User authentication is the fastest emerging aspect of website authentication. This article will illuminate the advantages and several methods to improve your website’s login using User Authentication techniques.

What Is User Authentication?

User authentication is a crucial security process that deals with verifying identity when a user tries to access a network. This process further covers the registration and login processes. Whenever a new user visits a website and registers for an account, they have to create a unique ID and a passkey. 

User authentication is broadly defined as the process of verifying the identity of a person or entity attempting to access a system, application, or network. It typically involves the user providing credentials, such as a username and password, which are then compared against stored information to confirm the user's identity. Authentication serves as a crucial security measure, ensuring that only authorized individuals can gain access to protected resources, data, or functions. This process may also include additional layers of security, such as two-factor authentication or biometric verification, to further enhance the system's ability to confirm a user's identity and prevent unauthorized access.

How Does User Authentication Work?

The primary use of user authentication is to deal with human and machine interaction. Generally, when a user tries to access a network, they must prove their identity via the unique ID and password they provide. These individualized credentials allow the system to recognize the user and authorize the access to and transfer of information from the user to the machine or vice versa. 

Here is a 3-task process that will simplify the concept and functions of user authentication:

1. It manages the connection between the user and the computer/website/server.
2. User authentication verifies the user's identity and right to access the protected information.
3. It decides whether the user will get access or not.

User authentication is a simple process requiring users to use their credentials to log in to your website. These credentials are then sent to the authentication server, which compares the information with the previously filled credentials in the user's file. If the authentication server finds a match of information, the system grants access to accounts. Conversely, if a match is not found, the system declines access. 

A good user authentication system offers multiple features, like recognizing suspicious activity when unsuccessful attempts are made, and alternative authentication methods like a one-time password or password reset.  Advanced authentication options can also include biometrics such as facial recognition or fingerprint sensors.  

Types of Authentication

As a business owner, user authentication is essential for your website to nullify all unwanted and unauthorized attempts to access information in your users' accounts. To understand the several authentication methods, you must understand authentication factors.

Authentication factors refer to the information provided by the user to the server for the confirmation of their identity. Three authentication factors are available to enhance and secure user authentication for your website:

Knowledge factors

Knowledge factors refer to pieces of information the user must personally know or be aware of to log in to their account successfully. Several things can come under knowledge factors, like the username, PIN, or password. However, there are challenges associated with it as it is a moderately easy job to guess these factors.  Security questions can also be an extra layer of knowledge verification.  

Inheritance factors

Inheritance factors are the biological characteristics of a user, which are involved in user authentication methods like fingerprint and facial recognition processes. These factors include all the biometric authentication factors available. Authentication of this kind is comparatively tougher to crack, providing both you and your user higher standards of safety.

Possession factors

Possession factors include all the items that a user should have to log in successfully. Possession factors generally include one-time password tokens, ID cards, key fobs, or any other physically possessed items that can perform a successful login to your user's account or grant access to a system or computer.

User Authentication vs. User Authorization 

Authorization and authentication are generally used interchangeably, but they are very different processes serving the sole purpose of protecting your website from harmful and malicious attacks.

Authentication refers to the process of verifying your user, whereas authorization can be defined as verifying the user's access to the data. In simple words, authentication includes passwords, biometric information, or any other verification method required by your website to register your user successfully.

On the other hand, authorization refers to the settings implemented and maintained by your website that limit and analyze your user's access to information. Once a user has been logged in and authenticated and may access your site, their type or level of authorization dictates exactly what they may see, edit, share, etc.

Methods of User Authentication

We have discussed the different types of user authentication, and we now know that it can be categorized into three types: knowledge, possession, and inheritance. These three categories have several types and methods, but all differentiate between being either password based authentication or password-less based authentication.  Some of the most recent exciting updates to authentication have come in the proliferation of password-less based forms, such as Multi-factor authentication and adaptive authentication.  

If you are interested in some specifics on several innovative forms of authentication, please check out the article here!

Password-based User Authentication 

Password-based user authentication is a tried-and-true method used by millions, if not probably billions, of users on the internet all over the world. These passwords are generally used to provide security for personal accounts like email, e-commerce, online banking, and social media profiles. However, with continuously evolving technology, passwords are no longer as secure as many users would like to think, leading to growth in password-less authentication forms.  

Here is a brief explanation of the process of the password-based user authentication method:

• When a user lands on your website, your website will ask them to enter their username and password.
• The information entered by the user is further sent to the website server, which compares the credentials with the information the user provides while registering on your website.
• If your website server finds the entered credentials matching the information provided earlier by the user, it allows them to access the account information and data.

