What is the main purpose of VPN authentication?

The main purpose of VPN authentication is to verify the identity of a user or device. This is crucial in ensuring that only authorized individuals or systems are allowed to access the secure network. By confirming identity through methods such as passwords, digital certificates, or multi-factor authentication, VPN authentication helps to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access and ensures that users are who they claim to be. This process establishes a secure connection before any data is transmitted, allowing for a trusted environment within the virtual private network.

Other aspects of VPN functionality, such as encrypting data or authorizing access to specific resources, are important but primarily rely on proper authentication to ensure that the right users are accessing the system. Hiding a user's browsing history, while a potential benefit of using a VPN, does not pertain directly to the authentication process itself.