The process confirms the claimed identity of a user, device, or application attempting to access network resources. It verifies that entities are who they represent themselves to be before granting access. For example, a user entering a username and password, a device presenting a digital certificate, or an application using API keys are all mechanisms that serve this purpose.
Its importance lies in preventing unauthorized access, data breaches, and malicious activities. By ensuring that only legitimate entities gain entry, it protects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of network systems and data. Historically, simpler methods like basic password authentication have evolved into more sophisticated techniques such as multi-factor authentication and biometric verification to combat increasingly complex threats.
