Authentication method and communication apparatus

An authentication method, comprising:

• sending, by a third-party device, information about a management service outsourcing device to an exposure governance management function entity, wherein the management service outsourcing device is configured to invoke a network management capability exposed to the third-party device, and the information about the management service outsourcing device comprises information about a management service that can be invoked by the management service outsourcing device;
• receiving, by the third-party device from the exposure governance management function entity, information used for authenticating an identity of the management service outsourcing device that is determined based on the information about the management service outsourcing device;
• and
• sending, by the third-party device, the information used for authenticating the identity of the management service outsourcing device to the management service outsourcing device.

An authentication system, comprising:

• a first device and an exposure governance management function entity, wherein
• the exposure governance management function entity is configured to
• receive information about a management service outsourcing device that comprises information about a management service that can be invoked by the management service outsourcing device;
• determine, based on the information about the management service outsourcing device, information used for authenticating an identity of the management service outsourcing device;
• and
• send the information used for authenticating the identity of the management service outsourcing device to the management service outsourcing device;
• and
• the first device is configured to
• receive the information used for authenticating the identity of the management service outsourcing device;
• and
• send authentication information to the exposure governance management function entity.