Authentication-Only Systems
Authentication-only systems are security frameworks or services that focus exclusively on verifying user identities without handling authorization or other security aspects. They provide mechanisms like username/password checks, multi-factor authentication (MFA), or biometric verification to confirm who a user is. These systems are often integrated into larger applications or platforms to offload identity management tasks.
Developers should use authentication-only systems when building applications that require secure user login but want to decouple identity verification from authorization logic, such as in microservices architectures or when integrating with third-party identity providers. They are essential for scenarios like single sign-on (SSO), federated identity management, or when compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) mandate specialized authentication handling without mixing it with access control.