Role exists |
| 2 | Designate manager group | Managers identified |
| 3 | Manager grants role to user | Access granted |
| 4 | Set expiration date (optional) | Time-limited access |
Decommissioning¶
| Step | Action | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Remove admin::* permissions |
Immediate |
| 2 | Revoke UMRS grants | Immediate |
| 3 | Revoke active sessions | Immediate |
| 4 | Audit log review | Within 48 hours |
Security Settings Reference Tables¶
Super Administrator Security Settings Reference¶
The following settings are controlled exclusively by Super Administrators or provide Super Administrator bypass capabilities.
Platform-Level Settings¶
| Setting | Location | Function | Security Impact | Recommended Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
auth.defaults.restrictTenantCreation |
Configuration | When true, only super admins can create tenants |
High - Controls multi-tenancy | true for production |
auth.defaults.systemAdminGroup |
Configuration | Group name for super administrators | Critical - Defines admin access | systemAdmins (default) |
auth.system.administrators |
Configuration | Config-defined super admins (cannot be removed via API) | Critical - Break-glass access | Minimal list (1-2) |
auth.uploads.systemAdminsOnly |
Configuration | When true, only super admins can upload files |
Medium | Based on requirements |
auth.landingPage.systemAdminsEnabled |
Configuration | Super admins can edit landing pages | Low | true |
auth.landingPage.tenantAdminsEnabled |
Configuration | Tenant admins can edit landing pages | Low | Based on requirements |
Identity Provider Settings (Super Admin Only)¶
| Setting | API Field | Function | Security Impact | Recommended Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authentication Assurance Level Override | aal_override |
Override AAL for IdP (AAL1/AAL2/AAL3) | High - Affects authentication strength | AAL2 or AAL3 for admin IdPs |
| Trusted Identity Provider | isTrusted |
Marks IdP as trusted for elevated privileges | Critical - Enables admin access from IdP | Only for enterprise-managed IdPs |
| MFA Type | mfaType |
Specifies MFA method for IdP | High - Informs authorization decisions | Match actual IdP configuration |
License Management Settings (Super Admin Only)¶
| Setting | API Field | Function | Security Impact | Recommended Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Tenants | maxTenants |
Maximum tenants per license | Medium - Resource governance | Based on licensing agreement |
| Max Clients | maxClients |
Maximum applications per license | Medium - Resource governance | Based on licensing agreement |
| License Assignment | User-license relationship | Associates users with licenses | Medium - Feature access | Assign based on user role |
Global CORS Settings (Super Admin Only)¶
| Setting | API Endpoint | Function | Security Impact | Recommended Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allow-list Enabled | /allowed-origins/allowlist-enabled |
Enable/disable CORS enforcement | Critical - Controls API access | true always in production |
| Discovery Mode | /allowed-origins/discovery-mode |
Log origins for allow-list migration | Medium - Temporary troubleshooting | false in production |
| Global Origins | /allowed-origins with isGlobal: true |
Create origins for all tenants | High - Platform-wide access | Minimize; document each |
Tenant Administrator Security Settings Reference¶
The following settings are controlled by Tenant Administrators (and Super Administrators).
Authentication Settings¶
| Setting | UI Location | API Field | Function | Security Impact | Recommended Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session Lifetime | Settings Tab | sessionLifetime |
Maximum authenticated session duration (seconds) | High - Exposure window | 14400-28800 (4-8 hours) |
| Idle Session Lifetime | Settings Tab | idleSessionLifetime |
Inactivity timeout (seconds) | High - Unattended session risk | 1800-3600 (30-60 min) |
| Refresh Token Lifetime | Settings Tab | refreshTokenLifetime |
Refresh token validity (minutes) | Medium - Extended access | 10080-20160 (7-14 days) |
| Enable Admin MFA | Settings Tab | enableAdminMfa |
Require MFA for admin actions | Critical - Admin protection | true |
| Always Require MFA When Set | Settings Tab | requireMfaWhenSet |
Enforce MFA for enrolled users | High - Consistent MFA | true |
| TOTP Suspension Threshold | Settings Tab | totpSuspensionThreshold |
Failed TOTP attempts before suspension | Medium - Brute force protection | 5 |
| TOTP Lockout Threshold | Settings Tab | totpLockoutThreshold |
Failed TOTP attempts before lockout | Medium - Brute force protection | 10 |
| TOTP Suspension Period | Settings Tab | totpSuspensionPeriod |
Suspension duration (minutes) | Medium - Attack mitigation | 2 |
CORS and Origin Settings¶
| Setting | UI Location | API Field | Function | Security Impact | Recommended Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allowed Origins | Allowed Origins Tab | allowedOrigins |
