What is the authorization process?

Authorization is a process where a party trying to gain access to a resource is required to provide authentication data to gain access to that resource. Authorization is only possible when authentication data sent are correct and have been successfully confirmed by the authorization party.

Authorization is used in a wide selection of scenarios from logging in to remote Web services to accessing network files, folders or printers.

System that is performing authorization for a user may be so configured that only specific parts of a resource can be accessed by the authorized user, e.g. a user can only use specific server printers or access specific sets of folders and files located on that remote server.