Windows Authentication Technical Overview

Applies to: Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016

This topic for the IT professional provides links to topics for the Windows Authentication Technical Overview. Windows authentication is the process to prove the authenticity of a user or service attempting to access Windows.

This collection of topics describes Windows authentication architecture and its components.

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• Differences in Windows Authentication Between Windows Operating Systems

  Describes the significant differences in the authentication architecture and processes.

• Windows Authentication Concepts

  Describes the concepts on which Windows authentication is based.

• Windows Logon Authentication Scenarios

  Summarizes the various logon scenarios.

• Windows Authentication Architecture

  Describes the significant differences in the authentication architecture and processes for Windows operating systems.

  • Security Support Provider Interface Architecture

    Describes the SSPI architecture.

  • Credentials Processes in Windows Authentication

    Describes the different credential management processes.

• Group Policies used in Windows Authentication

  Describes the use and impact of Group Policies in the authentication process.

What is not covered

This collection of topics does not cover procedures for designing, implementing, or monitoring your authentication technologies within a Windows environment.

• For design information on Windows authorization strategies, see Designing a Resource Authorization Strategy.

• For design information on Windows authentication strategies, see Designing an Authentication Strategy.

• For design information on Windows public key infrastructure implementation strategies, see Designing a Public Key Infrastructure.

• For configuring and monitoring security, including authentication, in your Windows environment, see:

  • Windows Vista Security Baseline

  • Windows Server 2003 Security Baseline and the Threats and Countermeasures Guide

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Security Baseline

• For information about auditing logon and authentication events in Windows, see Auditing Security Events.