CSO Online Feature: Why You Need Both Authorization and Authentication

In previous posts I have discussed in depth the importance of authorization, specifically dynamic authorization, to control access to critical information assets. However, authorization is only a portion of the access control equation, another piece that organizations require is the authentication step if they want to effectively manage access to sensitive data.

Authentication is the practice of validating the identity of a registered user attempting to gain access to an application, API, microservices or any other data resource. In contrast, once you are authenticated, authorization is about deciding whether an individual is permitted to perform a given action on a specific resource.

When dealing with access to any sort of sensitive data assets, both authentication and authorization are required. Without both, you risk exposing information via a breach or unauthorized access, ultimately resulting in bad press, customer loss and potential regulatory fines.