What is Authentication?

Authentication is a fundamental process of verifying the identity of a user or system before granting access to privileged accounts, systems, or resources, serving as the gatekeeper for accessing systems, networks, and applications. It ensures that only authorized individuals or entities can access sensitive and high-level functionalities within an organization's IT infrastructure.

Authentication involves verifying the identity of a user, device, or other entity in a computer system, typically as a prerequisite to granting access to resources in an IT environment. The primary goal of authentication is to ensure that users are who they claim to be. Authentication is a critical component of PAM because it ensures that only legitimate users can access privileged accounts and perform high-level actions

Effective authentication is critical for maintaining the security of systems and data. By ensuring that access is granted only to legitimate users, authentication serves as the first line of defense against unauthorized access and potential security breaches. In environments where sensitive or critical information is handled, such as in financial, healthcare, and government sectors, robust authentication mechanisms are essential to protect data integrity and privacy.

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