What is the purpose of entering credentials in the self-hosted integration runtime?

Entering credentials in the self-hosted integration runtime is crucial for establishing a secure connection between on-premises data sources and Azure data services. This integration runtime facilitates data movement and transformation tasks in Azure Data Factory or Azure Synapse Analytics. By providing appropriate credentials, you enable the integration runtime to access local data, whether it be databases, files, or other resources, and to securely migrate that data to Azure.

This aspect is essential for operations involving data migration where secure and valid access to the source data is necessary. Without properly entered credentials, the integration runtime would be unable to authenticate and authorize actions, which could lead to failures in data flows and inefficiencies in data handling processes. This ensures that all actions taken are compliant and tightly secured, making it possible to integrate on-premises and cloud environments effectively.