Authentication in Strapi verifies user identities to secure access to content and APIs, while authorization determines what actions authenticated users can perform within the application. To implement authentication, developers can use local authentication with email and password or integrate third-party providers like Google, Facebook, or GitHub. Authorization involves defining roles and permissions that specify user capabilities. Strapi supports Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to manage user access by assigning roles with specific permissions. JWT tokens are used for stateless authentication in Strapi, which should be stored securely and included in subsequent API requests. To enhance security, developers can protect routes using policies and middleware, implement HTTPS, enable rate limiting, regularly update roles and permissions, restrict admin panel access, enable two-factor authentication, and use logging and monitoring features like the Strapi Audit Log.