What is the difference between Two-factor Authentication and Multi-factor Authentication in Information Security?


Two-factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) a type of multi-factor authentication (MFA). It is an approach of creating access to an online account or computer system that needed the user to support two different types of information.

It is a security procedure that cross-verifies users with two multiple forms of identification, most generally knowledge of an email address and authentication of control of a mobile phone.

2FA is frequently employed in online banking websites, social media platforms and ecommerce sites as an approach to harden access controls to the more responsive location of a web application including admin panels or areas that store credit details and private information.

Two-factor authentication also allows businesses and public institutions to be more dynamic and effective allowing employees to perform remote services with far less security business.

2FA is a subset of multi-factor authentication, an electronic authentication approach that needed a user to validate their identity in several ways before they are enabled access to an account. Two-factor authentication is termed because it requires a set of two factors, whereas multi-factor authentication can needed more.

Two-factor authentication needed a password (the first factor) then a second factor like a mathematical code, push notification, security question, security token or a biometric including a fingerprint or facial identification (the second factor) from an authenticator app to access online information.

It is called a two-step verification or dual-factor authentication. The 2FA authentication process verify both sets of user credentials before permitting access to an online account.

Multi-factor Authentication

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security procedure that needed users to respond to requests to check their identities before they can access networks or other online software. MFA can use knowledge, possession of physical elements, or geographic or network areas to validate integrity.

Multi-factor authentication is a layered method to protecting information and applications where a system needed a user to present a set of several credentials to check a user’s identity for login.

Multi-factor authentication decrease the risk of security breaches from appearing and maintain information safe. In the past, needing a static username and password to access an account imply adequate for security.

However, weak or stolen passwords can be used to implement fraud attacks and data breaches when they are the only form of authentication needed. It can be using MFA to maintain password security with another form of authentication is authorized to maintain hackers out of the systems.

Multi Factor authenticators are authenticators (including software, tokens or the smartphone) that needed a second factor of authentication before they can be used to authenticate a user.

This means that they needed an independent factor such as a password (factor − knowledge) or a fingerprint (factor − inherence) to become accessible.

Updated on: 11-Mar-2022

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