What is the Difference between Authentication and Authorization?
It’s important to understand the difference between authentication and authorization.
In order to safeguard system and data, administrators employ two essential information security procedures: Authentication and Authorization.
A service’s identity is confirmed by authentication, and its access permissions are established through authorization.
Despite their similar sounds, the two phrases have different but equally important functions in protecting data and applications.
What is Authentication?
To put it simply, the process of confirming a person or device before granting access to a system or resource is known as authentication.
Put otherwise, the process of verifying that a user is who they claim to be is known as authentication. As a result, access to secure systems is restricted to those with valid credentials.
What is Authorization?
The process of granting someone access to a resource is called authorization.
Of course, this description may seem hidden, but numerous real-world examples can clarify what permission entails, allowing you to apply those ideas to computer systems.
Owning a home is a perfect example of authorization.
Authentication vs Authorization
Let’s examine the distinction between authentication and authorization:
| Authentication | Authorization |
| In this process, the identity of the user is checked | While in authorization process, user access to the resources are checked |
| Users are verified for their identity | Users are validated for their permissions |
| This requires the user’s login credentials. For example: User id and password | Privilege and security levels of the user |
| Authentication checks a person’s status whether it’s a user or not | Authorization is to determine what permission the user has. |
| Use an ID token to send information | Uses access tokens to transmit information |
Popular Authentication techniques:
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Popular Authorization techniques:
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| The username, password, facial recognition, retinal scan, fingerprints, and other biometrics are used to verify the identity of the user. | Roles that have been pre-defined are used to carry out user authorization through resource access permissions. |
| In order to access workplace email, employees must first authenticate themselves | The system decides what data employees are permitted access to when they have properly authenticated |
| Authentication is visible on the user’s end. | User authorization is not visible on the user’s end. |
[Read: Enable Two-Factor Authentication for Apple ID]
