Securing Applications: Authentication and Authorization Essentials

Modern application security starts with knowing exactly who your users are and what they are permitted to do. This text-based course guides you through the fundamental principles of identity management, helping you demystify complex security concepts and protocols. You will transition from basic terminology to understanding how modern systems protect sensitive data. Learn to distinguish between authentication and authorization, explore industry-standard protocols, and study secure access control models. What you will learn: Understand the core differences between authentication (AuthN) and authorization (AuthZ); Explore modern security standards including OAuth, OpenID Connect, and JSON Web Tokens (JWT); Learn the principles of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and modern passwordless strategies; Implement access control models like Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC); Practice your knowledge with written security scenarios and self-assessment questions. This course begins with essential security terminology and foundational definitions before progressing to architectural patterns and written evaluation exercises. Designed for beginners, developers, and IT professionals, this course requires no prior security experience. Start reading today to build a solid foundation in application security.