New release with powerful new features
We are excited to announce the release of PAS 5.1.3, packed with major updates and enhancements. Since launching our new authentication architecture in PAS 5.1.0 earlier this year, we’ve been hard at work to deliver a more streamlined and user-friendly experience, while maintaining the highest levels of security and flexibility for organisations. PAS 5.1.3 introduces several improvements, and here are the top five standout features:
A brand-new web frontend for authentication
In PAS 5.1.3, we’ve redesigned the web frontend for the authentication module. The new interface increases user experience by adding support for custom themes, languages and error handling, all while being fully WCAG-compliant. Out-of-the-box authentication flows linked to the back-end authenticators simplifies for the administrator when setting up the available authentication options for the end user.
We’ve also added features like dynamic option selection and customisable form designs make it simple to create tailored, complex user experiences.
Operations monitoring for enhanced control
With PAS 5.1.3, we’ve added operations monitoring, a long-requested feature. Now, you can monitor the health of your PAS deployments via Prometheus or Elasticsearch, tracking key metrics such as SAML metadata, certificate expiration, and response times. This allows you to proactively resolve issues before they impact your system’s performance.
Containerised delivery for seamless deployment
We’ve introduced containerised delivery, making PAS available as a Docker image. This provides more flexibility in deployment, particularly for DevOps teams. You can now mount configurations as read-only, inject resource files, and use environment variables to streamline your setup. This makes it easier to pre-configure PAS while maintaining security by swapping out sensitive files and variables as needed.
Simplified Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) setups
We’ve made the MFA setup even easier in PAS 5.1.3 with new guide scenarios. These allow you to quickly configure primary authenticators with pre-configured MFA options such as SMS OTP, Mail OTP, or OneTouch. Our user-friendly interfaces include features like OTP resending and dynamic option selection, offering a smoother experience for both admins and users.
FIDO2 passkeys for usernameless authentication
One of the key security updates in PAS 5.1.3 is the introduction of FIDO2 passkeys, enabling usernameless authentication. This feature allows users to authenticate without entering a username, enhancing both security and user experience. Please note that this feature may require a database update, so be sure to review the upgrade notes before implementing.
With these new features, we continue to provide organisations with the best tools to secure and simplify identity and access management. PAS 5.1.3 also includes numerous other improvements, bug fixes, and vulnerability mitigations that make it a must-have for any enterprise focused on secure and efficient authentication.
