What does Integrated Security =SSPI means in the Connection string

Integrated Security=true; doesn't work in all SQL providers, it throws an exception when used with the OleDb provider. So basically Integrated Security=SSPI; is preferred since works with both SQLClient & OleDB provider.

Other options are:

Provider	Syntax
SqlClient	Integrated Security=true; -- or -- Integrated Security=SSPI;
OleDb	Integrated Security=SSPI;
Odbc	Trusted_Connection=yes;
OracleClient	Integrated Security=yes;

refer:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/ms254500%28v=vs.100%29.aspx for more details.

SSPI stands for Security Support Provider Interface. The SSPI allows an application to use any of the available security packages on a system without changing the interface to use security services. The SSPI does not establish logon credentials because that is generally a privileged operation handled by the operating system.


Other than SSPI you can also use "true".

Integrated Security actually ensures that you are connecting with SQL Server using Windows Authentication, not SQL Authentication; which requires username and password to be provided with the connecting string.

try this Link

Connection String Elements & Description[^]

Integrated security means that the connection is establish to the database server will be made using the currently logged in thier credentials.