What is authentication? Different methods of authentication

Authentication is the process of knowing who your ally is and who the enemy is, and knowing the enemy is half the battle. It is the first checkpoint in the process of verifying that a user, device, or system is indeed who or what it claims to be for any access request.

Whether a user is signing into email, accessing a web application, connecting to a VPN, or logging into an internal dashboard, authentication determines if the identity behind the request can be trusted. Access to the service is granted to the user only after authentication is complete. 

Weak authentication can render all other security measures irrelevant. Attackers do not need advanced exploits if they can simply log in as a legitimate user. 

Without further ado, let’s dive into what authentication really is and how different methods of authentication work.

What is authentication?

Authentication is the process of verifying an identity that helps protect both digital and physical resources. It is a fundamental part of maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive data.

Authentication allows companies to confirm that only the right people, services, and apps with the right permissions can access organizational resources.  This further applies to non-human identities such as servers, web applications, and other machines and workloads.

Authentication relies on the simple principle of comparing the credentials provided against an authorized database or authentication server. If the credentials match those on record, then access is granted, and if not, then it is denied. This process prevents unauthorized access and safeguards sensitive information.

Modern authentication has moved far beyond simple passwords. Today, organizations use multi-layered verification methods that combine something the user knows, something they have, and something they are.

How authentication works

At its base, authentication checks if the system trusts who is making the request. This can then be broken down to the following primary steps:

1. Identity confirmation: Verifying that the person or system requesting access is using legitimate credentials. 
2. Checking credentials: Cross-checking across the database to determine who and which user has made the request, so that subsequent access can be granted.
3. Authorization of access: Enabling access to the services that the user can utilize.

The amount of authorization granted is based on the policies issued to the user ID that requested access, and only the services and applications permitted within those boundaries are available to the user. 

Role of authentication in security

Authentication is the building block for all identity and access management solutions, which are responsible for managing user identities, their defined lifecycle, and their access permissions within an organization’s system. 

Implementing authentication checks drastically lowers the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches, thus protecting any and all organizational data and user privacy. Such planned and systematic control is the key to enforcing access controls and managing the security of an organization’s networks and systems.

Authentication vs authorization

Before we move forward, it is imperative to understand the difference between authenticating an ID and authorizing one. While authentication starts the moment a credential is entered in the system, authorization begins only after the credential has been successfully verified. 

Once the identity associated with the credential has been authenticated, the authorization system evaluates the request against defined access controls. This evaluation includes several attributes, such as the user’s role, their assigned use case for applications, and the permissions granted to the user for accessing the company’s database.  

The key differences between authentication and authorization can be viewed as follows:

Different types of authentication

There are various methods of authentication, each with its own set of parameters and level of security offered.  Let’s look at how different methods of authentication are carried out:

1. Traditional methods: Passwords and usernames

Passwords and usernames have been the most common forms of authentication for years. The user is prompted to create a unique username and password, mostly as their login credentials, which are saved in the company directory. 

These passwords and usernames are then encrypted and stored in the database that cross-checks them every time the user inputs the said password and username. Upon a successful match, the user is then granted access to their designated services. 

 While still widely used as the de facto form of authentication, passwords and usernames also create security and usability challenges due to their vulnerability to phishing attacks. 

2. Passwordless

Simply put, passwordless authentication means logging in without typing a traditional password. Instead, it relies on other parameters for authenticating user identity. These parameters include:

1. Biometrics: Fingerprints, facial recognition, and retina scans are now readily available on most devices and can be tied directly to the individual. They’re difficult to forge and convenient for users who no longer need to remember anything.
2. Possession factors: These include hardware security tokens, authenticator apps, or one-time passcodes (OTPs) delivered via SMS or email. This ensures that only those who physically possess the registered device can log in. 
3. Timed links: A one-time link is sent to the user’s registered email address through which access is granted. These are particularly popular in consumer-facing apps because they eliminate the need for a password.

By removing the need for passwords and usernames, which are the weakest link in security, organizations reduce the attack surface dramatically.

3. Zero trust

Zero trust authentication works on the principle of never trust, always verify. This approach applies the same strict checks for authentication across user identities and device identities, ensuring only trusted access. 

With zero trust method of authentication, the system constantly keeps evaluating identity, device health, and user behavior to grant access to resources based on this real-time assessment. There is no implicit trust granted, even if a user or device is inside the corporate network. 

4. Two-factor and multi-factor

The two-factor method of authentication builds upon password or passwordless authentication by adding an extra layer of security. To ensure that only authorized users can access an account or system, it requires users to provide two or more forms of identification before access is granted. 

These forms are divided between various factors, such as password, biometric, and a code sent to the user’s phone or a verification link.

This additional step makes two-factor and multi-factor authentication significantly harder for breaches and unauthorized access. It reduces the impact of stolen or weak passwords, protects against phishing and credential-stuffing attack and limits access even if login details are compromised. 

