What is multi-factor authentication?
MFA is an important part of identity and access management (IAM) that helps verify users before granting access. However, since most cyber breaches are identity-driven, MFA alone cannot detect if approved credentials are being misused or if an attacker is posing as a legitimate user. Once access is granted, MFA cannot stop or detect identity-based attacks in real time, so it should be used as one part of a broader cybersecurity strategy.
How does multi-factor authentication work?
MFA works by requiring one or more verification factors in addition to a traditional user ID and password. It usually follows the same process:
Common multi-factor authentication types and methods
Most authentication methods can be categorized into one of the following group types:
Something You Know ( Knowledge Based)
This refers to any knowledge-based credential. It is the simplest, most common form of verification. This category includes PINs, passwords created by the user, and answers to security questions.
Something you have (possession-based)
Possession-based credentials require users to generate or receive assets such as a security token or certificate. This can be done through the use of an authenticator application like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator or a time-sensitive OTP delivered by text, email, or secure link.
Benefits of multi-factor authentication
| Benefits | Description |
| Stronger Security | Despite not being a security tool in the technical sense, MFA is an important line of defense for organizations in that it grants access to systems and networks only to fully authenticated users. Enforcing the use of one or several MFA factors via an OTP, biometric indicator, or physical hardware key makes it far more difficult for hackers and other cybercriminals to gain access to the system under the guise of a legitimate user. This not only means that cybercriminals must identify an alternative avenue for access but that traditional security measures are far more likely to be able to detect and stop such activity. |
| Seamless accessibility for remote workers | The widespread shift to hybrid and remote work has dramatically increased organizations’ exposure to cyberattacks and breaches as workers access company applications, documents, and data via personal networks and devices. At the same time, workers experience login fatigue when they are required to sign in to multiple accounts in a single work session. When paired with advanced login techniques such as SSO, MFA adds a layer of security and simplifies the sign-in process for legitimate users. The moment the user has been validated in SSO, the system automatically logs them in, and they gain access to the application or document without needing to sign in to each application individually. |
| Improved regulatory compliance | Corporate data and identity security are of heightened importance to businesses that operate within high-risk industry sectors such as healthcare, education, medical research, finance, and military defense. Most organizations’ IT departments believe they comply with leading cybersecurity standards, despite research showing that many do not. Multi-factor authentication is often mandatory for compliance with industry regulations. For example, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a regulatory standard for organizations that operate in the credit card sector. It requires MFA to be implemented to prevent unauthorized users from accessing systems. Even when application updates lead to system instability, MFA compliance ensures that systems remain impenetrable with up to 99% certainty. |
The future of multi-factor authentication
MFA is by no means a foolproof security process. Just as cybercriminals are working around the clock to develop new techniques to breach networks, they are also working to find ways to circumvent MFA security measures, intercept tokens, or forge secondary credentials. To mitigate these potential weak spots, MFA techniques must be continuously upgraded to protect against evolving threats and reinforced by other security tools and solutions.
In addition to implementing MFA, organizations should consider improving their security posture through the following identity security best practices, which are designed to limit network access and account privileges and contain a hacker’s movement in the event of a breach: