What is multi-factor authentication (MFA)?

Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) refers to a security measure that requires more than one method of authentication from independent categories of credentials to verify the user’s identity for a login or other transaction. Instead of just asking for a username and password, MFA requires one or more additional verification factors, which significantly decreases the likelihood of a successful cyberattack.

MFA combines two or more independent credentials: what the user knows (password), what the user has (security token or smartphone app-generated code), and what the user is (biometric verification like a fingerprint or facial recognition). By requiring multiple methods of authentication, MFA provides a higher level of security, protecting the user’s credentials and the resources the user can access.