Multi-factor authentication (MFA) requires each user to prove their identity using at least two different verification factors.
This technology helps website and platform owners improve their IT security.
Multi-factor authentication is essential to access a website or a mobile application.
With multi-factor authentication, the attacker must go through several (at least two) factors in order to gain access to the account of the owner of the site or application. In this article, our experts explain to you the principle of operation of authentication. authentication, the different factors of MFA and the different types of multi-factor authentication technologies.
How does multiple authentication work?
Multi-factor authentication uses different types of technologies to identify an attacker or a user.
This multi-factor authentication is more effective than single-factor authentication. We are therefore talking about a double or even triple identification.
With multi-factor authentication or MFA, a user must combine 2 different verification technologies or 2 different authentication factors (for example, knowledge factor and possession factor).
To better understand this phenomenon, here is a small example: using a password and a PIN code (2 factors that belong to the same category “what you know”) is not multi-factor authentication. Now let's use a PIN code or a password with facial recognition (which belongs to the category “what you are”): this is multi-factor authentication.
Learn more about the different authentication factors:
Multi-factor authentication
The factors fall into 3 categories:
- Knowledge factor: what you know
- Possession factor: what you have
- Inherence factor: what you are
The 3 main factors for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) are:
MFA: knowledge factor
To get to know a user, there are several techniques and solutions to use:
- The password
- PIN code
- The passphrase,
- Security issues
To access your application or website, you must correctly enter the information that you have already registered in the online application.
MFA: possession factor
Before the appearance of smartphones, a user carried smart cards or tokens, which generate an OTP security code or password. This code will be requested to access your online application.
Nowadays, we see that a user often installs an authentication application on his tablet or smartphone. This application has the role of creating one-time pass keys (OTP).
MFA: inherence factor
This factor highlights a user's biometric data. These data are as follows:
- fingerprints
- Retina scans
- facial recognition
- voice recognition
- Behaviors
The different types of MFA technologies
There are several types of multi-factor authentication technology. Among the most common are:
Biometric authentication
Biometric modalities represent a form of authentication allowing the precise and secure identification of a user, through his mobile device.
The best-known biometric technologies are:
- Face recognition
- Fingerprint scanning
This type of authentication also includes behavioral biometrics. This technology authenticates a user based on their behavior with their PC or smartphone: keystrokes, swipes, mouse movements, etc.
Hardware tokens
Hardware authentication represents easy-to-use devices for accessing a network service.
It relies on OTP codes for hardware tokens to provide a possession factor for multi-factor authentication. This technology enables optimal IT security for application providers and banks that support the security of multiple applications with a single device.
mobile authentication
Mobile authentication is the act of identifying a user with their Android or iOS device, or verifying the device itself.
This technology allows the user to connect to websites and access online resources with optimal security.
Out of Band Authentication
Out-of-band authentication requires a secondary verification method. This method uses a separate communication channel.
Among the examples of out-of-band technologies, we distinguish: Cronto code, Push notification, SMS text message, Voice message, Software token…
Multi-factor authentication is an identification technique that supportscyber securityof your company and strengthens the IT security of your site or mobile application.
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