Risk-based authentication

In authentication, risk-based authentication is a non-static authentication system which takes into account the profile (IP address, User-Agent HTTP header, time of access, and so on[1]) of the agent requesting access to the system to determine the risk profile associated with that transaction.

Risk-based implementation allows the application to challenge the user for additional credentials only when the risk level is appropriate.

If the risk is deemed appropriate, enhanced authentication will be triggered, such as a one time password delivered via an out of band communication.

Risk based authentication can also be used during the session to prompt for additional authentication when the customer performs a certain high risk transaction, such as a money transfer or an address change.

Risk based authentication is very beneficial to the customer because additional steps are only required if something is out of the ordinary, such as the login attempt is from a new machine.The point is that user validation accuracy is improved without inconveniencing a user,[2][6] and risk-based authentication is used by major companies.