What are the authentication methods in SharePoint?

User authentication in SharePoint is the process of verifying the identity of users who want to access SharePoint sites, resources, and content. It ensures that only authorized individuals can gain access to the information and functionality within a SharePoint environment.

SharePoint offers several authentication methods to accommodate different security requirements and deployment scenarios. The most commonly used authentication methods include:

Windows Authentication

This method uses the user's Windows credentials to authenticate against the Active Directory domain. Users provide their username and password to gain access to SharePoint sites.

Forms-Based Authentication (FBA)

FBA allows users to authenticate using custom login forms instead of Windows credentials. It is often used when SharePoint needs to integrate with external user directories or support non-Windows users.

Claims-Based Authentication

Claims-based authentication is a flexible approach that extends Windows authentication and allows SharePoint to work with various identity providers. It uses claims, which are statements about a user's identity, to authenticate and authorize users.

Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) Authentication

SAML authentication enables single sign-on (SSO) functionality in SharePoint by exchanging authentication and authorization data between an identity provider and SharePoint. It is commonly used in federated authentication scenarios.

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Authentication

SharePoint Online and SharePoint Server can integrate with Azure AD for authentication. This provides additional features such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and conditional access policies, enhancing the security of SharePoint environments.

The choice of authentication method depends on factors such as security requirements, integration needs, and the SharePoint deployment model (on-premises or cloud-based).

User authentication in SharePoint ensures that only authorized individuals can access and interact with SharePoint resources, protecting sensitive information and maintaining the security of the SharePoint environment.