14 Controls for User Authentication

The least controls for a secure user authentication you must implement.

1. Strong Passwords: Enforce stringent password policies to thwart brute force attacks and ensure password complexity.
2. Unique Username/Email: Prevent duplication and enhance security by mandating unique user identifiers.
3. Bot Prevention System: Implement measures to differentiate between human users and automated bots to mitigate fraudulent activities.
4. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Augment security by requiring users to authenticate via a secondary method, typically a one-time code sent to their registered device.
5. User Enumeration Prevention: Conceal user existence to deter malicious actors from exploiting enumeration vulnerabilities.
6. Brute Force Attack Prevention: Implement mechanisms to detect and mitigate brute force attacks aimed at guessing user credentials.
7. Reverse Brute Force Attack Prevention: Protect against attacks where a single password is attempted across multiple accounts.
8. Password Recovery Service: Offer secure methods for users to regain access to their accounts in the event of password loss.
9. Email Validation: Verify the authenticity of user-provided email addresses to prevent misuse.
10. Password Reset Functionality: Enable users to reset forgotten passwords securely.
11. Geo Location for Authentication: Employ geo-location data to verify user identity based on their physical location.
12. Account Lock and Unlock: Implement mechanisms to temporarily lock user accounts after multiple failed login attempts, with provisions for unlocking.
13. Periodical Source Code Review: Regularly audit the authentication system’s source code to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
14. Penetration Testing and Security Assessments: Conduct thorough penetration tests and security assessments to identify and rectify any vulnerabilities proactively.

Read AquilaX Security view on this here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rethinking-authentication-2024-aquilax-security-mkwjc/