This article mainly discusses the differences between Windows and SQL Server authentication, as the Windows authentication mode and SQL Server authentication mode are different.
Authentication is crucial to any security policy. It can ensure the authenticity and validity of a specific person's identity, and the process of behavior also has a certain degree of authenticity. In short, it is the act of determining whether someone or something is "exactly as its name".
For Microsoft SQL Server, there are two different authentication modes, namely Windows mode and mixed mode. These two modes determine how the system verifies or identifies specific users.
If you choose Windows authentication method, it is actually disabling SQL authentication method and allowing Windows authentication method. On the other hand, if you choose mixed authentication mode, it is equivalent to allowing Windows and SQL Server authentication modes. Because Windows authentication mode cannot be disabled, it always remains active.
In this article, we will discuss the differences between Windows authentication mode and SQL Server authentication mode. Firstly, we understand the exact meaning of these authentication modes.
PART01.
What is Windows authentication mode?.
When selecting Windows authentication mode for Microsoft SQL Server, the login credentials of the Windows account must be provided to access the database server. Basically, this mode does not authenticate users based on specific SQL login credentials. On the contrary, it will verify the user's identity based on their Windows account.
The main idea behind this pattern is that first, you need to authenticate yourself in Active Directory. Later, SQL Server verifies your identity through the Windows principal token in the operating system.
In this authentication mode, user authentication for SQL Server relies on the Windows operating system. Therefore, it is sometimes referred to as integrated security.
When you connect to SQL Server using Windows authentication mode, SQL Server will not verify your identity. On the contrary, Windows will do all of this because it is the default authentication mode. Additionally, this mode is more secure than SQL Server authentication mode.
advantage.
The Windows authentication mode utilizes the HTTPS authentication protocol. Therefore, it is a secure method to connect to SQL Server. It uses tokens and Service Principal Names (SPNs) to verify the identity of users.
This mode will not transmit your password over the network. Therefore, it can protect your password from theft.
When using this mode, SQL Server will not save your login credentials.
Due to the use of the HTTPS security protocol in this mode, you can implement various password policies, including password expiration, account locking, and complex passwords.
shortcoming.
When you choose Windows authentication mode to connect to SQL Server, all users must be part of Active Directory.
The database administrator has no control over Active Directory login.
PART02.
What is SQL Server authentication mode?.
In SQL Server authentication mode, usernames and passwords are created in SQL Server rather than based on Windows accounts. When using this authentication mode, you will create different usernames and passwords and save them in SQL Server.
Whenever you need to connect to SQL Server, you must provide login credentials stored in SQL Server. This is not related to the credentials of the Windows account. Additionally, it should be noted that a secure username and password must be set for your SQL Server account.
For SQL Server login, three optional password policies can be used, as follows:
Users should change their password the next time they connect to SQL Server.
You can also enforce a password expiration policy, where you need to change your password after it expires.
The third option is to enforce Windows login policy on SQL Server login. It requires lengthy passwords and complexity.
advantage.
This pattern enables SQL Server to support legacy and third-party applications that require SQL Server authentication.
It allows SQL Server to support environments with mixed operating systems.
Allow any user to connect to SQL Server.
SQL Server supports websites and allows users to create their own identities.
shortcoming.
Every time you want to connect to SQL Server, you need to provide login credentials.
You need to remember your username and password. If you have multiple instances of SQL Server, it becomes difficult to remember all these credentials.
Hackers may steal your credentials as they are stored in encrypted form in the main database.
Do not use the HTTPS security protocol.
PART03.
Windows Authentication mode.
Integrate with SQL Server authentication mode.
The following table focuses on the differences between Windows authentication mode and SQL Server authentication mode:
PART04.
conclusion.
We will first discuss the differences between Windows and SQL Server authentication modes. In Windows authentication mode, you can connect to SQL Server through a Windows account. On the other hand, SQL Server authentication mode requires you to create a new username and password stored in SQL Server. Due to its support for the HTTPS protocol, Windows authentication mode is more secure than SQL Server authentication mode.