Company
Date Published
Author
-
Word count
1343
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Strong authentication is essential in today's digital landscape to protect against cyberattacks, which often exploit stolen credentials. This involves multi-step processes that combine passwordless methods and risk identification to enhance security. Strong authentication methods generally include at least two factors: something the user knows (like passwords), something the user has (such as security tokens or smartphones), and something the user is (biometric data like fingerprints or facial recognition). Despite the initial setup time, users appreciate the additional security these methods provide. Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) is a regulation in Europe that further emphasizes the need for robust authentication in online transactions. Recommended methods include phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA), biometrics, and passkeys, which are both secure and user-friendly. Best practices involve adaptive authentication, regular policy updates, compliance with regulations like HIPAA and PCI-DSS, user education, and a layered security approach. Tools like Descope's CIAM platform simplify the integration of strong authentication methods into digital workflows, reducing the burden on developers.