# Auth types Akto automatically detects standard authentication methods like JWT and Bearer authorization headers used by agent components and MCP endpoints. This helps in identifying and addressing potential security threats. Akto also supports custom authentication methods for agentic systems. For example, if your agent uses a non-standard authentication method, such as sending the auth token under a custom header, Akto provides the flexibility to set this up as a custom auth type. Common authentication patterns for agents include: * **Bearer tokens**: Standard OAuth/API key authentication * **JWT tokens**: For stateless agent authentication * **API keys**: LLM provider keys (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.) * **mTLS**: For secure agent-to-agent communication * **Custom headers**: Non-standard auth implementations Even if your agent's authentication method doesn't align with standard practices, Akto can analyze and secure it properly. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://ai-security-docs.akto.io/akto-argus-agentic-ai-security-for-homegrown-ai/agentic-ai-discovery/concepts/auth-types.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.