Making WordPress authenticate off of Azure Active Directory

Yep, you read that title correctly. You can use Azure Active Directory to handle authentication to your self hosted WordPress website.

It’s shockingly easy to setup as well.  You’ll need this WordPress plugin to handle the actual authentication. It’s not in the WordPress gallery, instead it’s on GitHub so you’ll have to download it from there and install it.

Once it’s setup you’ll need to log into the Azure portal and tell Azure Active Directory that you’ll have a new application using Azure Active Directory. Then copy the keys from Azure Active Directory to the settings page of the Plugin.

Now don’t worry, there’s instructions on the GitHub page for the plugin that’ll walk you through setting it all up. It frankly took me all of about 5 minutes to get it setup and working.

Now if your WordPress is configured to prompt you to do a math problem when you login, you’ll need to disable the Protect feature in the Security tab in the JetPack Security tab.

The benefits of using Azure Active Directory for your authentication are enormous, including robust Two Factor Authentication, corporate password policies, granting access via AD group membership as well as the fact that your login process is now backed by the Worldwide Azure Active Directory infrastructure.

If you have WordPress and have access to Azure Active Directory I would HIGHLY recommend setting up this authentication process.

Denny

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