Adaptive authentication offers the ability to dynamically deliver different multi-factor authentication (MFA) methods based on the risk assigned to an access attempt. For example, if a customer tries to access an app or portal from an unusual location or device, adaptive authentication might require additional verification steps like answering security questions.
The contextual factors used to calculate risk typically include location, device status, user behavior, user risk profile, and user role.
Each time a customer tries to authenticate, their request is evaluated and assigned a risk score. Depending on the risk score, the customer may be required to provide additional credentials to access company resources.