What is authorisation and authentication? What is the use of Auth key. Types of Auth key.

Question

Accepted Answer

Authorization is the process of determining if a user has the permission to access a resource, while authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user.

Authorization determines what a user can do, while authentication verifies who the user is.
Authentication can be done using passwords, biometrics, tokens, etc.
Authorization can be role-based, attribute-based, or rule-based.
Auth key is a unique identifier used for authentication purposes.
Types of Auth keys include API keys, access tokens, session tokens, etc.

Accepted Answer

Authentication and Authorization are two fundamental security concepts used to control access to resources in a computer system or a network. They are often used in conjunction but serve different purposes:

Authentication:
- Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user, device, or application trying to access a system or resource. It ensures that the entity requesting access is who they claim to be.
- Authentication methods include:
  - Username and Password: Users provide a unique username and a secret password.
  - Biometric Authentication: This includes fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, or other physiological features.
  - Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Requires two different authentication methods, such as a password and a one-time code sent to a mobile device.
  - Certificate-Based Authentication: Users or devices present digital certificates to prove their identity.
  - OAuth: An authorization framework often used for user authentication in web applications.
  - OpenID: An authentication protocol that allows one application to verify the identity of users based on the authentication performed by another application.
Authentication ensures that only legitimate users or entities gain access to a system.
Authorization:
- Authorization, on the other hand, is the process of determining what actions or resources an authenticated entity is allowed to access or perform within a system or application.
- Authorization is based on permissions, roles, or policies defined for different users or groups.
- For example, after successfully authenticating, a user may have read-only access to certain files but not permission to modify or delete them. This access control is determined through authorization.

API Keys (Auth Keys):

API keys, also known as authentication keys or API tokens, are a common mechanism used for both authentication and authorization when interacting with web-based services and APIs. Here's how API keys are typically used:

Authentication: API keys are often used as a form of authentication. When a client (e.g., a mobile app, a web application, or a script) wants to access a service or API, it must present a valid API key to prove its identity. The API key serves as a shared secret between the client and the service, allowing the service to verify the client's identity.
Authorization: Once authenticated, the service can use the API key to determine what actions the client is authorized to perform. API keys are often associated with specific permissions or roles. For example, one API key might have read-only access, while another might have read and write access. Authorization checks are made based on the API key's associated permissions.

Types of API Keys:

There are different types of API keys, and their characteristics may vary depending on the service or system:

Secret API Key: This is a confidential key that should be kept secure. It's used for authentication and, sometimes, authorization. Typically, this key is kept on the server-side of an application.
Public API Key: This key is usually shared publicly and is often used in scenarios where authentication is not required, but the key helps track and limit usage. For example, it might be used to access public APIs or services.
OAuth Tokens: OAuth tokens are a type of API key used for delegated authorization. OAuth tokens are issued to clients after successful authentication, and they grant limited access to specific resources or actions. They are commonly used in scenarios where third-party applications need access to a user's data (e.g., social media login).
Bearer Tokens: Bearer tokens are used in OAuth 2.0 authentication. They are short-lived tokens that clients present to the resource server to access protected resources. These tokens are often included in HTTP headers for API requests.

The choice of API key type depends on the specific use case, security requirements, and the API or service being accessed. It's essential to handle API keys securely, protect them from unauthorized access, and rotate them periodically for enhanced security.

What is authorisation and authentication? What is the use of Auth key. Types of Auth key.

Top Coforge Test Engineer interview questions & answers

Popular interview questions of Test Engineer

Top HR questions asked in Coforge Test Engineer