Pass Through Authentication

Pass Through Authentication (PTA) lets a user go straight to the platform from an organization's web page or application, without having to log in again.

How it Works

As part of an enterprise application, the user would like to visit a page hosted on the platform, without having to log in to the platform to see it. To accomplish that goal, the application sends a small SOAP message to the platform, in an HTTP request.

That message contains the information needed to log into the platform. Data in it is passed to an authentication server, which sends back a message saying that authentication has succeeded or failed, after which the user is directed to the appropriate page.

The URL of the Authentication Server and the URLs of the pages to visit in the event of success or failure are configured in the platform's Single Sign-On Settings.

Actions

	User...	Platform...	Your Organization's Web Service...
1.			Provides a web page or application
2.	Visits the page or application
3.	Clicks a link to go to a platform page
4.			Passes data to the platform's PTA service in the SOAP payload
5.		Receives data in the SOAP payload: Session ID (optional, but desirable) Login ID Passes data to the Authentication server
6.		Receives a success- or failure-report from the Authentication Server
7.		Redirects the user to the appropriate page.

Enabling Pass Through Authentication

1. Click Settings > Administration > Single Sign-On
2. Click the [Edit] button
3. For Single Sign-On Settings, choose Pass Through Authentication
4. Fill in the Pass Through Authentication Settings:

   Third party Authentication Service URL

   Location of the authentication service. The platform uses this URL to authenticate the USER, passing the appropriate pay load in the HTTP request.

   Success page URL

   The page the platform sends the user to when authentication succeeds.

   Error page URL

   The page the platform sends the user to when authentication fails.
   The default destination is the platform’s Login-error page.

5. Click [Save]

Initial Message Sent to the Platform

This message format needs to be delivered to the platform by the Application or web page.

• Method: POST

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Messages Sent Between the Platform and Authentication Server

These message formats need to be processed and/or delivered by the Authentication Server.

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