Authentication Server Function
5G authentication server supporting 5G-AKA and EAP-AKA authentication protocols for secure network access.
Authentication for the 5G Era
4G authentication was built into HSS. 5G separates it into a dedicated cloud-native function — faster, more secure, and independently scalable.
Coupled to HSS
4G authentication is a feature inside HSS — cannot scale independently. An authentication surge from IoT devices impacts all subscriber services.
Limited to AKA
4G only supports EPS-AKA. 5G needs EAP-AKA for non-3GPP access (WiFi), IoT networks, and private 5G — plus future extensibility to new methods.
Diameter-only
Legacy authentication runs on Diameter. 5G NFs use HTTP/2. Without AUSF, every authentication request needs protocol translation.
The Security Anchor of 5G
AUSF authenticates every device, every SIM, every connection — before anything else happens in the core
5G-AKA & EAP-AKA
Native support for 5G-AKA and EAP-AKA authentication. Secure 3GPP devices, non-3GPP access, and IoT networks with the right method per use case.
Stateless & Cloud-Native
Authentication state stored in UDSF, not local memory. Any AUSF instance handles any request — no sticky sessions, no single points of failure.
Unified 4G + 5G
One platform serves both HSS AuC (Diameter) and AUSF (HTTP/2 Nausf). Consistent authentication across 4G and 5G — one security policy.
Fraud Prevention
Real-time authentication logging and anomaly detection. Identify SIM swap attacks, cloning attempts, and unauthorized access patterns as they happen.
What Operators Gain
A dedicated cloud-native authentication layer changes how security works across the entire network
Independent Scaling
Scale authentication capacity independently of subscriber data. Handle IoT authentication spikes without over-provisioning the entire HSS.
Stronger Security
Unified authentication policy across 4G and 5G. Consistent key management, algorithm updates, and security audits — one platform to secure.
Future-Ready
Extensible authentication framework supports new methods as they emerge. Add biometric, certificate-based, or quantum-safe authentication without replacing the core.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is AUSF different from the HSS authentication function?
In 4G, authentication is a feature embedded in the HSS. AUSF is a standalone, cloud-native 5G NF dedicated to authentication. It supports 5G-AKA and EAP-AKA natively, stores state externally for stateless operation, communicates via HTTP/2 (Nausf), and scales independently from subscriber data storage.
Can AUSF handle non-3GPP device authentication?
Yes. AUSF supports EAP-AKA for authenticating devices connecting via non-3GPP access such as WiFi, trusted and untrusted gateways, and private 5G networks. This is essential for enterprise and IoT use cases where devices connect through diverse access methods.
Does AUSF require UDM to function?
AUSF works closely with UDM to retrieve authentication vectors and subscriber security profiles. However, AUSF is a separate NF with its own lifecycle, scaling, and interface. ZBensoft UDM and AUSF are designed to work together seamlessly, whether deployed on the same cluster or distributed across data centers.
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