Trends
What is multi-factor authentication?
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an authentication process mandating users to present two or more verification factors to access a resource, like an application or online account. It serves as a fundamental aspect of robust identity and access management (IAM) strategies. What is multi-factor au…
Headline
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an authentication process mandating users to present two or more verification factors to access a resource, like an application or online account. It serves as a fundamental aspect of robust identity and access management (IAM) strategies.…
Context
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an authentication process mandating users to present two or more verification factors to access a resource, like an application or online account. It serves as a fundamental aspect of robust identity and access management (IAM) strategies. Multi-factor authentication is a layered approach to securing data and applications where a system requires a user to present a combination of two or more credentials to verify a user’s identity for login. MFA increases security because even if one credential becomes compromised, unauthorised users will be unable to meet the second authentication requirement and will not be able to access the targeted physical space, computing device, network, or database.
Evidence
Pending intelligence enrichment.
Analysis
The authentication factors typically fall into three categories. The first category is something the user knows. This includes traditional credentials such as passwords, PINs, or security questions. Users are required to input this information to verify their identity. The second one is something the user has. This involves possession of a physical device or token, such as a smartphone, security token, or smart card. The user must present or authenticate this item to proceed. The third one is something the user is. This encompasses biometric identifiers like fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans. These unique biological traits are used to verify the user’s identity.
Key Points
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security method that requires users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a system or application.
- These factors typically include something the user knows (such as a password), something the user has (such as a smartphone or security token), and something the user is (such as a fingerprint or facial recognition).
- MFA adds an extra layer of security to prevent unauthorised access, as even if one factor is compromised, the attacker would still need to bypass additional authentication methods.
Actions
Pending intelligence enrichment.
