What is the main purpose of Multi-factor Authentication?

The main purpose of Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is to verify user identity through multiple factors. This approach significantly enhances security by requiring users to present two or more different authentication factors to gain access. These factors typically fall into three categories: something you know (like a password), something you have (such as a security token or smartphone), and something you are (such as a fingerprint or facial recognition).

By utilizing multiple factors, MFA significantly lowers the risk of unauthorized access. Even if one factor, such as a password, is compromised, an attacker would still need to bypass additional factors to gain entry. This layered security approach is critical in today’s threat landscape, where phishing attacks and data breaches are common.

The other choices, while having their own merits, do not accurately capture the primary function of MFA. Simplifying user access or enhancing user experience are not the main goals of MFA; instead, they are secondary implications that can arise from the implementation of better security practices. Reducing the need for passwords also doesn’t align with the core purpose of MFA, as MFA still relies on passwords as one of the factors but adds further layers to ensure security.