Authentication System

The Food Bank Inventory Management System uses Clerk.com for authentication and user management. This document outlines the authentication architecture, setup process, and best practices.

Why Clerk?

We chose Clerk.com for its robust multi-tenant capabilities and enterprise-grade features:

1. Multi-tenant Architecture
   • Organization management for different food banks
   • Hierarchical user permissions
   • Isolated user management per food bank
2. Enterprise Features
   • SSO/SAML support
   • Custom domains
   • Advanced security features
   • Compliance (SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR)
3. User Management
   • Delegated administration
   • Built-in user directory
   • Role-based access control
   • Audit logs

Architecture

graph TD
    A[User] -->|Authentication Request| B[Clerk.com]
    B -->|Token| C[Frontend App]
    C -->|API Request + Token| D[Backend API]
    D -->|Verify Token| B
    D -->|Authorized Request| E[Database]

Implementation

Frontend Setup

// Example React component with Clerk
import { SignIn } from "@clerk/nextjs";

export default function SignInPage() {
  return <SignIn />;
}

Backend Integration

// Example API route protection
import { clerkClient } from "@clerk/nextjs/server";
import { getAuth } from "@clerk/nextjs/server";

export default async function handler(req, res) {
  const { userId } = getAuth(req);
  if (!userId) {
    return res.status(401).json({ error: "Unauthorized" });
  }
  // Continue with authorized request
}

User Roles & Permissions

Role	Description	Permissions
System Admin	Platform-wide administration	All permissions
Food Bank Admin	Single organization admin	Organization management, user management
Staff	Regular food bank staff	Inventory management, basic reporting
Volunteer	Limited access users	Data entry, basic inventory views

Organization Structure

Each food bank operates as a separate organization within Clerk:

graph TD
    A[Food Bank Organization] --> B[Admin Users]
    A --> C[Staff Users]
    A --> D[Volunteer Users]
    B --> E[User Management]
    B --> F[Role Assignment]
    B --> G[Access Control]

Security Considerations

1. Token Management
   • JWT-based authentication
   • Short-lived access tokens
   • Secure token rotation
2. Multi-factor Authentication
   • Optional for all users
   • Required for admin accounts
   • Various 2FA options
3. Session Management
   • Configurable session duration
   • Device management
   • Session revocation

Setup Process

1. Initial Configuration

   # Install Clerk SDK
   npm install @clerk/nextjs
   

2. Environment Variables

   NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=pk_***
   CLERK_SECRET_KEY=sk_***
   

3. Provider Setup

   // pages/_app.tsx
   import { ClerkProvider } from '@clerk/nextjs'
      
   function MyApp({ Component, pageProps }) {
     return (
       <ClerkProvider>
         <Component {...pageProps} />
       </ClerkProvider>
     )
   }
   

Best Practices

1. Organization Setup
   • Use meaningful organization names
   • Configure custom domains
   • Set up proper role hierarchies
2. User Management
   • Enable email verification
   • Configure password policies
   • Set up proper user groups
3. Security
   • Enable audit logs
   • Configure session timeouts
   • Set up proper CORS policies

Migration Guide

For existing food banks migrating to the platform:

1. Data Preparation
   • Export user data in compatible format
   • Map existing roles to new system
   • Prepare organization structure
2. Migration Process
   • Create organization in Clerk
   • Bulk import users
   • Verify user access
3. Post-Migration
   • Verify user permissions
   • Test SSO if applicable
   • Update documentation

Support and Troubleshooting

For authentication issues:

1. Check the Clerk Dashboard
2. Review audit logs
3. Contact system administration
4. Consult Clerk documentation

Future Considerations

• Enhanced SSO integrations
• Advanced audit capabilities
• Custom authentication flows
• Enhanced security features