What protocol does the Check Point user authentication process primarily rely on?

The Check Point user authentication process primarily relies on the RADIUS protocol due to its widespread use for network access control and its ability to provide centralized authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) services. RADIUS operates as a client-server protocol where the Check Point security gateway acts as a client and communicates with a RADIUS server to authenticate users attempting to access the network. This ensures that user credentials are handled securely and efficiently.

While other protocols like LDAP and SSH are often used in various contexts, such as directory services and secure access, respectively, they are not the primary means of user authentication in Check Point environments. LDAP may be used for retrieving user information or for integrating with directory services, but it does not provide the complete AAA framework that RADIUS does. Similarly, SSH is designed for secure shell access to devices rather than user authentication in a network access context. HTTPS is mainly used for securing web traffic and is not related to user authentication processes directly. Thus, RADIUS stands out as the key protocol in facilitating secure and effective user authentication in Check Point systems.