[Term of the Day]: Two Factor Authentication (TFA)
Term of the Day
“Two Factor Authentication”
Definition — What is TFA and why is it important?
Two-factor authentication, also known as 2FA, is a security mechanism in which individuals are authenticated through more than one required security and validation procedure.
It adds an extra step and an additional level of security to safeguard your accounts from being hacked.
An instance of how 2FA works, just look at your own online history: There might be plenty of websites that you access just by entering your username and password. This is an example of one-factor authentication, with your password being that single factor you need to log onto a site.
Two-factor authentication requires one additional step and a second factor to log onto a site or access an online account. Most often, you first enter your username and password. The site typically then sends an SMS to your mobile with a six-digit numerical code. This code is called a passcode or verification code. You can only access the site by then entering this code that appears on your mobile device. If you don't have the code, you can't log on, even if you know the correct password.
It’s true that 2FA does require this extra step, you might not like two-factor authentication much. But security experts say it’s one of the best ways to protect your online accounts.
An instance of how 2FA works, just look at your own online history: There might be plenty of websites that you access just by entering your username and password. This is an example of one-factor authentication, with your password being that single factor you need to log onto a site.
Two-factor authentication requires one additional step and a second factor to log onto a site or access an online account. Most often, you first enter your username and password. The site typically then sends an SMS to your mobile with a six-digit numerical code. This code is called a passcode or verification code. You can only access the site by then entering this code that appears on your mobile device. If you don't have the code, you can't log on, even if you know the correct password.
It’s true that 2FA does require this extra step, you might not like two-factor authentication much. But security experts say it’s one of the best ways to protect your online accounts.
Try our AD Manager Plus to secure user accounts that are accessing Active Directory with 2FA and increase the overall security of your Active Directory environment. Head here to know the benefits of integrating ADMP with your helpdesk.