Put simply, user authentication keeps out any bad actors, while building a secure experience for your real users. This not only protects your business from costly fraud, but it also helps build better experience for your legitimate customers.
In order to determine whether your users are authentic or up to no good, there are a few different authentication methods your business can use. Here’s a closer look at what those authentication factors and methods are.
Knowledge-based authentication has traditionally been the most common form of authentication. It requires an end user to share something only they would know — like a unique username or email address, password or personal identification number (PIN), or an answer to a security question such as “What is your mother’s maiden name?” — in order to access a secured system.
Usernames and passwords are one of the most common authentication methods for a reason. It’s a quick and easy way for end users to create an account with your brand and access your systems. That said, this ease of use comes with one big trade off: vulnerability.
Password-based authentication is also the most vulnerable authentication method as it is highly susceptible to hacking. For example, 66% of Americans admit to using the same password for more than one account and 123456 is one of the most common passwords used today. This reality doesn’t exactly inspire confidence and is why many businesses require customers to use another additional form of authentication.
Possession authentication requires an end user to be in control of a piece of information or a physical device, like a smartphone with an authentication app or a security key that generates a one-time passcode, to verify their identity. There are two types of possession authentication:
Possession: Using a tool like Twilio Verify, your business can quickly confirm user identities via SMS, passkeys, Silent Network Authentication, voice, WhatsApp, time-based one-time passwords, push notifications, silent device approval, and email.
Ownership: Identity Match, on the other hand, goes beyond possession to ensure a user is the actual owner of a phone number by matching user-supplied data against authoritative sources. This is the best way to thwart bots and deter false account creations. Email address validation is also a form of identity ownership verification.
The pros of possession-based user authentication? Physical devices or access information can easily be replaced or deactivated should a user forget or lose them. The cons? This does put the burden of remembering to keep the physical device on their person. Unfortunately, the ever-present threat of loss, theft, or just forgetting to bring them can jeopardize a users’ access and your systems’ security.
Lastly, biometric factors authenticate a user’s identity based on their distinct biological characteristics, like their retina patterns, iris scans, fingerprints, facial features, or voice. These characteristics are inherently unique to each individual, making them difficult to replicate or fake.
This authentication method offers both security and convenience for users, as they can authenticate their identity in seconds using a fingerprint or facial scan. Just note that biometric data is considered personally identifiable information (PII), which evokes privacy concerns and legal compliance considerations. Additionally, inherence-based authentication requires your users' devices to be compatible with the required technology. This compatibility factor might restrict its usefulness across various devices or platforms.
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What is it? |
Pros |
Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Knowledge-based authentication |
Requires a unique username/email address and password/PIN |
Easy for users to remember |
Most vulnerable to hacking or social engineering |
|
Possession authentication |
Requires a user to possess a specific piece of information or a physical device to verify their identity |
Can easily be replaced or deactivated if lost |
Threat of loss, theft, or forgetting the device |
|
Inherence authentication |
Authenticates a user’s identity using unique biological characteristics |
High security and convenient for users |
Biometric data is PII, which raises privacy concerns and legal compliance considerations |
Explore the pros and cons to each account verification process and decide which is right for your business.
Single-factor authentication relies on just one set of credentials, typically a username and password. While it’s still a widely used method of authentication, it is considered the weakest in terms of security.
Multi-factor authentication takes security a step further by requiring multiple methods of authentication. For example, it might have a user:
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is the most common form of multi-factor authentication, offering quick identity verification. That said, some methods, like SMS, remain vulnerable to hacking techniques like man-in-the-middle attacks, SIM swaps, or SMS pumping fraud. Having an additional layer of security in addition to SMS, like biometric authentication in our example above, can help improve security, or your business can use a tool like Twilio Verify Fraud Guard to detect and block suspicious messages.
Explore the pros and cons to each account verification process and decide which is right for your business.
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What is it? |
Example |
Pro |
Con |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Single-factor authentication |
Uses one method of authentication |
Username and password |
Low friction for users |
Low security |
|
Multi-factor authentication |
Uses more than two methods of authentication |
|
Multiple layers of authentication means more security |
Added layers of security can frustrate users |
