What are the various authentication modes supported by IIS?

Various Authentication Modes Supported by IIS

Internet Information Services (IIS) offers several authentication modes to control access to websites hosted on the server. These authentication modes provide different levels of security and are suitable for various scenarios.

• Anonymous Authentication: Allows users to access the website without providing any credentials. The server uses a built-in account to authenticate the user.
• Basic Authentication: Requires users to provide a username and password, which are sent in clear text over the network. This mode is not recommended for secure applications.
• Windows Authentication: Utilizes the Windows user accounts for authentication, either through NTLM or Kerberos protocols. It is suitable for intranet scenarios where users' Windows credentials are used.
• Digest Authentication: Similar to Basic Authentication, but the credentials are hashed before sending over the network, providing a more secure authentication mechanism.
• Forms Authentication: Allows custom login forms for users to authenticate. It is commonly used for websites that require user registration and login functionality.
• Client Certificate Mapping Authentication: Requires users to present a client certificate for authentication. This mode is suitable for scenarios where strong authentication is needed.

By utilizing these authentication modes, IIS administrators can control access to their websites based on the security requirements of the applications.