

There are three components to Kerberos: the client, a service and a third-party that both client and service trust. The Kerberos protocol prevents the bad guys from getting in. Kerberos, or Cerberus, is a three-headed dog in Roman mythology that guards the gates of the underworld, preventing inhabitants there from escaping. In addition, IT professionals should understand how Windows Time Service works because Kerberos security is highly dependent on time services. This will help with diagnosing a variety of security issues. Therefore, it's important to have a good understanding of how the Kerberos protocol works and be familiar with the details of the security functions.


While Windows IT professionals deal with security on a daily basis, very few understand the under-the-hood protocol, Kerberos. Knowing the basics of this pervasive protocol can be critical in troubleshooting and solving Windows security problems. In-Depth Kerberos Authentication 101: Understanding the Essentials of the Kerberos Security Protocol
