> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://itsfoss.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Ubuntu Adds a New Authentication Feature - URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/ubuntu-authd/ - Published: 2024-09-17T07:44:39.000Z - Updated: 2024-09-17T07:44:39.000Z - Description: Better security for Ubuntu users. A good step. - Author: Sourav Rudra - Tags: Ubuntu, News, #Import 2025-11-08 21:15 Being adept in the field of cybersecurity is an important skill to have, more so if you are an enterprise with a workforce spanning the globe. If you were to slip up, it would open up the door for a range of cyberattacks, resulting in monetary and reputational losses. Some of the most common ways to secure an IT infrastructure are to manage who/what gets access to which resources through the use of open protocols like [OAuth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OAuth?ref=itsfoss.com). Another increasingly popular way to manage identity [authentication](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authentication?ref=itsfoss.com) is by using [OpenID Connect](https://openid.net/developers/how-connect-works/?ref=itsfoss.com) (OIDC), which is based on OAuth and is a standardized way for authorizing users to access apps and services. Moving on to the topic at hand, Canonical has introduced **support for OIDC authentication on Ubuntu** by implementing a new open-source tool called “**Authd**”. Let's see what it has to offer. 😃 ## Ubuntu Authd: What To Expect? ![a screenshot of ubuntu authd working with entra id](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/09/Ubuntu_Authd.jpg) Source: [Canonical](https://ubuntu.com//blog/authd-oidc-authentication-for-ubuntu-desktop-server?ref=itsfoss.com) Primarily written in the [Go](https://go.dev/?ref=itsfoss.com) programming language, Authd is an authentication service for [Ubuntu 24.04 LTS](https://itsfoss.com/ubuntu-24-04-lts/) that has been introduced to simplify the needs of organizations and individuals looking to use identity management services. At launch, Authd supports OIDC, with Microsoft's [Entra ID](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/business/identity-access/microsoft-entra-id?ref=itsfoss.com) being the first supported [identity provider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity%5Fprovider?ref=itsfoss.com). As demonstrated by the screenshot above, Ubuntu was showing an authentication prompt to log in to a service equipped with Entra ID. Authd can be used to log in through the GNOME Display Manager ([GDM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME%5FDisplay%5FManager?ref=itsfoss.com)), or via Secure Shell ([SSH](https://linuxhandbook.com/ssh-hardening-tips/?ref=itsfoss.com)). It has a modular design that makes it effortless to integrate with cloud services. Canonical also intends **to introduce more identity providers** in the near future, with plans to also have a white-label OIDC provider (*allows wider customization)* in the mix. Though, they have not mentioned which ones, if I had to guess, they are probably going to integrate well-known options like [Okta](https://www.okta.com/?ref=itsfoss.com), [Google Identity Platform](https://cloud.google.com/security/products/identity-platform?ref=itsfoss.com), and [Auth0](https://auth0.com/?ref=itsfoss.com). You can take a look at **Authd's architecture** below. 👇 ![an illustration showing the architecture of authd](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/09/Ubuntu_Authd_Architecture.jpg) We won't go into the technical aspects of it, but keep in mind that the identity brokers shown above are provided as [snaps](https://ubuntu.com/core/services/guide/snaps-intro?ref=itsfoss.com). In the end, Authd is something that arose out of the need for a reliable solution for supporting identity providers on Linux desktops and servers. You can go through the [announcement blog](https://ubuntu.com//blog/authd-oidc-authentication-for-ubuntu-desktop-server?ref=itsfoss.com) to dive into the technical bits of Authd. ### Want To Check It Out? Currently, Authd is available for all users of Ubuntu 24.04 [Desktop](https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop?ref=itsfoss.com) and [Server](https://ubuntu.com/download/server?ref=itsfoss.com). If you are looking to deploy this at an enterprise level, then the official [Project Wiki](https://github.com/ubuntu/authd/wiki/01---Get-started-with-authd?ref=itsfoss.com) is worth a visit. And, if you want to take a look at the source code or contribute to the project, then you should visit Authd's [GitHub](https://github.com/ubuntu/authd?ref=itsfoss.com) repo. [Authd (GitHub)](https://github.com/ubuntu/authd?ref=itsfoss.com) **Suggested Read** 📖 [10 Actionable SSH Hardening Tips to Secure Your Linux ServerWorried about the security of your Linux server? Learn some easy to implement tips on securing SSH and make your Linux server more secure.![](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2021/08/Linux-Handbook-New-Logo.png)Linux HandbookAbhishek Prakash![](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2020/06/SSH-hardening-1.jpg)](https://linuxhandbook.com/ssh-hardening-tips/?ref=itsfoss.com)