Secure identity verification best practices

Modern threats demand modern responses. In 2025, credential theft has surged by 160%, now contributing to 20% of data breaches. You’re not just fighting weak passwords anymore — AI-driven phishing and automated malware are creating new risks every day.

That’s why  robust identity verification is absolutely essential to protect your organization from attacks. But what exactly constitutes truly secure identity verification in today’s sophisticated threat landscape?

In this guide, we’ll outline what identity verification is, why traditional methods are risky, and how to implement identity verification best practices for maximum security.

What is identity verification & why does it matter?

Identity verification is the process of proving that someone is legitimately who they say they are before granting access or making changes. Whether it’s logging in, resetting a password, or calling the helpdesk, if you can’t verify the user, you can’t trust the action.

Secure identity verification is a vital component to transaction ecosystems such as eCommerce companies, financial institutions, online gaming, and even social media. You’ve likely been prompted to verify your identity when signing up for a new service, applying for a credit card, or even resetting your password.

These scenarios are frequently targeted by attackers. A stolen password, a successful phishing email, or a social engineering call can lead directly to data breaches or identity impersonation. That’s why strong, trustworthy verification is your first line of defense.

Traditional identity verification methods

Traditional identity verification methods generally fall into one of three categories:

1. Something you know

The something you know category, also referred to as knowledge-based authentication, can be a password, or security questions only you can answer. This method is the most common, and the least secure. With the age of social media upon us, most answers to security questions are easily accessible through social engineering.

2. Something you have

The something you have category includes things like your phone or an external device used to generate a code, primarily used for two-factor or multi-factor authentication. This includes receiving an SMS code on a mobile phone, or a hardware authentication device such as a smart card.

This identity verification method is the most popular thanks to the relative low-cost for the added security, the accessibility of phone-based methods, and the ability to replace them in the event of compromise. However, this method is still not entirely secure, with SMS in particular being especially susceptible to interception via techniques like SIM swapping.

3. Something you are

The something you are category, commonly referred to as biometrics, uses your own person as a means to verify you. This can include fingerprint scanning, facial recognition and even iris recognition.

This method is considered to be gold standard of identity verification as it is the most secure. However, it still has its limitations. If biometric data is stored or transmitted without proper encryption, it could be intercepted and used to craft targeted attacks or refine social engineering tactics. And once biometric data is compromised, it can be very difficult to replace or update it – a password can be changed, but your fingerprint can’t.

Even systems that use two factors from the same category (e.g. password + PIN) don’t meet best-practice thresholds, because they lack true multi‑category strength.

Identity verification best practices

Identity verification methods all have their own strengths and weaknesses. When selecting a method, it’s important to consider the level of access being granted, the type of data being accessed, and the action being performed.

That said, there are some general best practices all organizations should consider implementing for truly secure identity verification.

1. Use strong, fatigue-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is one of the most effective ways to strengthen identity verification. At its core, MFA requires users to present two or more pieces of evidence (or “factors”) to prove their identity. These factors typically fall into one of the above three categories: something you know (like a password), something you have (like a mobile device or hardware token), and something you are (like a fingerprint or facial scan).

According to NIST guidelines, a strong MFA implementation should combine at least two factors from different categories. For example, using a password and a code sent to a smartphone is far more secure than using two passwords or a password and a security question.

MFA best practices

MFA is considered vital because even if one factor (like a password) is compromised, an attacker would still need to defeat a second barrier. However, it’s important to note that MFA isn’t immune to attack – it can still be susceptible to things like MFA prompt bombing. To minimize these risks, organizations should:

• Move away from legacy MFA methods like SMS or email-based OTPs, which can be intercepted or socially engineered.
• Implement fatigue-resistant MFA options like Yubikey hardware tokens or OTP apps that don’t send push notifications.

Specops Secure Access offers integration with 15+ identity providers, including fatigue-resistant options. It offers a robust MFA solution for Windows logon, RDP connections, and VPN connections, ensuring compliance with key standards like NIST, PCI, GDPR, and HIPAA. Try Specops Secure Access for free.

2. Use risk-based and contextual identity verification

Not all login attempts are created equal. Risk-based or contextual identity verification adapts the authentication process based on factors such as user behavior, geographic location, device trust, and access time. If a user logs in from a known device in their usual location, the system might allow seamless access. But if the same user suddenly logs in from a foreign IP address at 3 AM, additional verification (e.g. step-up authentication or a denied login) can be triggered.

This approach aligns with NIST’s emphasis on dynamic and adaptive authentication as part of the Digital Identity Guidelines. Risk-based verification provides a layer of security that doesn’t rely solely on static controls, allowing organizations to tailor their response to threats without constantly burdening legitimate users.

3. Secure the service desk from social engineering

Helpdesks are a common target for attackers who impersonate employees in order to reset passwords or change account details. These attacks, known as support desk-based social engineering, often bypass technical controls by exploiting human trust. If a helpdesk technician can’t verify the identity of a caller effectively, it can open the door to full account compromise.

To address this, it’s vital for organizations to ensure service desk interactions are governed by strict, secure identity verification processes. For example, integration with authentication tools that confirm the user’s identity through trusted mechanisms.

Specops Secure Service Desk adds verification protocols directly into helpdesk workflows, requiring that identity be validated against secure authentication factors before any changes are permitted. This protects support staff from deception and ensures that attackers can’t bypass security through a simple phone call.

4. Consider using passkeys

While MFA reduces the risks associated with compromised credentials, the most secure identity verification method may be to eliminate passwords altogether. One example of a passwordless authentication method that’s growing in popularity is the use of passkeys.

Passkeys are a modern implementation of FIDO2/WebAuthn standards. They generate a cryptographic key pair that resides on a user’s device. When the user attempts to log in, the private key proves ownership without ever being transmitted. This makes passkeys immune to attacks like phishing and credential theft. They’re also easier for users, since there’s no password to remember or rotate.

Although passkeys are becoming more popular, they won’t eliminate the need for passwords altogether any time soon. Passwords will continue to be used as fallbacks in the event of compromised passkey (which is still possible), which is why it’s still vital for organizations to enforce strong password policies and robust MFA wherever passwords are in use.

5. Protect biometric data

Biometric authentication — using a fingerprint, facial scan, or voice recognition — can be a strong identity verification method when used correctly. However, because biometrics are unique to each individual and can’t be changed, they must be treated with heightened security.

Storing raw biometric data is risky. Instead, best practices call for storing only biometric templates (hashed representations) and using them locally on devices where possible, rather than transmitting them across networks. Advanced methods such as homomorphic encryption can allow biometric matching without exposing the actual data, helping to maintain privacy.

Enforce secure identity verification with Specops

As technology progresses and cyber attacks rapidly increase in sophistication, secure identity verification is no longer a nice-to-have — it’s a necessity. Specops makes it easy to implement identity verification best practices across your organization, without introducing friction for users or burdening IT.

Specops Secure Access strengthens login security with flexible, compliant MFA for Windows logon, RDP, and VPN. It supports everything from biometric authentication and hardware tokens to modern passwordless options like passkeys—making it simple to enforce high-assurance access controls.

At the same time, Specops Secure Service Desk brings that same level of identity verification to your IT support team. Instead of relying on usernames and guessable security questions, helpdesk staff can verify callers using any combination of more than 15 MFA factors, ensuring that only legitimate users get support.

Together, these tools create a robust, end-to-end identity verification framework. Ready to modernize your identity verification strategy? Get in touch for a free demo of Specops Secure Access and Secure Service Desk today.