It is important to determine that anyone using a resource is the person they claim to be. As explained by security expert Transmit Security (https://www.transmitsecurity.com/blog/what-is-identity-verification), identity verification is the process by which organisations or applications verify the information provided by the user. Due diligence is an important security measure to combat different types of fraud, including money laundering, phishing and other forms of identity theft.
There are three main methods of verifying identity. With most applications available online, digital identity verification methods are commonly used to determine user identity. Here is a quick breakdown of each method and how it is applied.
Knowledge-based Verification (KBA)
As the name suggests, knowledge-based authentication is a method of identification where the user is required to know some private information that would only be known by the real user of the resource. There are two types of KBA: static and dynamic. Static KBA is based on a pre-agreed set of shared secrets where the answers were originally input by the user, while dynamic KBA provides queries based on a wider base of personal information.
The questions used in KBA are designed to be quite simple for anyone with a true identity to answer but quite difficult for someone with inside information to guess. For example, what was your nickname in high school? There is a low likelihood that a random person may know what they called you in high school. However, the person who holds the name can answer the question in the blink of an eye.
Certain safeguards have been added to KBA to make it more secure. For example, the user is given a limited time to answer a question before receiving the next.
The biggest disadvantage of this method is that most people share personal information on social media platforms. This makes it easy for third parties to find the answers. Dynamic KBA attempts to solve the problem by asking a random set of questions and providing limited wrong-answer attempts.
Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is the second level of security where the application sends the user a code via a custom verification email or phone number. In other cases, a token is generated using a physical device that the owner has. It is often used with KBA to add a layer of security.
Here is an example: When logging into a site, the customer may be required to enter their username and password. Then, a code is sent to the registered contact. Most codes have a limited time out. If you fail to input the code within the provided timeframe, you will be required to request another code. In most cases, there is a limit to the number of codes that you can generate before an account asks for additional information to verify your identity.
In essence, multi-factor authentication prevents anyone that has fraudulently acquired your login or personal information from accessing the resource. It is also used to reset the login information that the user created in the KBA. However, it requires the user to have token generator access to the contact details that they provided earlier.
Biometric Verification
Biometric verification is the third layer of identification where organisations use biometric information of users to verify their identities. The bio information could be their voice, facial features, fingerprints, iris, or retina characteristics. Human beings have unique characteristics in different parts of the body. Once they feed these characteristics when setting up the verification method, they provide a secure way of determining the user.
Biometrics can be used with or without other layers of security. In many cases, both KBA and two-factor authentication are used as a backup just in case biometric verification fails. The verification method can be used on both online and offline applications as long as there is a device to collect and analyse the data.
In offline applications, biometrics are used to secure devices such as laptops and smartphones or control access to a room. Online applications include security accounts, bank accounts and other online resources.
While biometric verification is very secure, it can pose a problem for users when the recorded characteristics are changed. For example, an injury to your finger or a hoarse voice. Besides, one is required to have a device that can always collect and analyse biometrics to use the method.
- London Buy-to-Let Investment: Your Essential Guide - January 20, 2026
- Build a Thriving Culture of Engagement - January 15, 2026
- Optimized Reactor Design: Driving Value in Peptide Synthesis - January 4, 2026