Valid CORS origins for tenant | Critical - API access control | Only trusted, controlled origins |
| HTTPS Required | - | Validation rule | Origins must use HTTPS | High - Transport security | Enforce HTTPS in production |
Login Security Settings¶
| Setting | UI Location | API Field | Function | Security Impact | Recommended Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enable Disclaimer | Login Page Tab | loginDisclaimer.enabled |
Show acceptance dialog before login | Low - Legal compliance | Based on requirements |
| Disclaimer Expiration | Login Page Tab | loginDisclaimer.expirationDays |
Frequency of re-acceptance | Low | 30-90 days |
| Do Not Skip Login Page | Login Page Tab | doNotSkipLoginPage |
Always show login page | Low - User experience | Enable if disclaimer required |
User Security Settings¶
| Setting | UI Location | API Field | Function | Security Impact | Recommended Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| User Alert Settings | User Alert Settings Tab | Alert configuration | Email notifications for login events | Medium - User awareness | Enable for failed logins |
| Visibility | Settings Tab | visibility |
Public/private tenant discovery | Low - Information disclosure | private for production |
Application Security Settings¶
| Setting | UI Location | API Field | Function | Security Impact | Recommended Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Client Authentication Method | Client settings | tokenEndpointAuthMethod |
How clients authenticate | High - Client security | private_key_jwt (most secure) |
| Access Token Lifetime | Client settings | accessTokenLifetime |
Access token validity | Medium - Session exposure | 900-3600 (15-60 min) |
| Redirect URI Validation | Client settings | redirectUris |
Valid OAuth redirect destinations | Critical - OAuth security | Explicit list; no wildcards |
| PKCE Requirement | Client settings | requirePkce |
Proof Key for Code Exchange | High - Code interception prevention | true for public clients |
Key Management Settings¶
| Setting | UI Location | API Field | Function | Security Impact | Recommended Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JWKS Key Rotation | Tenant JWKS Tab | Key rotation operations | Rotate JWT signing keys | High - Token security | Every 90-180 days |
| SAML Certificate Management | Tenant SAML Certificates Tab | Certificate operations | Manage SAML signing certs | High - Federation trust | Rotate before expiration |
Audit Settings¶
| Setting | UI Location | API Field | Function | Security Impact | Recommended Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audit Log Age Limit | Settings Tab | customTrimJobSettings.ageLimit |
Days to retain audit logs | Medium - Compliance | 365+ days |
| Audit Log Trim Ratio | Settings Tab | trimBySize settings |
Volume-based trimming | Medium - Storage management | Based on volume |
Delegated Admin Security Settings Reference¶
The following capabilities are available to users with specific admin::* permissions.
Admin Scope Capabilities¶
| Scope | Capability | Available Operations | Security Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
admin::admin-permissions:edit |
Privileged RBAC entities | Create/modify privileged groups, roles, permissions | High - Authorization control |
admin::system-templates:edit |
System templates | Create/modify system HTML and email templates | Medium - Branding/phishing risk |
admin::trusted-provider:edit |
Trusted IdP management | Create/modify trusted IdPs, secondary unique attributes | Critical - Authentication trust |
admin::provider-scripts:edit |
Claims mapping | Configure IdP claims mapping scripts | High - Authorization mapping |
admin::view:idp-secrets |
IdP secrets visibility | View unmasked IdP secrets in API responses | High - Credential exposure |
admin::access-scripts:edit |
SAML scripts | Modify SAML access scripts | High - Authorization logic |
admin::clients:edit |
Client management | Update client applications | Medium - Application configuration |
admin::user-ssh-secret:edit |
SSH management | Create/update SSH access requests | Medium - Infrastructure access |
UMRS Configuration¶
| Setting | Description | Security Impact | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Role Definition | What access is granted | High - Scope of delegation | Define narrowly |
| Manager Group | Who can grant the role | High - Delegation control | Limit to trusted managers |
| Expiration Required | Time-limited grants | Medium - Access duration | Enable for temporary access |
| Extension Requests | Allow users to request extensions | Low - Workflow flexibility | Based on requirements |
Recommended Secure Configuration¶
Secure Defaults¶
The Authifi service provisions new tenants with secure defaults. The following table shows defaults and recommended production values.
