What is the difference between authentication and authorisation?

Authentication: who are you? (identity verification). Authorisation: what can you do? (permission checking). Authentication comes first, then authorisation checks permissions.

Which authentication method should I use?

API keys for: server-to-server, simple use cases. OAuth for: user delegation, third-party apps. JWT for: stateless tokens, microservices. Match method to security needs and use case.

How do I secure API keys?

Never commit to code repositories. Use environment variables or secret managers. Rotate regularly. Use different keys per environment. Implement key-based rate limiting and monitoring.

Is basic auth ever acceptable?

Only over HTTPS and for low-risk scenarios. Generally deprecated in favour of token-based auth. If you must use it, combine with other security measures. Prefer OAuth or API keys.

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Authentication

The process of verifying the identity of a user, device, or system attempting to access a resource.

In-Depth Explanation

Authentication verifies identity - confirming you are who you claim to be. In API and system integration contexts, authentication ensures only authorised entities can access services.

Authentication methods:

API keys: Simple tokens for service identification
OAuth 2.0: Delegated authorisation with tokens
JWT: Self-contained tokens with claims
Mutual TLS: Certificate-based authentication
Basic auth: Username/password (legacy, avoid)

Authentication factors:

Something you know (password, PIN)
Something you have (token, phone, certificate)
Something you are (biometrics)

Multi-factor authentication (MFA):

Combines multiple factors
Significantly increases security
Required for sensitive systems

API authentication flow:

Client provides credentials
Server validates credentials
Server issues token/session
Client includes token in subsequent requests

Business Context

Proper authentication prevents unauthorised access to systems and data. It's the foundation of API and system security.

How Clever Ops Uses This

We implement secure authentication for Australian business AI systems, ensuring only authorised users and systems can access AI capabilities.

Example Use Case

"Authenticating AI API requests using OAuth 2.0 tokens, ensuring each request comes from an authorised application with valid credentials."

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Terms

Authorisation OAuth JWT

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