What does multi-factor authentication (MFA) enhance?

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) significantly enhances security by requiring users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a system or application. This layered approach diminishes the likelihood of unauthorized access, as even if one factor (such as a password) is compromised, additional factors such as a biometric scan, a text message code, or a security token would still be needed to authenticate the user.

This method of authentication directly addresses potential vulnerabilities and threats related to authentication mechanisms, making it much harder for attackers to breach accounts and gain access to sensitive information. In contrast, other options focus on aspects that do not pertain to security. For example, user convenience may be impacted negatively by the additional steps needed for authentication, while data storage efficiency and network bandwidth are unrelated concepts that do not play a role in securing user identities. Thus, the enhancement to security through additional verification factors is the core benefit of implementing MFA.