Autentikaation

Autentikaation is the process of verifying the claimed identity of a user, device, or service attempting to access a resource. In information security, it is the first step in access control and is typically followed by authorization. The goal is to confirm that the presenting party is who or what it claims to be. Authentication can be single-factor or multi-factor; MFA relies on two or more independent factors.

Common methods include knowledge-based authentication (passwords or PINs), possession-based methods (security tokens, smart cards, mobile push approvals), and inherence-based methods (biometrics such as fingerprints or facial recognition). Modern systems increasingly use passwordless approaches that rely on cryptographic keys stored on hardware devices or in secure modules, combined with biometric or other verification.

Technical implementations encompass password-based authentication, certificate-based authentication, and token-based schemes. Protocols and standards such as Kerberos, OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, SAML, and WebAuthn (FIDO2) enable cross-service authentication. Public key infrastructure (PKI) and TLS mutual authentication are common in enterprise environments.

Security considerations include proper credential storage (for example, salted hashes), rate limiting and bot protection, and resistance to credential theft. Phishing, replay attacks, and man-in-the-middle attacks remain risks; multi-factor authentication reduces many of these threats but is not foolproof. Usability and accessibility considerations influence design choices, including passwordless paths and fallback options.

Applications of autentikaation span online services, corporate networks, cloud platforms, and Internet of Things devices. Contexts vary from consumer login flows to enterprise identity and access management. Note: autentikaation is the Finnish term for authentication, used to describe the verification process in Finnish-language texts.