# User Authentication

To access front-end applications, users must log on by providing their credentials. If you build your own front-end applications, you can use the IDOL API to customize the logon process.

IDOL supports authentication against industry standard systems, including:

- Windows NT logon.
- LDAP authentication.
- Other third-party authentication (for example, Lotus Notes).

A single logon allows a user to access all the systems for which they have permission. For example, if a user submits a query they receive all documents that they are permitted to view, even though these documents originated from different data repositories. The IDOL Server Community component enables you to store and update user security details for this purpose.

In addition, you can use IDOL in a single sign-on environment that uses Kerberos for authentication.

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