ClickDimensions uses the Microsoft Dynamics Dynamics SDK to communicate with Dynamics' web services. When you register with ClickDimensions, you will provide the Dynamics URL at which our Azure-hosted application can connect to your Dynamics environment. Using the Dynamics SDK, we first connect to Dynamics' Discovery web service, passing in the unique organization name. The Dynamics Discovery service returns the address of the Organization web service for that particular organization, or tenant.
Architecture of Dynamics with respect to Integrated Applications:
For an overview of Dynamics' architecture for integrated applications like ClickDimensions, and to understand more about how an application connects and interacts with Dynamics, see Microsoft's architectural overview here: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg327974.aspx
Authentication:
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On-Premises Dynamics with IFD: Authentication is handled by Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS), in the case of an Internet-Facing Deployment (IFD), which is a claims-based authentication provider.
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On-Premises Dynamics with no IFD: If IFD is not used, authentication to Dynamics' web services uses Windows authentication.
- Dynamics Online: Connections to Dynamics Online use Office 365 for authentication (older tenants which have not been transitioned to Office 365 may still use LiveID).
Once authenticated, ClickDimensions' access to data within Dynamics is controlled via the Dynamics security role(s) assigned to the service user provided to ClickDimensions for the connection.