Authentication Guide
AI Authentication Methods
Comprehensive guide to authentication and access control for AI systems. Learn best practices for securing AI APIs, models, and services.
Authentication Methods
API Key Authentication
Simple and widely used
Basic authentication using API keys for accessing AI services and models.
Best Practices:
- Rotate keys regularly
- Use environment variables
- Implement rate limiting
- Monitor for suspicious usage
OAuth 2.0 / OpenID Connect
Industry standard for delegated access
Token-based authentication with fine-grained access control and user consent.
Advantages:
- Delegated authorization
- Short-lived access tokens
- Scope-based permissions
- Refresh token rotation
Mutual TLS (mTLS)
Certificate-based authentication
Two-way TLS authentication using client certificates for high-security environments.
Use Cases:
- Service-to-service authentication
- Zero-trust architectures
- High-security AI deployments
- Regulatory compliance
JWT (JSON Web Tokens)
Stateless authentication tokens
Self-contained tokens with claims for stateless authentication and authorization.
Security Considerations:
- Use strong signing algorithms (RS256)
- Set appropriate expiration times
- Validate all claims
- Implement token revocation
Advanced Authentication
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Require multiple authentication factors for accessing sensitive AI systems and administrative functions.
- • Time-based One-Time Passwords (TOTP)
- • Hardware security keys (FIDO2/WebAuthn)
- • Biometric authentication
- • SMS/Email verification codes
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Implement granular permissions based on user roles and responsibilities.
- • Define clear role hierarchies
- • Principle of least privilege
- • Separate duties for sensitive operations
- • Regular access reviews and audits
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
Fine-grained access control based on user attributes, resource properties, and environmental conditions.
- • Context-aware access decisions
- • Dynamic policy evaluation
- • Support for complex authorization rules
- • Integration with identity providers
Related Resources
AI Governance
Governance framework
Cloud Security
Multi-cloud security
API Security
Secure AI APIs