Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service (RADIUS) is a networking protocol and software which provides the user with the triple A access control and management service - Authentication, Authorization and Accounting. It is a service for all users who ste connected to the same network. RADIUS makes the communication between remote access servers and the centralized server smooth and efficient. It helps to authenticate dial-in users and control and monitor their access to the requested service. It is a protocol for Network Access or IP Mobility which works in both situations, Mobile and Local. RADIUS has roots in the IPS system but has gradually evolved into a modern, efficient and more standardized framework that employs the AAA approach. RADIUS was first developed by Livingston Enterprises, Inc in 1991. Back then it was an access control, authentication and accounting protocol which was later developed according to the Internet Engineering Task Force (INTF) standards.
With the help of RADIUS, a company can maintain user profiles in a centralized database that all servers have access to. It accounts for better security and helps to track usage for calculating network statistics and billing. It uses a centralized database to authenticate and control remote users with a unique encryption key while granting them access to the network. The centralized AAA system has been proven to provide the best security and network efficiency. The working of the RADIUS protocol is quite straightforward. When the user tries to access the network with a username and password, the system verifies the same and sends the user a special encryption key which the user then applies while accessing the system. The system then either accepts or rejects the user by granting or not granting them access to the system. The RADIUS protocol is considered to be a connectionless service. It handles and solves issues pertaining to server availability, user authentication and control, monitoring and managing user activities and timeouts.
RADIUS is required for companies to control and manage their network users and secure their data from malicious users who can cause serious harm to the company’s sensitive data. The AAA approach has made it easier to identify and eradicate threats to the network by boiling down users at the time of providing access by a highly secure encryption key. RADIUS has been employed in various companies and has been successful in providing them with authentication, authorization and accounting services. Apart from companies, the RADIUS networking system is also used by public hotspot providers to authenticate and manage the users of a public network and protect the network from being misused. It helps to track the usage and enable security measures. The wireless feature of the RADIUS protocol make it very economical for public network service providers to employ the system at various levels.
RADIUS is a networking tool and where is technology, there is always growth and upgrading. There is constant innovation and expansion of the RADIUS protocol which often is the introduction of a new network access technology. The 802.11 WLAN is the latest opportunity for expansion of the RADIUS protocol. This system will allow users great mobility and also cut down the cost of setting up and maintaining the otherwise wired system. RADIUS is a highly convenient and efficient networking technology required in companies and business ventures with digitally equipped workspaces.