5. Single sign-on (SSO)

SSO is an authentication method that allows users to log in once and gain secure access to multiple applications, platforms, and services. This removes password fatigue and allows for seamless switching between tools such as email, customer relations management systems, management apps, or other services.

SSO relies heavily on the identity provider that is responsible for authenticating users and issuing secure tokens that confirm their identity. It acts as the trusted authority that applications rely on, ensuring that only verified users gain access.

Types of authentication protocols

Authentication protocols are critical rulesets for verifying the identity of an endpoint or a user by the receiving end, such as a server. Almost every single computer system uses some kind of network authentication to verify users. These protocols dictate the sets of rules and procedures used for the verification process. 

Here’s a list of the most widely used authentication protocols across industries:

1. SAML 2.0: It allows users to access multiple applications with a single login. It utilizes a secure exchange of authentication data between an identity provider and a service provider, allowing users to log in to each service separately.
2. SCIM: It is an open standard authentication process that automates the exchange of user identity information between systems. SCIM provides consistent provision, update, and deprovision of user accounts across multiple platforms.
3. OAuth 2.0: It allows apps to request limited access to user data, which can be denied by the user, that is hosted by another service, such as Google, Microsoft, or GitHub. 
4. Kerberos: It is used for validating clients/servers during the process of a network employing a cryptographic key. It is designed for executing strong authentication while reporting to applications.
5. RADIUS: It is designed for network service users. The RADIUS server encrypts the credentials that are entered by the user, which are mapped through the local database, and provides access.
6. CHAP and PAP: They use a username and password to authenticate users. While PAP transmits passwords in plain text, CHAP improves on it by continuously verifying users through challenge–response exchanges without revealing the password.
7. LDAP: LDAP is used to access and manage directory services storing user identities and credentials. It determines any individuals, organizations, and other devices on a network, regardless of the perimeter. 
8. FIDO2: It comprises a set of tech-agnostic specifications to consolidate secure user access and authentication. FIDO lets users access and authenticate their accounts with passkeys, biometrics, or PIN instead of passwords.

Best practices for building a strong authentication layer

Employing various methods of authentication ensures that there is always a failsafe and diversifies the threat surface area. Here’s a look at some of the best practices you can carry out to ensure that your authentication layer remains airtight.

1. Prioritize multi-factor authentication: Multi-factor authentication is like double-checking your answer in an examination. By enforcing it on admin accounts, remote workers, and applications holding sensitive data, companies can considerably reduce data breaches.
2. Adopt a passwordless approach to credentials: By implementing biometrics, timed OTP, secure links, or device-bound authenticators, companies can reduce phishing, credential stuffing, and brute-force attacks significantly.
3. Apply adaptive authentication: Real-time risk signals such as device reputation, geo-velocity, IP risk, and behavioral patterns make for great identifying factors. They also reduce the IT load of constant monitoring, as any change in the factors will automatically result in the deployment of security measures. 
4. SSO to eliminate password fatigue: Using SSO reduces the burden on employees and allows for quick user authentication through a trusted identity provider. 
5. Monitor authentication activity: By keeping a track of patterns such as repeated login failures, new device usage, unusual locations, or access at abnormal times, companies can deter any threat before it has a chance to breach. 
6. Use modern identity protocols: Using OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, SAML, and other modern protocols helps reduce implementation errors that can occur in custom-built authentication systems.
7. Enforce strict session governance: Limiting lifecycles of identity tokens, revoking suspicious sessions, and blocking long-lived or unmanaged tokens prevent unauthorized access from slipping between genuine sessions.

Strong foundations lead to strong structures 

Authentication is the foundation upon which all security measures are built. By setting up a strong foundation, you can establish a tight-knit security structure that will not be breached easily. 

Companies should be mindful of the constant surge of issuing new identities and the ever-growing cyber threat. Those that take authentication as the core of their business infrastructure will be better equipped to secure access to their data network.

Scalefusion OneIdP provides you with a comprehensive suite of authentication factors so you are always sure that the right person has the right access. UEM-driven zero trust access solution cross-verifies both identity and security posture of the device, ensuring access is granted only when both meet security standards.

FAQs

1. What is the difference between authentication and authorization?

Authentication occurs first to verify who a user is (identity), followed by authorization, which determines what they have permission to do (access).

2. Why is passwordless authentication more secure?

Passwordless authentication eliminates static, easily compromised credentials, replacing them with phishing-resistant, device-bound, or biometric factors. By doing so, it eliminates risks from password reuse, brute-force attacks, and credential stuffing.

3. Is authentication the same as identity verification?

No. While both confirm identity, identity verification is usually a one-time process, validating that a person is who they claim to be. On the other hand, authentication is continious, secure process ensuring the returning user is the same person at every checkpoint.

4. What is authentication used for?

Authentication is a crucial part of every cybersecurity structure. It is the process that companies use to confirm that only the right people, services, and apps with the right permissions can access organizational resources.

5. What are some examples of authentication?

Examples of authentication include, but are not limited to, logging in with a username/password, using facial recognition (Face ID) or fingerprint scanners on phones, receiving an SMS OTP, or with SSO.