How to Create a Phone Number-Based Authentication Flow (Part 1)

The article introduces a two-part series on creating a phone number-based authentication system using Vonage APIs and tools, aiming to enhance security by moving beyond traditional username and password combinations. In part one, the focus is on developing the backend using Node.js with Express, where the Network Enablement API and Number Verification API are utilized to streamline and secure the authentication process. The backend implementation involves setting up endpoints to handle login requests and callbacks, optimizing the authentication flow through Vonage's Network API Sandbox, and verifying phone numbers linked to SIM cards to ensure user authenticity. The process includes generating authorization URLs and exchanging authorization codes for access tokens, ultimately allowing for a reliable two-factor authentication mechanism. The article also provides a method for testing the backend setup using a Python script, highlighting the effectiveness of phone-number-based 2FA in protecting against fraud and unauthorized access.