How User Authentication Works
- Presentation of Credentials: It may be in the form of a user ID and password, a fingerprint, or other such scans, a token that the user presents, or any other form of authentication factor that the user presents.
- Transmission to the Authenticating System: It forwards the materials to the authenticating system for verification and authorization based on the included information in the document.
- Verification: It checks that the provided information is sufficient for the type of access by verifying it with the stored entries.
- Granting Access: If the identification details provided are tied up with that in the records and the system has succeeded in authenticating the user, access can be granted to the system or the service.
- Access Denied: If many of the details of the credentials given do not match the details of the database provided, or there is evidence of phishing or hijacking, access can be denied, and further security issues could arise, such as alerting the user or system administrator or even authenticating the credentials further.
What is User Authentication, and Why is it Important?
Today when more and more companies and organizations are going digital, the security of data and authorization to important systems and services is crucial. User authentication is central to this security paradigm as it refers to the mechanism by which the identity of a user is first confirmed before being granted access to a resource.
In this article, you will get to know about the principles of user authentication in exceptional detail while addressing its methods, classification, relevance, and optimal application.
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