Which type of token does Azure Files use for authorizing SMB access?

Azure Files utilizes Kerberos tokens for authorizing SMB (Server Message Block) access. This authentication method is integral to the SMB protocol, which is widely used for file sharing in Windows environments.

Kerberos is a network authentication protocol designed to provide secure communication between clients and servers. It works by using tickets issued by a centralized authority, the Key Distribution Center (KDC), which helps prevent unauthorized access to network resources. When a user attempts to access Azure Files over SMB, they authenticate using Kerberos, resulting in a secure token that confirms their identity and grants them the necessary permissions.

The other options, while they are meaningful in various contexts, do not apply to SMB access in Azure Files. OAuth 2.0 is primarily used for authorizing access in web applications and APIs, rather than file shares. JSON Web Tokens (JWT) are typically associated with stateless authentication and are widely used in web-based applications but not directly relevant to SMB protocol authentication. SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) is an XML-based framework for identity federation across different domains and is often used for web-based single sign-on (SSO), making it unsuitable for the context of file access via SMB in Azure.