Understanding Authentication and Authentication Mode in Sql Server 2005

There is a difference between 'Authentication' and 'Authentication mode' in SQL Server 2005.

Authentication (2 types) - Windows and SQL Server Authentication.

Authentication mode (2 types) - Windows Authentication mode and Mixed Mode.

When using 'Windows authentication mode' you can only use Windows authentication to connect to SQL Server. When using 'Mixed mode' you can use either 'Windows authentication' or 'SQL Server authentication' to connect to SQL Server 2005

When to use what?

'Windows Authentication Mode' is much more secure than Mixed Mode. Windows Authentication utilizes Kerberos security protocol. Remember that in a typical installation, Windows Authentication is the default security mode. So when a user having a Windows user account connects to SQL Server, the server validates the account credentials using information in the Windows operating system.

SQL Server Authentication is provided for backward compatibility only. Whenever possible, use Windows Authentication.

If all the users users accessing the database are Microsoft Windows users, use 'Windows authentication mode' . If your environment consists of Windows users and Non-Windows users use 'Mixed mode'.

About The Author

Suprotim Agarwal, MCSD, MCAD, MCDBA, MCSE, is the founder of DotNetCurry, DNC Magazine for Developers, SQLServerCurry and DevCurry. He has also authored a couple of books 51 Recipes using jQuery with ASP.NET Controls and a new one recently at The Absolutely Awesome jQuery CookBook.

Suprotim has received the prestigous Microsoft MVP award for nine times in a row now. In a professional capacity, he is the CEO of A2Z Knowledge Visuals Pvt Ltd, a digital group that represents premium web sites and digital publications comprising of Professional web, windows, mobile and cloud developers, technical managers, and architects.

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