| Setting | Default Value | Recommended Production Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session Lifetime | 3600 sec (1 hr) | 14400-28800 sec (4-8 hr) | Shorter for high-security tenants |
| Idle Session Timeout | 1200 sec (20 min) | 1800-3600 sec (30-60 min) | Shorter for admin contexts |
| Refresh Token Lifetime | 20160 min (14 days) | 10080-20160 min (7-14 days) | Shorter for sensitive apps |
| Enable Admin MFA | false |
true |
Enable immediately |
| Always Require MFA When Set | true |
true |
Maintain default |
| TOTP Suspension Threshold | 5 | 5 | Failed attempts before suspension |
| TOTP Lockout Threshold | 10 | 10 | Failed attempts before lockout |
| TOTP Suspension Period | 2 min | 2-5 min | Suspension duration |
| Allow-list Enabled | true |
true |
Never disable in production |
| Discovery Mode | false |
false |
Only for troubleshooting |
| Audit Log Retention | 360 days | 365+ days | Compliance requirement |
Configuration Comparison API¶
Endpoint: GET /auth/admin/tenants/{tenantId}
UI: Tenant > Settings (view current configuration)
Use this endpoint to retrieve current tenant configuration for comparison against recommended baselines. The response includes security-relevant settings within the tenant object.
Security-Relevant Fields in Response:
{
"id": "example-tenant",
"sessionLifetime": 28800,
"idleSessionLifetime": 3600,
"refreshTokenLifetime": 2592000,
"enableAdminMfa": true,
"requireMfaWhenSet": true,
"totpSuspensionThreshold": 5,
"totpLockoutThreshold": 10,
"totpSuspensionPeriod": 2,
"allowListEnabled": true,
"discoveryMode": false,
"customTrimJobSettings": {
"ageLimit": 365
}
}
Configuration Export¶
Tenant Configuration Export:
- UI: Tenant > Settings > Export
- Format: JSON (machine-readable)
- Note: Tenant configuration is exported via the UI; use
GET /auth/admin/tenants/{tenantId}API for programmatic access
Audit Log Export:
- UI: Monitoring > Audit Logs > Export Audit Logs
- API:
GET /auth/admin/tenants/{tenantId}/audit/export/csvGET /auth/admin/tenants/{tenantId}/audit/export/json
Security Best Practices¶
Super Administrator Security¶
| Practice | Description | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Minimize count | Limit to 2-5 individuals maximum | Critical |
| Dedicated accounts | Separate from day-to-day user accounts | Critical |
| Hardware MFA | Require WebAuthn/FIDO2 (TOTP minimum) | Critical |
| Trusted IdP only | Authenticate only via trusted identity providers | Critical |
| Short sessions | 2-4 hour session lifetime for admin work | High |
| Secure workstation | Company-managed devices only; avoid public WiFi | High |
| Alert monitoring | Review security alerts within 24 hours | High |
| Regular review | Quarterly audit of super admin assignments | Medium |
Tenant Administrator Security¶
| Practice | Description | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Enable Admin MFA | Set enableAdminMfa: true |
Critical |
| Group-based assignment | Use admin groups, not direct permissions | High |
| Regular reviews | Quarterly audit of admin group membership | High |
| Session management | Use short idle timeouts (30-60 min) | Medium |
| Least privilege | Use delegated admin where possible | Medium |
Identity Provider Security¶
| Practice | Description | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Trusted IdP for admins | Only use trusted IdPs for admin accounts | Critical |
| IdP-level MFA | Configure MFA at identity provider | High |
| Claims validation | Validate all mapped claims defensively | High |
| Regular testing | Test IdP connections regularly | Medium |
Application Security¶
| Practice | Description | Priority |
|---|---|---|
private_key_jwt auth |
Use for confidential clients | High |
| Explicit redirect URIs | No wildcards; exact matches only | High |
| Short token lifetimes | 15-60 minute access tokens | Medium |
| PKCE required | Enable for all OAuth flows | High |
| Secret rotation | Rotate client secrets quarterly | Medium |
Secret Management¶
| Practice | Description | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitive type | Use for all credentials | High |
| Set expiration | 90-180 days for credentials | High |
| Immediate rotation | Rotate on suspected compromise | Critical |
| Access auditing | Review secret access logs regularly | Medium |
Compliance Requirements¶
FedRAMP Recommended Secure Configuration Mapping¶
| Requirement | Section | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| FRR-RSC-01: Top-Level Admin Accounts Guidance | Super Administrators, Super Administrator Lifecycle | Access, configuration, operation, decommission |
