Two Factor Authentication

Two factor or second factor authentication is based on:

1. Something a user knows (factor one) such as a user name and password which does not change often, plus
   
   
2. Another element that the user is given at the time of authentication (factor two), which has short-lived validity.

Two-factor authentication is far more secure than its single factor compatriot. Since the second factor is constantly changing, any knowledge of it is rendered useless after each authorized use or a short time period.

Traditionally, a fob that displays a constantly changing set of numbers that are synchronized to a server has provided second factor authentication. These fobs are expensive to maintain and deliver, especially to large numbers of occasional users (such as bank account holders.) SoftKey Security communicates the second factor through an automated telephone call, email or cell phone text message at a fraction of the cost of delivering and maintaining a traditional fob.