# AvaTax configuration window

Source: https://developer.avalara.com/avatax-for-ap/cju2792383493769/

# AvaTax configuration window

Understand the advantages and disadvantages of account ID/license key authentication to configure the best method for your needs.

**Element type:** Required

**Endpoints/models used:** [QueryCompanies](https://developer.avalara.com/api-reference/avatax/rest/v2/methods/Companies/QueryCompanies/)

Your configuration dialog window must allow the user to specify the following configuration/connection information:

-   Service URL to access the connector (for example, Production or Sandbox)

-   Sign in with an account number/license key or with username/password

## Configuring authentication

When configuring the authentication method, keep in mind that account ID/license key and username/password authentication are similar in practice. So, why would you choose one over the other? Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of license key authentication.

Advantages:

-   License keys have stronger entropy when compared to a username/password, and are harder to attack.

-   Account ID / license key authentication isn’t user-specific and won’t expire if one user resets their password.

-   All basic authentication headers are protected by strong SSL encryption during transit to Avalara.

Disadvantages:

-   Each account has only one license key.

-   Revoking your license key will cause all API calls with the old license key to fail.

-   It isn’t possible to identify individual users acting when license key authentication is used.

Usually, use account ID / license key authentication when implementing connectors. As indicated above, your software should have a configuration page or file that allows a customer to enter in their credentials when they set up your connector; then all API calls made through your connector will use these credentials.

Tip

When designing a method for users to authenticate, consider providing a way to mask the password as the user is entering it, along with an option to show the password.