Authentication, authorization, and security in SharePoint

Authentication and Authorization in Share Point

Authentication is process of challenging and approving user’s Identity, while Authorization comes after the authentication, where user based permissions, rights, and privileges are taken into account. Microsoft SharePoint Services 3.0, MOSS, and SharePoint Foundation supports security for user access at the Web site, list, library folder, and item levels2. This security is managed based on role based mechanisms where each user is able to perform specific operation and all levels based on his/her role, and this is achieved through Authorization process once the user is successfully authenticated by the underlying authentication mechanism.