Are local credentials necessary when a remote server is being used for authentication?

When using a remote server for authentication, local credentials are not necessary because the authentication process relies entirely on the remote server's capability to validate users. When a system is configured to authenticate against a remote server, such as an LDAP server or Active Directory, the authentication checks are performed by that server, which already has access to the necessary credentials.

This means that users can log in without needing local accounts on the device itself, provided they have valid credentials on the remote server. Therefore, local credentials do not play a role in these authentication processes, simplifying user management and centralizing access control.

In cases where local credentials might be needed, such as when there’s a failure in communication with the remote server or specific configurations, those situations are generally not the standard operating procedure for systems fully integrated with remote authentication sources. This makes local credentials unnecessary for routine access when the remote server is functioning correctly.