Definition of authentication in The Network Encyclopedia.
What is Authentication (in computer networking)?
The process of validating users’ credentials to allow them access to resources on a network. On a Microsoft Windows NT or Windows 2000 network, authentication can be handled in one of two ways:
- Logging on to a member server or workstation: Authentication is performed by the member server or workstation itself using its local Security Accounts Manager (SAM) database.
- Logging on to a domain in Windows NT and Windows 2000: Authentication is performed by a domain controller on the network.
Authentication can be further classified according to how the credentials are passed over the network and include the following methods:
- Anonymous access: This method is supported by Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) and allows anonymous users on the Internet access to Web content on your server.
- Basic Authentication: This method transmits passwords as clear text and is often used in UNIX networks and for File Transfer Protocol (FTP) services.
- Windows NT Challenge/Response Authentication: This is the standard secure authentication method for Windows NT domain controllers.
- Kerberos v5 Security Protocol: This is the standard secure authentication method for Windows 2000 domain controllers.
