What Is Multifactor Authentication and How Does It Work?
What is multifactor authentication and how does it work?
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) – also referred to as Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is a layered approach to secure data and applications, by extending a combination of two or more credentials to verify a user’s identity for login in order to prevent it from being compromised.
How does multifactor authentication work?
MFA is a fundamental element of a successful identity and access management (IAM) policy. MFA reduces the risk of a successful cyber-attack by requiring one or more extra verification criteria, rather than just a login and password. In case of one credential compromise, unauthorized users are unable to manage the second authentication criterion and hence cannot access your computing device, network, or database.
Multifactor authentication involves combination of different kind of factors to authenticate your identity, when you try to sign in first time into an app or device. It can be done by Inherence based MFA
- Fingerprint, or facial recognition or voice
Possession based MFA
- OTPs generated by smartphone apps
- OTPs sent via text or email
Knowledge based MFA
- Answers to personal security questions
- Password
- Memorized PIN.
However, the second step authentication will not be required quite often.
Multifactor authentication is not as cumbersome as some people think; it is often used just the first time you enter into an app or device, or the first time you sign in after resetting your password. Once done you can use your primary factor to sign in, (which is often a password), like you do normally. The added security comes from the fact that anyone attempting to hack into your account is unlikely to be using your device, so they’ll need that second factor to gain access.
Eagle-IoT supports Two-Factor Authentication for your account security, and Telematics services to enhance the stability and security of our partner organizations.
