AUTHENTICATION SOLUTION
2FA vs. MFA: which is the best for cybersecurity?
Multifactor authentication (MFA) provides superior security by requiring two or more different factors of authentication to verify a user’s identity compared to two-factor authentication (2FA).
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The advantages of MFA over 2FA
Protect against phishing
LastPass MFA uses contextual and biometric authentication for identity verification to protect your account from hackers.
Require different factors
By requiring multiple forms of authentication, even if a cybercriminal is able to breach one security question, they’re bound to be stopped by the next.
Simplify the user experience
With passwordless login and MFA, signing in becomes password-free. Simply approve notifications on your mobile device and you’re logged in.
Secures your business
MFA solutions are one part of a complete cybersecurity program. Pair it with single sign-on and you have a robust identity and access management solution.2FA vs. MFA: what's the difference?
Two-factor authentication (2FA)
Use LastPass to enable additional layers of authentication “factors” that act as an extra barrier to verify whether the right person is trying to log in to vault or SSO apps.
- SMS Message
- Mobile push notification
- One-time password (OTP)
- 2FA for vault with LastPass Authenticator app
Multifactor authentication (MFA)
Phishing-resistant authentication based on a user’s identity and contextual factors, extendable to workstations, VPNs, identity providers, and more.
- Includes all 2FA factors
- Fingerprint scan
- Facial recognition
- Location-based factors
- Time-based factors
- IP address authentication
Protect end users against data breaches and phishing attacks while improving the user experience and IT’s control.
- Deliver instant security for end users and your business, all while making log ins as simple as possible.
- Control user access by defining level of MFA security measures at a user, group, and organizational level.
- Automate user authentication management by integrating with your preferred user directory.
- Apply additional layers of security to cloud apps, workstations, VPNS, and identity providers with our Advanced MFA add-on.
Learn more about passwordless
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between MFA and 2FA?
The difference between multifactor authentication and two-factor authentication comes down to how many forms of authentication are required after successfully inputting your username and password.
2FA only requires one type of authentication in addition to your username and password. Examples of 2FA are one-time passcodes and mobile push notifications.
MFA requires one or more types of authentication in addition to your username and password. For instance, MFA can involve inputting a one-time passcode as well as approving login by verifying your location. Most forms of MFA involve a contextual or biometric factor to prove your identity, such as your geolocation, IP address, or fingerprint scan.
Is MFA more secure than 2FA?
Technically, yes, MFA is more secure than 2FA. MFA allows a user to use more than one type of authentication method, whereas 2FA only allows you to add one type of authentication factor on top of your username and password.
Because you can implement several types of authentication factors with MFA, it makes it a more secure solution to 2FA.
That doesn’t mean two-factor authentication isn’t secure, though. Some applications do not support multifactor authentication, instead only allowing 2FA. In such cases, you should still implement 2FA on top of your username and password as it’s a simple way of increasing your cybersecurity.
Is MFA 100% secure?
No security system is 100% secure. As the cybersecurity world evolves, security is getting smarter and smarter, but so are cyberattacks and hackers.
Multifactor authentication is incredibly strong. Its usefulness is in the fact that it requires specific information that only you possess or can access. Yes, there’s always a chance a cybercriminal could collect this information, but the chances are minimal. And even if they can get their hands on that info, MFA is a significant roadblock toward accessing your sensitive information.
That’s why MFA should be used in addition to other cybersecurity methods, like SSO. These layers of security create an authentication process that’s complicated for everyone but you. With that level of security, your accounts are as protected as possible.
Are SSO and MFA the same thing?
No. Single sign-on (SSO) and multifactor authentication (MFA) are different.
Both are cybersecurity features, but they serve different ends: SSO is concerned with a secure method of user convenience while MFA prevents unauthorized access. SSO allows users to log in to multiple applications using just one set of credentials – often their user directory password – to reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities like password reuse. MFA requires users to provide pieces of evidence to verify their identity before login, securing it to only verified users.
Are passkeys safer than 2FA?
First, what are passkeys?
Passkeys are a newer method of login, wherein a user’s credentials are stored in their device. A site will correspond with the device to create a stored cryptographic key that allows a user to sign in. When logging in, the website or app will communicate with the user’s device, verifying their identity via the private key.
Passkeys are safer than 2FA, as they are unique, cryptographic challenges that cannot be replicated outside of the user’s device, which makes cyberattacks like replay attacks impossible.
Why is single-factor authentication not enough?
Single-factor authentication, or what we may just refer to as a username and password combination, is not enough to secure your sensitive data. Cracking a password is easy, whether it’s weak, reused, or has been leaked as part of a data breach. All it takes is one mistake, reusing a password across sites or setting an account’s password as “1234.” Suddenly, your sensitive data is at risk and potentially out in the world.
2FA and MFA are essential because they allow you to increase your level of security online. By requiring additional layers of authentication, you put more and more steps between hackers and your personal information. Even if your password were to be breached, an MFA solution would stop them from getting any further.