What Is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security mechanism that requires someone to provide two different types of authentication<\/a> credentials before they can be granted access to a digital<\/a> or physical resource. The purpose of this type of multifactor authentication<\/a> (MFA) is to verify that someone is who they say they are.<\/p>\n

\n

Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n

\n
• Two-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security to the identity and access control<\/a> process.<\/li>\n
• 2FA requires users to submit two different types of authentication factors before they can be granted access to a protected resource.<\/li>\n
• The purpose of 2FA is to verify that someone is actually who they claim to be.<\/li>\n
• 2FA is often enabled to make password-based logins more secure.<\/li>\n
• Two-factor authentication is an important component of defense in depth<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
  \n

  \n

  \n

  \n \n <\/i>\n <\/button>\n \n Table of Contents\n <\/span>\n Table of Contents<\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n

  \n
  1. \n
     \n What Is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)?<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  2. \n
     \n Key Takeaways<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  3. \n
     \n Key Components of 2FA<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  4. \n
     \n How Two-Factor Authentication Works<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  5. \n
     \n Types of Two-Factor Authentication<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  6. \n
     \n Authentication Standards<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  7. \n
     \n 2FA Security<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  8. \n
     \n 3 Factors to Consider When Implementing 2FA<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  9. \n
     \n Two-Factor Authentication Pros & Cons<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  10. \n
      \n The Bottom Line<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  11. \n
      \n FAQs<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  12. \n
      \n References<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ol>\n

      <\/div>\n

      \n

      Show Full Guide<\/p>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n

      \n

      \n

      \n

      \n <\/i>\n <\/button>\n \n Table of Contents\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n

      \n

      \n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t
      1. \n
         \n What Is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)?<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t
      2. \n
         \n Key Takeaways<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t
      3. \n
         \n Key Components of 2FA<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t Show Full Guide<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t
      4. \n
         \n How Two-Factor Authentication Works<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t
      5. \n
         \n Types of Two-Factor Authentication<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t
      6. \n
         \n Authentication Standards<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t
      7. \n
         \n 2FA Security<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t
      8. \n
         \n 3 Factors to Consider When Implementing 2FA<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t
      9. \n
         \n Two-Factor Authentication Pros & Cons<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t
      10. \n
          \n The Bottom Line<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t
      11. \n
          \n FAQs<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t
      12. \n
          \n References<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ol>\n <\/div>\n

          <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n