multi-factor authentication

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

an authentication security control that requires users to present two or more verification factors from different categories to gain access to a system: something they know (password or PIN), something they have (hardware token, mobile device, smart card), and something they are (biometric such as fingerprint or facial recognition); MFA dramatically reduces the risk of account compromise from stolen or guessed passwords, as possession of the password alone is insufficient for access; widely mandated for remote access, privileged accounts, and cloud services following the proliferation of credential theft attacks