RADIUS is a network protocol that is used to authenticate and authorize user access to a remote network. The term, RADIUS, is an acronym that stands for Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service. First introduced in 1991, RADIUS has remained a powerful tool for managing network user access.
A RADIUS server utilizes a central database to authenticate remote users. RADIUS functions as a client-server protocol, authenticating each user with a unique encryption key when access is granted. In RADIUS mechanism, all passwords encrypt but the entire information packet not encrypt. Radius server is equipped with a database that contains information about the credentials of all users. So, this server checking the user’s information against a locally stored flat file database. If everything matches, the user will be authenticated.