Authentication Architecture Decision

CANONICAL
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Architecture·Mobile Team·Authored by Michael Chen·Approved Dec 15, 2024·Version 1.0

Problem

Our B2B SaaS platform requires enterprise-grade authentication with support for SSO, SAML, multi-factor authentication, and complex role-based access control. Current authentication infrastructure lacks the sophistication needed for enterprise customers.

Enterprise deals are being delayed due to authentication concerns. We need a decision on whether to build in-house or adopt a third-party solution.

Decision

We will adopt Auth0 as our authentication provider rather than building a custom solution. Implementation will be phased over Q1 2025 with migration support for existing users.

Rationale

Time to Market

Building enterprise authentication in-house would require 6-9 months of dedicated engineering effort. Auth0 can be integrated in 4-6 weeks.

Security & Compliance

Auth0 maintains SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR compliance. Achieving this independently would require dedicated security team and ongoing audit costs.

Feature Parity

Auth0 provides SSO, SAML, MFA, and adaptive authentication out-of-the-box. These features would take significant time to build and maintain.

Implications

  • Monthly cost: $800-2000 depending on MAU growth
  • Vendor lock-in risk mitigated by standard protocols
  • Engineering team can focus on core product features
  • Existing users must migrate authentication (6 week timeline)
  • Custom branding and user experience requires Auth0 customization

Non-Goals

  • Building a custom authentication infrastructure
  • Supporting OAuth flows for third-party integrations (phase 2)
  • Implementing passwordless authentication (evaluate later)
  • Multi-tenant architecture changes (separate decision)
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Last modified: Dec 15, 2024