Active Directory Federation Services - ADFS on Windows Server 2025

Active Directory Federation Services provides access control and single sign on (SSO) across a wide variety of applications including Microsoft Office 365, cloud based SaaS applications, and applications on the corporate network.

ADFS - Key Benefits

• For IT organizations - Enables you to provide sign on and access control to both modern and legacy applications, on premises and in the cloud, based on the same set of credentials and policies
• For Users - Provides seamless sign on using the same, familiar account credentials
• For Developers - Provides an easy way to authenticate users whose identities live in the organizational directory so that you can focus your efforts on your application, not authentication or identity

Eliminate Passwords from the Extranet

• Sign in with Azure Multi-factor Authentication
• Password-less Access from Compliant Devices
• Sign in with Windows Hello for Business

Secure Access to Applications

• Modern Authentication
• Configure access control policies without having to know claim rules language
• Enable sign on with non-AD LDAP directories

Manageability and Operational Enhancements

• Streamlined auditing for easier administrative management
• Improved interoperability with SAML 2.0 for participation in confederations
• Simplified password management for federated O365 users

ADFS Common Use Cases

• Enable single sign-on for Office 365 and Microsoft 365 services
• Provide secure external access to internal web applications
• Integrate cloud SaaS applications with on-premises Active Directory
• Enable multi-factor authentication for enhanced security
• Support hybrid identity scenarios across on-premises and cloud environments
• Federate identity with business partners and external organizations

ADFS Integration Capabilities

• Native integration with Azure Active Directory
• Support for WS-Federation, SAML 2.0, and OAuth 2.0 protocols
• Compatible with thousands of pre-integrated SaaS applications
• REST API support for custom integrations
• Works with Web Application Proxy for secure external access
• Seamless integration with SharePoint, Exchange, and Microsoft 365

ADFS Management and Monitoring Features

• Web-based management console for easy administration
• PowerShell cmdlets for automation and scripting
• Detailed logging and auditing capabilities
• Integration with Azure Monitor for cloud-based monitoring
• Health monitoring and alerting for service availability
• Event log integration for centralized security monitoring

ADFS Protocol Support

• WS-Federation - Primary protocol for browser-based applications and enterprise SSO
• SAML 2.0 - Industry standard for enterprise SSO and SaaS application integration
• OAuth 2.0 - Modern authentication protocol for APIs and mobile applications
• OpenID Connect - Authentication layer built on top of OAuth 2.0 for identity verification
• WS-Trust - For rich client applications and legacy system integration
• Support for multiple protocols simultaneously for diverse application requirements

ADFS Deployment Architecture

• Single Server Deployment - Suitable for small environments, testing, and development scenarios
• ADFS Farm Configuration - Multiple ADFS servers with Windows Internal Database or SQL Server backend
• High Availability Setup - Load balanced configuration with shared configuration database for enterprise deployments
• DMZ Integration - Works with Web Application Proxy for secure external access without VPN
• Hybrid Cloud Architecture - Integrates with Azure AD Connect for synchronized hybrid identity scenarios
• Geographic Distribution - Supports multi-site deployments for global organizations

ADFS Support

Need help setting up your ADFS environment? Follow our getting started guiding on running ADFS in Azure - How to setup ADFS Farm

Disclaimer: Microsoft, Windows Server, Active Directory, and AD FS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. This solution is provided "as-is" without warranty of any kind, express or implied. Use at your own risk. The user assumes full responsibility for any damages resulting from the use of this software.