About authentication policies

Authentication policies use an authentication method to identify users so that the Smoothwall Filter can apply your filtering policies to the relative users in either a transparent or non transparent setup.

When you first purchase the Smoothwall Filter and Firewall, it comes with two default authentication policies, a non-transparent authentication policy and a transparent authentication policy, both with the Core authentication method.

Transparent and non-transparent

A transparent authentication policy applies your web filter policies and authentication method to your users' devices without the need to configure their devices.

A non-transparent authentication policy applies your web filter policies and authentication method to your users' devices but you need to ensure that you configure their devices to use the Smoothwall Filter as their web proxy, see our knowledge base article, When to use Non-Transparent Authentication Policies.

Authentication methods

The Smoothwall Filter uses authentication to:

• Identify users and assign them to groups, so that the Smoothwall Filter can apply different policies to each group.
• Allow access to registered users or trusted devices.
• Provide logging and auditing facilities in case of misuse.
• Show the users accessing content in real time.

The Smoothwall Filter can use several different authentication methods to identify a user or user group, with different conditions and restrictions, see the list in our help topic, Authentication Methods.