Understanding Microsoft Online Authentication

The Microsoft Online Hosted Services use two different Authentication Types when accessing Online resources:

The following Online Services provide the Windows Authentication method:

1. Sign-In Client 
2. Online Company Portal
3. Exchange Online
   • Outlook 2007
4. SharePoint Online
5. Live Meeting Online

With Windows Authentication, users logged into the Online Sign-In Client will silently pass their Online user credentials to the above Online Services, providing Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities.

The following Online Services use Forms Based Authentication (FBA) method:

1. Outlook Web Access (OWA)
2. Microsoft Online Admin Center (MOAC)

FBA requires users to manually type their username and password before gaining access to the above Online Services.