| FRR-RSC-02: Top-Level Admin Security Settings | Super Administrator Security Settings Reference | All super admin-only settings and implications |
| FRR-RSC-03: Privileged Accounts Security Settings | Tenant Administrator Security Settings Reference, Delegated Admin Security Settings Reference | All privileged account settings and implications |
| FRR-RSC-04: Secure Defaults on Provisioning | Recommended Secure Configuration | Default values table |
| FRR-RSC-05: Comparison Capability | Configuration Comparison API | API endpoint for comparison |
| FRR-RSC-06: Export Capability | Configuration Export | UI and API export |
| FRR-RSC-07: API Capability | API Documentation | REST API for all settings |
| FRR-RSC-08: Machine-Readable Guidance | This document (Markdown), API (JSON) | Machine-readable formats |
| FRR-RSC-09: Publish Guidance | GitHub repository | Publicly accessible |
| FRR-RSC-10: Versioning and Release History | Document Information | Version controlled |
API-Based Management¶
All security settings are accessible via REST API and the Authifi UI:
| Resource | Endpoints | UI Location |
|---|---|---|
| Tenants | GET/PUT/PATCH /auth/admin/tenants/{tenantId} |
Tenant > Settings |
| Identity Providers | GET/POST/PUT/DELETE /auth/admin/tenants/{tenantId}/identity-providers |
SSO Integration > Identity Provider Dashboard |
| Applications | GET/POST/PUT/DELETE /auth/admin/tenants/{tenantId}/clients |
SSO Integration > App Dashboard |
| Users | GET/POST/PUT/DELETE /auth/admin/tenants/{tenantId}/users |
Users and Groups > Users |
| Groups | GET/POST/PUT/DELETE /auth/admin/tenants/{tenantId}/groups |
Users and Groups > Groups |
| Allowed Origins | GET/POST/DELETE /auth/admin/tenants/{tenantId}/allowed-origins |
SSO Integration > App Dashboard > Edit app > Allowed Origins |
| Audit Logs | GET /auth/admin/tenants/{tenantId}/audit-logs |
Resources and Tools > Audit Logs |
Complete API Documentation: Available at /auth/docs (Swagger/OpenAPI) on Authifi service instances.
Audit Checklists¶
Super Administrator Audit (Quarterly):
- [ ] List all
systemAdminsgroup members - [ ] Verify business justification for each
- [ ] Confirm MFA enrollment (WebAuthn or TOTP)
- [ ] Review super admin actions in last 90 days
- [ ] Check for suspicious activity
- [ ] Verify no unauthorized privilege escalations
- [ ] Confirm security alert system functioning
- [ ] Document findings and remediation
Tenant Administrator Audit (Quarterly):
- [ ] List all tenant admin group memberships
- [ ] Verify assignments are current
- [ ] Check for departing employees still in groups
- [ ] Review admin actions in last 90 days
- [ ] Verify MFA enrollment for admins
- [ ] Document findings
Identity Provider Audit (Monthly):
- [ ] List all configured identity providers
- [ ] Verify "trusted" flag appropriateness
- [ ] Check MFA configuration at IdP level
- [ ] Review claims mapping and scripting
- [ ] Test IdP connections
- [ ] Document any issues
Document Maintenance¶
| Activity | Frequency | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Technical review | Quarterly | Verify accuracy of settings and recommendations |
| Comprehensive review | Annually | Full security review and update |
| Post-incident update | As needed | Update after security incidents |
| Version update | With releases | Update for new features/changes |
Change History¶
| Version | Date | Changes | Author |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 2026-01-22 | Initial release | Authifi Documentation Team |
Additional Resources¶
Internal Documentation:
- Recommended Secure Configuration - Detailed security configuration
- Super Admin Access Requirements - Complete super-admin-only operations
- Admin Roles Overview - Role hierarchy and enforcement
- Tenant Administrator Guide - Tenant settings configuration
- Users and Groups Management Guide - User/group management
- Monitoring and Logging Guide - Audit logs and monitoring
External Resources:
- FedRAMP Recommended Secure Configuration: https://www.fedramp.gov/docs/rev5/recommended-secure-configuration/
- NIST SP 800-63B: Digital Identity Guidelines (Authentication)
- OWASP Authentication Cheat Sheet
Support:
- Documentation feedback: GitHub Issues
- Security concerns: security@axleinfo.com
- General support: support@axleinfo.com
Classification: Public
Distribution: Unlimited
URL: https://docs.authifi.io/security/security-admin-guide