Phishing-resistant MFA & passwordless capabilities
Traditional MFA methods can be vulnerable to social engineering attacks like MFA fatigue. Phishing-resistant MFA, such as FIDO2/WebAuthn, and passwordless solutions significantly reduce the risk of credential theft and enhance user experience by eliminating shared secrets.
Assess the range of phishing-resistant MFA options offered, including biometric, hardware token, and passkey support. Evaluate the maturity and ease of implementation for passwordless authentication across various use cases, considering both workforce and customer identities.
Identity orchestration & integration
A unified approach to identity management is crucial for consistent security policies and streamlined user journeys across diverse applications and systems. Effective orchestration prevents 'identity sprawl' and creates a cohesive security ecosystem.
Examine how well the solution integrates with your existing IT infrastructure, including identity providers, cloud services, and on-premises applications. Look for capabilities that allow you to design and manage complex authentication flows and security logic across your entire environment, rather than just basic integrations.
AI-driven risk assessment & continuous authentication
Static authentication is insufficient against modern 'living-off-the-land' attacks. AI-powered risk engines provide continuous authentication by analyzing user behavior and context, detecting anomalies, and adapting security measures in real-time to prevent lateral movement and privilege escalation.
Investigate the vendor's use of AI and machine learning for real-time threat detection, behavioral analytics, and adaptive access policies. Determine if the solution can continuously assess risk post-authentication and dynamically adjust access privileges based on evolving threat landscapes and user context.
Support for hybrid environments & future readiness
Enterprises operate in complex hybrid IT environments, requiring authentication solutions that seamlessly secure access across on-premises, cloud, and legacy systems. Future readiness, including support for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and Agentic AI, ensures long-term protection against evolving threats.
Verify the solution's ability to provide consistent security and performance across your specific hybrid infrastructure. Inquire about the vendor's roadmap and current capabilities for PQC, decentralized identity, and specialized controls for governing autonomous AI agents to ensure future-proof security.
User experience & implementation friction
A cumbersome authentication process can lead to user frustration, reduced MFA adoption, and increased help desk costs. A frictionless user experience is vital for both workforce productivity and customer satisfaction, especially in CIAM scenarios.
Evaluate the ease of implementation and ongoing management for your IT teams. Consider the end-user experience across different devices and scenarios, looking for intuitive interfaces and minimal friction. Assess the vendor's support resources and documentation to ensure a smooth rollout and ongoing operation.