Network Elements Identification and Authentication of Users Identification is the process whereby a network element recognizes a valid user's identity.
Authentication is the process of verifying the claimed identity of a user.
A user identification code is a non-confidential auditable representation of a user. Authentication information should be kept confidential. If users are not properly identified then the network element is potentially vulnerable to access by unauthorized users. Because of the open nature of ONA, ONA greatly increases the potential for unauthorized access. If strong identification and authorization mechanisms are used, then the risk that unauthorized users will gain access to a system is significantly decreased.