How can you implement digital authentication without making common mistakes?

1 Choose the right authentication factors

Authentication factors are the types of information or evidence that a user or a device has to provide to prove their identity. There are three main categories of authentication factors: something you know, such as a password or a PIN; something you have, such as a token or a smart card; and something you are, such as a fingerprint or a face scan. Depending on the level of security and convenience you need, you can choose one or more authentication factors for your system or service. However, you should avoid relying on a single factor, especially if it is easy to guess, steal, or spoof, such as a weak password or a static security question. Instead, you should consider using multi-factor authentication (MFA), which combines two or more factors, to increase security and reduce the risk of identity theft.

2 Implement strong password policies

Passwords are still the most common and widely used authentication factor, but they are also the most vulnerable and problematic. Many users tend to create weak passwords, reuse them across multiple accounts, or share them with others, which makes them easy targets for hackers and attackers. To prevent these bad practices, you should implement strong password policies for your system or service, such as requiring a minimum length, complexity, and uniqueness of passwords, enforcing regular password changes, and limiting the number of login attempts and password resets. You should also educate your users on how to create and manage strong passwords, and provide them with tools and resources to help them do so, such as password managers and generators.

4 Adopt adaptive authentication

Adaptive authentication is a technique that adjusts the level and type of authentication required for a user or a device, based on the context and risk of each login attempt. For example, if a user tries to log in from a trusted device and location, with a low risk score, the system may only ask for a password. However, if the same user tries to log in from an unknown device and location, with a high risk score, the system may ask for an additional factor, such as a one-time code or a biometric scan. Adaptive authentication can improve security and user experience, by providing more protection for sensitive or unusual situations, and less friction for normal or frequent situations. You should adopt adaptive authentication for your system or service, by using factors such as device, location, time, behavior, and threat intelligence, to assess the risk and context of each login attempt, and applying the appropriate authentication policy accordingly.

6 Update and improve your authentication system

Technology and threats are constantly evolving, and so should your authentication system. You should update and improve your authentication system periodically, to keep up with the latest trends, innovations, and challenges in the field of digital authentication. You should research and evaluate new authentication technologies and tools, such as biometric recognition, behavioral analysis, and blockchain-based identity management, and determine if they can enhance or replace your existing authentication methods. You should also review and revise your authentication policies and procedures, to reflect the changing needs and expectations of your users and stakeholders, and to comply with the relevant laws and regulations for data protection and privacy, such as GDPR and CCPA.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?