The comparison of RADIUS and TACACS+ authentication services is as follows:
A. Transport protocol:
- RADIUS uses the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) for communication.
- TACACS+ uses the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) for communication.
Example: When a user tries to authenticate, their authentication request is sent over the network. In RADIUS, this request is sent using UDP, while in TACACS+, it is sent using TCP.
B. Authentication and authorization:
- RADIUS combines both authentication and authorization in one step.
- TACACS+ separates authentication and authorization into two separate steps.
Example: In the case of RADIUS, when a user tries to access a network resource, the RADIUS server will authenticate the user's credentials and, if successful, authorize the user to access the resource at the same time. On the other hand, with TACACS+, the authentication step is performed first, and only after successful authentication, the authorization step is performed separately.
C. Communication:
- RADIUS communicates between the client and the server in an unencrypted manner.
- TACACS+ communicates between the client and the server in an encrypted manner.
Example: When a user sends their credentials for authentication in RADIUS, it is sent in plain text over the network, making it susceptible to interception and potential security risks. Conversely, in TACACS+, the communication is encrypted, ensuring that the credentials remain secure during transmission.
In summary, RADIUS and TACACS+ differ in terms of the transport protocol used, the combination or separation of authentication and authorization, and the encryption of communication. RADIUS uses UDP, combines authentication and authorization, and communicates in an unencrypted manner. TACACS+ uses TCP, separates authentication and authorization, and communicates in an encrypted manner.
Study the comparison of RADIUS and TACACS below and answer the question
that follows:
Column A : Feature :
A. Transport protocol
B. Authentication and authorisation
C. Communication
Column B: RADIUS:
A. User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
B. Combined
C. Unencrypted
Column C: TACACS+ :
A. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
B. Separate
C. Encrypted
Using appropriate examples for each feature (A – C) in column A above, explain
the differences between RADIUS and TACACS+ authentication services using the
descriptions in column B and column C.
1 answer