===== Authentication =====
[[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:start| Return to Glossary ]]

**Authentication** is the process of determining whether someone or something is, in fact, who or what it declares itself to be. Authentication technology provides [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:a:accesscontrol|access control]] for systems by checking to see if a user's credentials match the credentials in a database of authorized users or in a data authentication [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:s:server|server]].

Users are usually identified with a user ID, and authentication is accomplished when the user provides a credential, for example, a [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:p:password]], that matches that user ID. Most users are most familiar with using a password, which, as a piece of information that should be known only to the user, is called a knowledge authentication factor. Other authentication factors, and how they are used for two-factor or [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:m:mfa|multifactor authentication (MFA)]]

Source: [[https://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/authentication ]]