# HTTP header

You can delegate user authentication to third-party systems (proxies/servers) using HTTP header authentication.

When this feature is activated, SonarQube expects that the authentication is handled prior to any query reaching the server. The tool that handles the authentication should:

* Intercept calls to the SonarQube server.
* Take care of the authentication.
* Update the HTTP request header with the relevant SonarQube user information.
* Re-route the request to SonarQube with the appropriate header information.

![](/files/FR4HdhzLjFVUmHeSAHuy)

All the parameters required to activate and configure this feature are available in the SonarQube server configuration file. See the `SSO AUTHENTICATION` section in `<sonarqubeHome>/conf/sonar.properties`.

Using HTTP header authentication is an easy way to integrate your SonarQube deployment with an in-house SSO implementation.


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