--- title: episerver.basicAuthentication slug: cms-11/dev-docs/configuring-episerverbasicauthentication docTags: createdAt: 2026-07-22T19:45:18.312Z --- The [Configure CMS](docId\:Ki3aZjVaUcNEu4ABnx3dY) topic describes the syntax of the configuration elements. ```xml ## <episerver.basicAuthentication> ``` :::hint{type="info"} **Note** The `episerver.basicAuthentication` element is optional. The following default configuration values set in code and are overriden if other values are specified in the `web.config` file. ::: | Name | Default value | Description | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | [basicRealm](https://world.optimizely.com/documentation/Class-library/?documentId=cms/10/F85906EB) | String.Empty | Gets the basic realm used when sending a basic authentication challenge to the client. | | [sendBasicChallenge](https://world.optimizely.com/documentation/Class-library/?documentId=cms/10/D14F8C5B) | true | Defines whether the [EPiServer.Security.BasicAuthentication](https://world.optimizely.com/documentation/Class-library/?documentId=cms/10/F5724347) module sends a basic challenge to the client. |