Reliability, security & resilience · Core

Authentication

Also called: authn

ELI5

Check who someone or something is.

Used in conversation

“Authentication requires a second factor for administrators.”

Definition

Verification of the identity of a user, device or system.

Here “Authentication” means: Verification of the identity of a user, device or system.

Pitch context

You will see “Authentication” in product strategy decks, roadmaps, experiments and architecture reviews when the discussion reaches reliability, security & resilience.

Why it matters: In reliability, security & resilience, the scope can change what data may be used, who may access it and which controls are required.

Sources & evidence · 2

Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.

National Institute of Standards and Technology — Computer Security Resource Center GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
Scrum Guides — The Scrum Guide — official current versionSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16