Reliability, security & resilience · Core
Multi-factor authentication
Also called: MFA, two-factor authentication, 2FA
ELI5
Sign in using more than one kind of proof.
Used in conversation
“Multi-factor authentication is mandatory for privileged accounts.”
Definition
Authentication requiring two or more different factor types.
Here “Multi-factor authentication” means: Authentication requiring two or more different factor types.
Pitch context
You will see “Multi-factor authentication” in product strategy decks, roadmaps, experiments and architecture reviews when the discussion reaches reliability, security & resilience.
Why it matters: In reliability, security & resilience, the scope can change what data may be used, who may access it and which controls are required.
Sources & evidence · 2
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- National Institute of Standards and Technology — Computer Security Resource Center GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- Scrum Guides — The Scrum Guide — official current versionSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16