Provided is an image forming apparatus that can execute direct printing including authentication when a cooperation platform authenticates with substituting the device. It is connected to an external authentication server via a network. The image forming apparatus has an application and a direct print port. The application works on a specific platform. The direct print port is virtually-provided in the application. The application receives a job of the direct printing in the virtually-provided direct print port from an external terminal via the network. Then, the application instructs to authenticate to the authentication server based on certification information included in data of the job. The application, when authenticated, transmits print data to an actual direct print port.