Many consider multi-factor authentication (MFA) the gold standard of account security. MFA is an additional layer of security that increases the difficulty of attackers gaining access to your account, even if they have your password. The idea behind MFA is simple: if you could somehow prove that you are who you say you are, then it would be harder for someone else to pretend to be you online and steal your identity or data. But there’s more than one way to prove who you are and that’s where things get complicated…
What is Multi-factor Authentication?
Multi-factor authentication, or MFA for short, is a security measure that requires two or more of the three authentication factors: something you know (like a password), something you have (like an ID card), and/or something you are (like your fingerprint). It’s considered more secure than single-factor authentication because it makes it harder for someone to guess your account credentials.
Single-factor authentication is when you only need to enter one thing to log into an online account—your username and password, for example. This type of login is the most common form of MFA used today—you may have seen it when logging into your Netflix account or accessing Google Drive on mobile devices. But there are downsides: if hackers ever get hold of those credentials, they would be able to access all of your accounts with them!
The upside? By adding another layer of protection such as requiring users to enter their second factor before they can access their accounts from new devices or browsers , multi-factor helps prevent attackers from gaining access without having direct physical control over the device itself.
Why is MFA so popular?
To understand the popularity of MFA, it’s necessary to look at all of its advantages. First and foremost, it’s easy to implement. MFA is simple enough that you can get started right away—if you have the right tools.
It’s also easy for users to use, which makes them feel more confident about their accounts’ security. There are no complex passwords or passphrases to remember, so when someone changes their security settings on a social media platform like Facebook or Twitter and asks them for a two-factor authentication code sent via text message or email, they won’t hesitate because they know exactly how it works.
However—and this is perhaps the biggest advantage of all—it’s also easy for decision makers at companies like Google or Apple who aren’t technical experts but want things done “the way we do things here” (a phrase I’ve heard many times) justify implementing MFA across multiple platforms even though there might be better alternatives available where some consumers don’t have smartphones yet (e.g., developing countries).
Why do security professionals love MFA so much?
Let’s look at the factors that make MFA so attractive to security professionals:
- It’s easy to implement. MFA is an automated process that doesn’t require much time or effort from your organization, which means you can get started right away and reap its benefits immediately. In addition, the technology is available from many vendors and can be added in just a few clicks of your mouse or taps on your screen.
- It’s easy to enforce. When you choose an MFA solution for your organization, you’ll have the ability to set rules about what devices are allowed or prohibited—and who gets access where and when they need it most—all within one centralized platform. This makes enforcing these rules very straightforward and efficient; there’s no need for manual processes or tedious tasks like coding new policies each time something changes in your business model!
- It’s easy to use when employees first sign up at work (or after they’ve forgotten their password). Since most people already have their smartphones with them all day long anyway (even if they’re not looking at them), adding another step isn’t likely going to seem burdensome because most folks won’t even notice that it took place until later on down the line when everything goes smoothly without any hiccups along the way…
The downside of MFA
The MFA is a great tool. It has helped many people become more productive and stay focused, but it’s not perfect. In fact, it can have some annoying side effects. Here are some of the most common problems with using an MFA:
MFA is slow
MFA slows down the login process.
It can take multiple minutes to enter passwords and receive tokens, sometimes even longer if there are large backlogs of users trying to access their accounts.
MFA is frustrating
The MFA process can be frustrating. Users must go through the authentication process dozens of times a day, which is not only cumbersome but also ineffective in providing protection against security threats. If a user forgets to use MFA, there is no way to recover the account. If they shut off their phone while they are locked out, they have to go through another round of verification before they can regain access to their accounts. This leaves users feeling frustrated and annoyed with the whole system because they know that if it didn’t work at all times then there would be no point in using it at all!
Additionally, MFA requires users to be more mindful about where their devices are and what applications are running when logging into their accounts from those devices (think about what happens if your phone dies mid-authentication). It places an additional burden on them by requiring them do something before accessing sensitive information or performing sensitive actions such as financial transactions or changing passwords—something that most companies expect employees will do anyway!
MFA is often pointless
However, if you’re a user of MFA and your password is compromised, the situation becomes far more complicated. Consider the following scenario:
- You use MFA for authentication on one service that requires SMS codes to be entered after each login attempt.
- Your account on this service gets breached (e.g., by hackers who have obtained access to your phone number through fraud or theft).
- The hackers gain access to your account by guessing its password and then resetting it without knowing your authenticator code (i.e., they’ve bypassed it).
What are better MFA alternatives?
Adaptive MFA
If you’re looking to replace MFA, the best alternative is adaptive MFA. This solution allows you to use multiple factors and devices in your authentication process, which ensures that the end user can’t compromise their account using just one method of verification.
More importantly, it only triggers if it suspects risky or suspicious behavior by processing key indicators such as user activity, IP address, and physical location.
Passwordless Authentication
Passwordless authentication is also a good alternative to MFA. Passwordless authentication allows you to use biometrics (such as fingerprint or facial recognition), magic links, and possession factors instead of passwords. This helps reduce the risk of password reuse and phishing attacks while improving your authentication process.
It still has many of the same hangups of MFA but at least without the password step, there is a more defined user experience and time requirement is cut in half. Plus the need to manage passwords is diminished.
To MFA or not to MFA
MFA is a very popular security method, but it’s not always the best option. There are less clunky and less frustrating ways to protect yourself or your organization from threats and breaches. They are not as easy to adopt in some cases but they provide a significantly improved user experience and can be even more secure. Be sure to evaluate all the options and consider the right long-term solution.