For the confused and lost on what MFA is and how it helps you in your daily lives, this article is for you as we explain each aspect of MFA in detail.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a simple security system, like Rublon, that entails each user verifying his or her identities before they can access online forms or networks. MFA may use information such as locations, and understanding or even control of tangible objects. All these will be used to ascertain that your identity matches their system.
Now that we have a brief understanding of what MFA is. Let’s dive into the deeper levels regarding examples of MFA, how it works, and other commonly asked questions.
Firstly, a perfect example of MFA is the procedure in which you use an ATM. To obtain the right of entry to any account, you are required to insert your bank or credit card, which is known as a physical factor, and enter your 6-digit PIN; which is known as a knowledge factor.
Another relevant example we observe in our daily lives is the one-time password (OTP) approach. Used most commonly in online banking, users have to provide the time-based passcode that will be sent through various means such as through messaging, calling, or emailing. Other areas wherein OTP is highly used is in large businesses that need to secure their many accounts and applications.
How MFA Works
Next, we will understand how MFA works. The main point of MFA is the security and the individual verification information that outsiders will not be privy to. Like its name suggests, MFA requests that you enter more than one type of proof to ascertain your identity. The other alternative of MFA is the two-factor authentication (2FA). This ensures that scammers or threats will be unable to provide two and above pieces of evidence, even if they are somehow privy to one part of your identity.
The factors MFA uses can be grouped into two categories. These categories involve knowledge, usually known as password or security questions, and physical, usually known as tokens or QR codes. Keep in mind that there will always be one from each category when it comes to MFA. That is to say that the mainstream password and security amalgamation will not be eligible as an MFA due to both of them coming from the knowledge group. On the other hand, a password question and a one-time password pass as an MFA. This is due to the passcode being a possession factor, while the verification from an email account belongs to the other category.
Contrary to popular belief, MFA is not complex and only presents an extra few steps during the logging in. What is a few minutes more of your time in exchange for high-level security regarding your personal information? Additionally, the security industry is said to be constantly making the MFA system more efficient, enabling it to be more convenient and instinctual as technology for verification abilities develops further.
This can be observed through systems such as fingerprints and face scans on your touch phone, where you can unlock your phone just by verifying your thumbprint or showing your face. Besides that, there are other devices such as GPS and cameras which are riding onto the innovations which guarantee a better identification process. Some are so high-tech and efficient that they only require a single tap on your end to determine your identity through push notifications.
How Do Organizations Decide?
Next, you may ask how do organizations decide to start using MFA? Many service providers and account-based programs make use of MFA as the features can be accessed and enabled easily through their settings. Larger businesses with their network ports and complicated user-related issues may need to make use of an alternative app such as Duo. This will help to add on an extra layer of authentication during the login process.
The difference between MFA and a single sign-on (SSO) is largely on the fact that MFA is but a security reinforcement, while SSO is a whole system that aims to improve productivity and efficiency. Therefore, they have to work together to achieve optimum results. This combination enables their users to use only one set of login information to gain entry to multiple applications that previously may have insisted on only using respective logins, thus making life much easier.
Although SSO and MFA work hand-in-hand, it does not substitute the latter. Companies that utilize SSO in their corporate email systems, also make use of MFA in their login process. Therefore, SSO lends a helping hand in validating the user’s identity with MFA, and from there, spreads the verification with multiple systems using software chips.
Adaptive Authentication
Last but not least, we will be talking about adaptive authentication, and what it encompasses.
In this form of authentication, rules are consistently altered based on an array of variables. These include altering by the groups of people defined by the role they play, the amount of responsibility they are given, and or which department they come from. Rules can also be adjusted based on methods. In this case, validating users through their notifications and not SMS. In case enforcement of more unshakeable methods are needed, push notifications or Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) will be used for higher-risk services. Rules can also depend on locations, wherein a company’s confidential resources will be kept off-limits, and/or only enabling some policies. These depend largely on the use of particular methods in some specific locations and not others. Lastly, they can also be rearranged by network information. This means that the IP information in the network will be used as the factor to verify and other shady attempts from random and suspicious VPNs will be blocked.
Conclusion
Now that we have a better overview of what MFA means and how it adds an extra layer of security, do keep in mind that there is still a host of MFA methods that was not covered in-depth in the article. Examples include push-based 2FA, and risk-based authentication, as well as social media networks.