Remote Access Authentication Protocols
By Stephen Bucaro
A remote access authentication protocol is the method by which remote users will be authenticated
when they log on the network. One (unwise) choice is to allow users to log on without authentication.
Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)
EAP allows for authentication of a remote access connection through the use of authentication schemes,
known as EAP types. EAP offers the strongest security by providing the most flexibility in
authentication variations. EAP can support authentication mechanisms, such as token cards, smart cards,
certificates, and public key encryption authentication.
Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP)
CHAP enables authentication without having the user send their password over the connection. The server
sends a challenge message to the connection requester. The requester responds with a value obtained
by using the industry-standard Message Digest 5 (MD5) hashing scheme to encrypt the response. The server
checks the response by comparing it its own calculation of the expected hash value. MS-CHAP, which
supports only Windows Servers, works the same way as CHAP.
Password Authentication Protocol (PAP)
PAP is the least secure authentication protocol. The username and password is sent in plaintext.
It does not protect against anyone listening to network traffic from stealing the username and password.
It is used only when the remote access client or the remote access server cannot negotiate a more
secure form of validation.
More Network Security Articles:
• Difference Between Network Firewall and Web Application Firewall
• Are You Meeting ISO 27000 Standards for Information Security Management?
• Overview of IPsec with IKEv1
• Types of Computer Security Threats
• Types of DoS (Denial of Service) Attacks
• Detecting Network Sniffers
• Prevent Hacking with Password-Cracking Countermeasures
• The Basics of Network Security
• Implementing a Secure Password Policy
• Avoid Hacks by Rogue Wireless Devices
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