A first apparatus comprising: a first connecting unit configured to connect to an image forming apparatus; a second connecting unit connectable to a second apparatus via a network, the second apparatus storing first user data; a storage unit configured to store second user data; a receiving unit configured to receive identification data for user authentication of a user using the image forming apparatus; a first authentication process unit configured to execute user authentication of the received identification data by using the second user data; characterized in that: the first apparatus further comprises: a second authentication process unit configured to execute user authentication of the received identification data by using the first user data by accessing the second apparatus by the connecting unit; a control unit configured to control to execute user authentication process by either the first authentication process unit or the second authentication process unit; wherein the control unit executes the second authentication process as the executed user authentication process in case that the second apparatus is selected so as to perform the user authentication process, wherein the control unit executes the first authentication process as the user authentication process in case that the second apparatus is not selected so as to perform the user authentication process. a first connecting unit configured to connect to an image forming apparatus; a second connecting unit connectable to a second apparatus via a network, the second apparatus storing first user data; a storage unit configured to store second user data; a receiving unit configured to receive identification data for user authentication of a user using the image forming apparatus; a first authentication process unit configured to execute user authentication of the received identification data by using the second user data; characterized in that: the first apparatus further comprises: a second authentication process unit configured to execute user authentication of the received identification data by using the first user data by accessing the second apparatus by the connecting unit; a control unit configured to control to execute user authentication process by either the first authentication process unit or the second authentication process unit; wherein the control unit executes the second authentication process as the executed user authentication process in case that the second apparatus is selected so as to perform the user authentication process, wherein the control unit executes the first authentication process as the user authentication process in case that the second apparatus is not selected so as to perform the user authentication process. a second authentication process unit configured to execute user authentication of the received identification data by using the first user data by accessing the second apparatus by the connecting unit; a control unit configured to control to execute user authentication process by either the first authentication process unit or the second authentication process unit; wherein the control unit executes the second authentication process as the executed user authentication process in case that the second apparatus is selected so as to perform the user authentication process, wherein the control unit executes the first authentication process as the user authentication process in case that the second apparatus is not selected so as to perform the user authentication process.