Authentication vs. authorization: What’s the difference?

Authentication is about verifying your identity, while authorization grants you access to data or resources based on your identity. Though they’re sometimes used interchangeably, each serves a distinct purpose — and having both is vital for strengthening security in any organization.

Here’s everything to know about the difference between authentication and authorization.

• What is authentication?
• Authentication examples
• What is authorization?
• Authorization examples
• Key differences between authorization and authentication
• Why this matters

What is authentication?

Authentication (also abbreviated as AuthN) is the process of confirming that someone is who they’re claiming to be. It’s the first step in any interaction that involves security and access, taking place before authorization. Running your business without strong authentication is akin to leaving your front door open: Anyone can walk in, take what they want, and you won’t know who was there. 

Authentication examples

Authentication involves asking for credentials that only the legitimate individual would know or have. These generally fall under three categories:

• Knowledge-based authentication. This is the most common method; think usernames and passwords, PIN codes, and security questions such as “What was the name of your first pet?”.
• Possession authentication. This requires the user to have access to a particular physical item, such as identity cards, security keys, and devices with authentication apps.
• Biometric authentication. This utilizes unique biological traits and is generally regarded as the most secure option. Examples are physical characteristics (like fingerprints, voice, iris, and facial recognition) or behavioral characteristics (such as typing pattern and gait analysis).

For businesses, robust authentication is foundational to security. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is highly recommended as it requires at least two different types of credentials before the user can gain access. This adds greater complexity for hackers and reduces the risk of account takeovers even with stolen passwords.

What is authorization?

Authorization (also known as AuthZ) happens after successful authentication. Based on their identity, the user can now perform certain actions or access specific information and resources. Not everyone has the same level of permissions — this ensures that sensitive data is kept secure. After all, just because a friend has the key to your home to help water your plants, that doesn’t necessarily mean they should be able to enter your bedroom or car.

Authorization examples

Authorization involves gatekeeping an authenticated user’s privileges within an environment. Network admins commonly manage privileges through:

• Access control lists (ACL). ACLs, which are attached to certain resources, allow the user to execute specific commands on that resource according to their level of authorization. For example, you may be able to read, edit, and create files, while your colleague may only be able to read those same files.
• Role-based access control (RBAC). Commonly used in larger organizations, RBAC sets blanket permissions based on roles and designations. Any user with the role of Manager will have a different level of access compared to users with, say, the role of External Contractor.
• Attribute-based access control (ABAC). Also known as policy-based access control, ABAC is highly granular and allows dynamic access based on various conditions, rather than the user’s role. For example, you may only be able to access some data based on your assigned projects, or when connected to a company VPN.

Key differences between authentication and authorization

In a nutshell, authorization depends on authentication. Here’s a quick summary of the differences between authentication and authorization:

Why this matters for your business

By ensuring both authorization and authentication are implemented correctly, your company will benefit from enhanced security, seamless compliance with data protection regulations, and stronger defenses against leaks and breaches. 

The best way to get started? Choose a powerful, reliable password manager that can help with both authentication and authorization, such as Proton Pass. Our end-to-end encrypted business password manager helps generate and autofill strong passwords, making it easy for your team to securely share logins and sensitive data. You’ll also be able to enforce security policies and safeguard company accounts from online threats, such as phishing attempts.

If you’re new to Proton, it’s easy to sign up — and you can try it completely free for 14 days.