---
title: "Name and authenticate a connection to a data system or analytical model"
slug: "name-and-authenticate-a-connection-to-a-data-system-or-analytical-model"
abstract: "How to name and authenticate a connection to a data system or analytical model for use in decisioning (Sitecore Personalize)."
---
# Name and authenticate a connection to a data system or analytical model

You must name the connection, select the authentication method, and test it before you can configure the request.

To name and authenticate a connection:

1. On the navigation menu, click **Developer Center** > **Connections**.
2. On the **Connections** screen, click **Create** > **AI** or **Data System**.
3. On the **Name & Describe** screen, complete the following fields:
    - **Name** - enter a unique, intuitive name for the data system or analytical model.

        > [!warning]
        > Do not use any hyphens in the name. This can cause issues if you reference the connection in a programmable decision when creating a decision model variant.

    - **Description** - enter a concise description of the data system or model.
    - **Icon** - select the icon from the drop-down list that the user will see when they add a data system or analytical model to a decision model variant.
4. Click **Next**. The **Authenticate** screen displays.
5. On the **Authenticate** screen, select one of the following authentication methods:
    - **Oauth 2**:
        - **Access Token URL** - enter the URL to the access token of the data system or analytical model. The access token is generated by the data system or analytical model platform. The access token must use an `https://` URL. This ensures you are using a secure connection.
        - **Authentication option** - select the **Header** option to pass the authentication credentials in the header or select the **Body** option to pass the authentication credentials in the body of the request.
        - **Client ID** - enter the client ID of the data system or analytical model platform.
        - **Client Secret** - enter the client secret of the data system or analytical model platform.
        - **Headers** - Optionally, click **Show headers** and enter the key in the first field and the value in the second field. To enter additional headers, click **Add Headers**. If you selected **Header** for the **Authentication option**, you must enter the authentication parameters and values here.
        - **URL encoded form** - Optionally, click **Show URL encoded form** and enter the key in the first field and the value in the second field. To enter additional items, click **Add form item**. This option enables you to convert keys and values into a valid URL format that you can send to Sitecore Personalize.
        - **Configure with Mutual TLS** - click to enable Mutual Transport Layer Security (mTLS). This lets Sitecore Personalize and the destination that you're connecting to, authenticate each other using the TLS protocol.

            To view Sitecore Personalize's mTLS JSON Web Key Set (JWKS) endpoint, click the ![pers_JWTS.png](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/personalize/en/users/sitecore-personalize/images/pers_JWTS.png) icon. The JWKS is a set of keys containing the public keys used to verify any JSON Web Tokens (JWT).

    - **Basic**:
        - **Username** - enter the username for authenticating credentials to the data system or analytical model platform.
        - **Password** - enter the password for authenticating credentials to the data system or analytical model platform.
    - **None** - this is only used for public APIs and not recommended for connecting to a data system or analytical model platform.
6. Click **Test Authentication**. The results of the test display in the **Response** window with the relevant status code.

    > [!tip]
    > If you receive an authentication error, check the credentials you entered in the previous step.

7. Click **Next**. The **Configure Request** screen displays.

    You must continue to configure the request or your connection will not be saved. You can configure the request to retrieve data using a [GET method](https://doc.sitecore.com/personalize/en/users/sitecore-personalize/connecting-sitecore-personalize-to-an-external-system/connecting-sitecore-personalize-to-a-data-system-or-analytical-model/configure-the-request-using-a-get-method.html "Configure the request using a GET method") or send data using a [POST or PUT](https://doc.sitecore.com/personalize/en/users/sitecore-personalize/connecting-sitecore-personalize-to-an-external-system/connecting-sitecore-personalize-to-a-data-system-or-analytical-model/configure-the-request-using-a-post-or-put-method.html "Configure the request using a POST or PUT method") method.