OAuth 2.0 vs OAuth 1.0 for NetSuite: What’s Right for Your Integration in 2025?

Secure data access is not only a requirement in cloud platforms, such as NetSuite, but also a priority. Whether integrating CRMs, syncing ecommerce data, or automating dashboards, the basis of a successful integration starts by selecting the correct authentication protocol.

OAuth — NetSuite provides two authentication mechanisms under the umbrella of OAuth — OAuth 1.0 and OAuth 2.0. Both allow applications to run on behalf of users without storing their credentials, but how they do so and the advantages they offer are markedly different.

What is OAuth, & Why Should You Care?

OAuth stands for Open Authorization, a protocol designed to securely authorize applications to access resources. It allows a client (like a custom app or a third-party service) to access data on behalf of a user — without having to expose the user’s credentials.

NetSuite supports two version of OAuth:

• OAuth 1.0 – NetSuite supports token-based authentication (TBA) a robust, industry standard-based mechanism that increases overall system security. TBA enables client applications to use a token to access NetSuite through APIs, without RESTlets or web services integrations storing user credentials.
• OAuth 2.0 – NetSuite supports OAuth 2.0, a robust authorization framework. OAuth 2.0 enables client applications to use a token to access NetSuite through REST web services, RESTlets, and SuiteAnalytics Connect. The application accesses the protected resources on behalf of a user who gave explicit permission for the access. This method eliminates the need for integrations to store user credentials. Use OAuth 2.0 as an alternative to the Token-based Authentication feature. It is more straightforward to implement, because request signing is not required.

OAuth 1.0: Secure But Complex

To secure OAuth 1.0, every API request would require cryptographic signatures. This implies that every request must be signed using a secret key and can pair tokens, which means it is secure but has more difficulties in management and scaling.

Use Cases for OAuth 1.0:

• E-Commerce Portals
• Payment Gateways
• Custom Web Applications
• RESTlets or SuiteScript-based endpoints

It’s a robust yet restrictive agreement for the more complicated environment that prevents flexibility with fewer options for token refreshes and permission scopes. Read More

Article Submitted By - LST Consultancy