Authentication terminology

The following terminology is used when discussing authentication in this document:

• method

  An authentication method describes the overall process and strategy of an authentication type. Examples of authentication methods include, but are not limited to:

  • Username/password
  • Certificate

  Typically, but not always, authentication methods have a one to one relationship with a particular type of data used to prove a user's identity.

• operations

  An authentication operation describes any action that supports the authentication method. For example:

  • Performing an LDAP lookup during username and password authentication.
  • Changing a user password.
  • Verifying that a new password meets certain criteria.
  • Adding attributes to an authenticated identity.