Cisco SDWAN Controller authentication

To authenticate with a Cisco SD-WAN Controller, you typically use credentials such as a username and password. The authentication process may involve several steps depending on the specific setup and security requirements of the network. Here's a general overview of the authentication process for a Cisco SD-WAN Controller:

Accessing the Controller: You start by accessing the web interface or command-line interface (CLI) of the SD-WAN Controller. This could be done through a web browser or SSH client.
Username and Password: You'll be prompted to enter your username and password. These credentials are typically created during the initial setup of the SD-WAN Controller.
Authentication Mechanisms: Cisco SD-WAN Controllers might support various authentication mechanisms such as local authentication, RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service), TACACS+ (Terminal Access Controller Access-Control System Plus), LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol), or SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language).
- Local Authentication: The credentials are stored locally on the SD-WAN Controller itself.
- RADIUS and TACACS+: These are protocols used for centralized authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA). They allow the SD-WAN Controller to communicate with a central authentication server for user authentication.
- LDAP: This is often used for integrating with existing directory services like Active Directory for user authentication.
- SAML: Used for single sign-on (SSO) authentication.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Depending on the security policies in place, the SD-WAN Controller might also support two-factor authentication for an additional layer of security. This could involve methods such as SMS codes, authenticator apps, or hardware tokens.
Authorization: After successful authentication, the SD-WAN Controller grants access to the authenticated user based on their role and permissions configured within the system. This ensures that users only have access to the resources and functions they are authorized to use.