Authentik

Authentik is a tool that manages how users sign in to your applications and services. Think of it as a central security checkpoint that verifies who someone is before letting them access your systems.

It supports multiple authentication methods, from simple passwords to advanced options like security keys and fingerprints. Authentik can connect to social login providers like Google or GitHub, or it can manage its own user database. The platform uses industry-standard protocols, which means it works with thousands of applications without custom coding.

Authentik is open source, meaning anyone can review its code for security issues. You can install it using Docker or Kubernetes, making it suitable for any size organization. There are free and paid versions available, depending on your needs.

Getting started with Authentik involves a few straightforward steps:

• Install Authentik on your server using Docker Compose for small setups or Kubernetes for larger deployments. The official documentation provides detailed installation guides for different platforms.

• Create your first admin account and access the web interface. From here, you can add users, set up groups, and define access policies.

• Add applications by creating providers for each service you want to protect. Choose the right protocol (OAuth, SAML, or LDAP) based on what your application supports.

• Configure authentication flows to control how users sign in. You can require multiple factors, add custom verification steps, or integrate social logins.

• Set up policies to control who can access which applications. Policies can check user groups, location, time of day, or custom conditions.

• Test everything with a regular user account before rolling out to your entire organization.

• Multiple protocol support (OAuth, SAML, LDAP, RADIUS)

• Self-hosted and open source

• Multi-factor authentication options

• Social login integration

• Customizable authentication flows

• Web-based remote access (SSH, RDP, VNC)

• Fine-grained access policies

• Visual admin dashboard

• API and automation support

• Docker and Kubernetes deployment

• Enhanced audit logging (Professional)

• Enterprise integrations available