User Authentication Types

• Password-based Authentication: User authentication types include password-based authentication, whereby people use a unique code to be allowed entry and use a given system or service. It is an easy-to-implement and commonly used technique, though it may be exposed to password theft or guessing attacks. These practices would include proper password management, such as adopting and implementing strict password management policies, besides practicing techniques such as salting and hashing of passwords.

• Biometric Authentication: The technique used for validation is a print of a finger, face recognition, or an iris scan, where it is the biometric structure of a user that is identified. Biometric data cannot be easily duplicated, and for that reason, its existence guarantees high security. But the flipside is privacy issues, the other instances include the false negatives and false positives being a bit questionable.

• Two Factor Authentication (2FA): This relies on something in the user’s possession, such as the password, and also something the user has at a particular period, such as a smartphone or a token. Generally, the security level is too high because if an intruder has access to one of the used factors, the data won’t be available. After all, it is impossible to access something you don’t have.

• Multi-factor Authentication (MFA): Unlike MFA, there is followed by ‘2FA‘ and is presupposed from the need to input two or more independent values that can be something they know, possess, or are, namely biometric data. It takes this idea further to enhance security even further, but there can be downsides both in terms of the technical complexity and convenience for an end user.

• Single Sign-On (SSO): SSO is needed when a user needs to get into many related or integrated systems or services but using the same username and password. Before, the user had to remember a handful of passwords to log in to his accounts on websites, now, this is only reduced to memorizing just a single password. The convenience can only be equaled by a security flaw of centralizing control, this may quickly become a headache if the credentials were to fall into the wrong hands. Now, all other systems that use similar credentials stand compromised.

• Token-based Authentication: A unique token is created for the users. To continue using the system, the users must hold on to this token. There are two types of tokens: physical tokens, such as the USB token, and logical tokens, which are entirely software-based. This is a more secure form than the old-style one, although, of course, links are activated with a password rather than through a token, which is really hard to break or easily duplicated. This, though, might pose an operational issue concerning the process of control and distribution of tokens.

Today when more and more companies and organizations are going digital, the security of data and authorization to important systems and services is crucial. User authentication is central to this security paradigm as it refers to the mechanism by which the identity of a user is first confirmed before being granted access to a resource.

In this article, you will get to know about the principles of user authentication in exceptional detail while addressing its methods, classification, relevance, and optimal application.