Configuring Microsoft SQL Server Security Settings › Types of Microsoft SQL Server Authentication

Types of Microsoft SQL Server Authentication

Microsoft SQL Server provides two types of user authentication:

• Use the active Windows login identification
• Use separate user credentials specific to Microsoft SQL Server

Although Microsoft recommends using only Windows authentication wherever possible, in certain instances it is appropriate, or even necessary, to enable Microsoft SQL Server-based authentication. For example, you must use Microsoft SQL Server authentication for Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 when the database is running in a cluster.