MFA and 2FA

Securing your accounts and connections has become essential today. That’s why, in this article, I’m going to talk about two-step verification (2FA) and multi-factor authentication (MFA), which strengthen access security by adding an extra layer of protection to logins.

But what exactly is 2FA?

It’s a security method based on identity and access management that requires two forms of identification to access resources and data. It allows companies to monitor and protect their most vulnerable information and networks.

What is MFA?

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a type of authentication that requires one or more additional authentication factors. The first factor is your username and password; the others are those you choose.

So, what’s the difference between MFA and 2FA?

The difference between 2FA and MFA is that MFA can be used as a generic term that includes 2FA, but the opposite isn’t true. In other words, all 2FA methods are MFA, but not all MFA methods are 2FA.

To understand the difference between MFA and 2FA, you need to know the four different types of authentication:

  • Something you know : a password, PIN code, or security question.
  • Something you have : a physical token or virtual tokens like a One-Time Password (OTP) or Time-Based One-Time Password (TOTP).
  • Something you are : biometric data, such as Face ID.
  • Where you are : applications and services accessible only to users in a specific geographical location.

Another difference between MFA and 2FA is that MFA requires at least two different types of authentication listed above, whereas 2FA allows you to use the same method for the second factor. For example, with 2FA, you can use two things you know—such as your username and password plus a PIN code.