Password-less User Authentication

In layman's language, password-less user authentication methods consist of authentication techniques that do not require a password to perform a successful login. With increasing internet use, password-less user authentication methods have become incredibly popular and successful. There are growing numbers of such types of such login methods; however, the most common password-less user auth techniques are biometrics, email authentication, MFA and Adaptive Authentication.  .

Biometrics

Biometrics includes all the biological characteristics that can verify your identity. This includes methods like fingerprint recognition, iris scanning, and facial recognition. These biometrics are considered inheritance authentication factors and are among the most secure options of all user authentication methods. 

Your website's user interaction and user experience are the most important thing as a business owner. When you provide your user the facility of simply logging in by using their fingerprint, you take away all the hectic procedures of remembering, maintaining, and entering a password. It is also the most secure and trusted as every user has unique biometrics, and it is a tough job, worthy of the movies, to forge someone's biometrics.

Email authentication

This user authentication method is generally used in the e-commerce sector, where users make online payments. The websites that utilize the online payment facility often face the issues of false identity and authentication problems when someone tries to get access to their user's accounts to gain access and control over the payment process or information. 

If you are an online store or deal with any kind of online activity that can be harmed or breached by false identities, you can utilize email authentication because it provides your user access to their account with just one secure click. Several user authentication service providers are available globally, like Memberstack, which offers comprehensive user authentication solutions.

Multi-Factor Authentication

Multi-Factor Authentication:  (MFA):  Simply put multi-factor authentication is when you use multiple methods to authenticate a user.  For example, they start with a username and password, and then provide a biometric authentication like a thumb print, or verify their identity using a code sent to their email or phone, or sometimes all of the above.  Multi-factor authentication is at its most basic just a combination of at least 2 or more types of authentication during the same log in process.  MFA has origins going back over two decades. Consumer acceptance in the mid-2000s, along with the integration of biometric techniques like fingerprint scanning and facial recognition, propelled its popularity. The increasing incidents of hacks and data breaches also drove the need for more advanced authentication methods, leading to the widespread adoption of MFA.   

A graphic interpretation of Multi-Factor Authentication (www.securew2.com)

Adaptive Authentication

Evolution of cookies and adaptive authentication: The role of cookies in authentication has evolved, from ensuring basic website functionality to supporting advanced marketing strategies. Simultaneously, adaptive authentication has emerged as a dynamic solution, tailoring security protocols based on user profiles and risk levels. This risk-based authentication represents a significant leap towards a more personalized and secure digital experience.  Adaptive authentication is a security approach that adjusts authentication requirements in real-time based on contextual factors and risk levels. Instead of using the same authentication method for every login attempt, the system analyzes various risk signals to determine what level of verification is appropriate.  Here's a practical example:

Let's say Sarah usually logs into her banking app from Chicago using her iPhone, typically during weekday mornings. Here's how adaptive authentication would work:

Scenario 1 (Low Risk):

• Sarah logs in from her usual iPhone in Chicago at 9am
• System recognizes: Known device, expected location, normal time
• Only requires: Password

Scenario 2 (Medium Risk):

• Sarah logs in from her laptop at a Chicago coffee shop
• System detects: New device but expected city
• Requires: Password + SMS code

Scenario 3 (High Risk):

• Login attempt from a new device in Bangkok at 3am Chicago time
• System flags: Unknown device, unusual location, odd timing
• Requires: Password + SMS code + security questions + fraud team review

How to Improve User Authentication?

There are several methods to improve user authentication. Here are six best practices that can help you with better user authentication without compromising on your user experience:

1. Activation of multi-factor authentication
2. Ask/Prompt/Require your users to change their passwords frequently
3. Recommend your users avoid reusing their passwords
4. Suggest strong passwords to your users using capital letters, numbers, special characters, etc
5. Advise your users to check existing data breaches 
6. Shift to the use of multi factor authentication and/or biometric user authentication techniques, or even adaptive authentication if possible
7. Try Memberstack  for user authentication services

Wrapping Up

Privacy and security are the two most essential elements of your user's identity online. To gain their trust, you must grow a practice of trustworthy and powerful user authentication methods and systems. However, such a user authentication service should not cost you your valuable user experience. You can depend on Memberstack for strong and reliable user authentication services.  Here is a link to one of the many Memberstack User Authentication options for you to explore if you’re curious!  Please contact our team through one of the methods listed here with any questions!