What is modern vs basic authentication?
Basic Authentication is an older version of the password exchange for Microsoft platforms, and a less secure mechanism. It is being replaced with the Microsoft implementation of Modern Authentication (OAuth), which is the newer and more secure version of authentication to Microsoft platforms.
Modern Authentication is the term Microsoft uses to refer to their implementation of the OAuth 2.0 authorization framework for client/server authentication.
To put it simply, modern authentication (also known as OAuth 2.0) is a standard that can grant access to other system's information without giving them the password. In addition, modern authentication enables the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) which adds yet another layer of security.
Authentication factors can be classified into three groups: something you know: a password or personal identification number (PIN); something you have: a token, such as bank card; something you are: biometrics, such as fingerprints and voice recognition.
Modern authentication enables Microsoft Authentication Library (MSAL)-based single sign-on (SSO) access for MaaS360® apps that use Office 365 services across iOS and Android platforms.
Unlike Basic Auth, where you have to share your password with people who need to access your user account, OAuth doesn't share password data. Instead, OAuth uses authorization tokens to verify an identity between consumers and service providers.
When you compare both methods of authentication, OAuth 2.0 provides better security than basic authentication because its initial requests for credentials are made under the SSL protocol and its access object is a transitory token.
Password-based authentication
Also known as knowledge-based authentication, password-based authentication relies on a username and password or PIN. The most common authentication method, anyone who has logged in to a computer knows how to use a password.
Passwords are the most common form of authentication.
1. Biometric Authentication Methods. Biometric authentication relies on the unique biological traits of a user in order to verify their identity. This makes biometrics one of the most secure authentication methods as of today.