What is strong authentication?

What is strong authentication?

Strong authentication is a security mechanism that requires users to provide two or more forms of identification in order to access a system, application, or service. This type of authentication is also known as multi-factor authentication (MFA) or two-factor authentication (2FA).

The two or more forms of identification used in strong authentication typically fall into three categories:

Something you know: Such as a password, PIN, or security question.
Something you have: Such as a smart card, security token, or mobile device.
Something you are: Such as biometric data like fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans.
Strong authentication typically combines something the user knows, such as a password or PIN, with something the user has, such as a smart card, security token, or mobile device. By requiring multiple forms of identification, strong authentication can significantly increase the difficulty of an attacker attempting to gain unauthorized access to a system or application. In addition, if one factor is compromised, the attacker would still need to provide the additional factor(s) to access the system or application.

The goal of strong authentication is to provide an extra layer of security to protect against unauthorized access, data breaches, and identity theft. By requiring multiple forms of authentication, it makes it more difficult for attackers to gain access to sensitive information or systems even if they have obtained one factor of authentication, such as a password.

Many organizations and online services now require strong authentication as a best practice for protecting their users and sensitive data. Strong authentication is often implemented in combination with other security measures, such as biometric authentication, to provide even greater security. Overall, strong authentication is an important security measure that can help protect sensitive data and systems from unauthorized access and security threats.

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