Identity Management

This section covers how to manage user identities, roles, and permissions within your applications using MSDN Application Services. Effective identity management is crucial for securing your applications and controlling access to resources.

Users

The User Management module allows you to create, retrieve, update, and delete user accounts. Each user is typically associated with a unique identifier, credentials (like username and password, or OAuth tokens), and profile information.

User Object Structure

A typical user object might include properties such as:

• userId (string, unique identifier)
• username (string, unique username for login)
• email (string, user's email address)
• displayName (string, user's full name)
• createdAt (datetime, when the user was created)
• updatedAt (datetime, when the user was last updated)
• isActive (boolean, indicates if the account is active)
• roles (array of role IDs)

Creating a New User

You can create users via the Management API or programmatically. Here's an example using a hypothetical SDK:

const userService = new MSDN.Users();
userService.create({
    username: 'jane.doe',
    email: 'jane.doe@example.com',
    displayName: 'Jane Doe',
    initialPassword: 'aSecurePassword123!'
})
.then(user => {
    console.log('User created successfully:', user);
})
.catch(error => {
    console.error('Error creating user:', error);
});
            

Roles

Roles represent collections of permissions. Assigning roles to users simplifies permission management. Instead of granting individual permissions, you can grant a role that already has the necessary permissions.

Predefined Roles

Common roles include:

• Administrator: Full access to all features.
• Editor: Can create and modify content.
• Viewer: Can only view content.
• User: Basic access for registered users.

Custom Roles

You can define custom roles tailored to your application's specific needs.

Permissions

Permissions define specific actions that a user or role can perform on resources. Examples include:

• read:document
• write:document
• delete:user
• manage:settings

Permissions are typically associated with roles, which are then assigned to users. This forms the basis of Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).

Groups

Groups allow you to organize users for easier management. You can assign roles or permissions to an entire group, and all members of that group will inherit those privileges.

Use Cases for Groups

• Department-specific access (e.g., "Marketing Team", "Engineering Team").
• Project-based access control.
• Temporary access for contractors.

Further Reading

• Authentication Methods
• RBAC API Endpoints