Compare Beyond Identity

to Traditional MFA
features
logo
Traditional MFA
What is it?
Beyond Identity

Patented phishing-resistant "Twin Auth", validating both users and devices continuously, as separate 
but equally important requirements for risk-based authentication.

Traditional MFA

Single-point in time authorization of users only, oftentimes using phishable factors that can leave organizations open to risk.

User experience
Checked
Beyond Identity
Frictionless 

Seamless authentication process that lets users login to their their apps the same way they login to their device.

Traditional MFA
Frustrating

Requires additional actions from users including copying codes, clicking links, or resolving push notifications slowing down productivity.

Phishing-resistant 
authentication
Checked
Beyond Identity
100% Phish-resistant

Only uses phish-resistant factors for authentication and credential lifecycle operations.

Traditional MFA
Relies on phishable factors

Relies on or falls back to phishable factors.

Passwordless 

experience
Checked
Beyond Identity
100% Passwordless

Single-device passwordless MFA across all devices and operating systems.

Traditional MFA
Relies on passwords

Often requires passwords and/or a second 
device for authentication.

User and device 

validation
Checked
Beyond Identity
User and device

Validates identity and device trustworthiness simultaneously.

Traditional MFA
Users only

Often only validates user identity, neglecting device security.

Device posture
assurance
Checked
Beyond Identity
Always-on

Continuous validation and enforcement of security controls across both managed and unmanaged devices.

Traditional MFA
Doesn’t exist

Only authenticates the user with no visibility or control into real-time, fine-grained device security controls.

Continuous 

authentication
Checked
Beyond Identity
Continuous

Continuously validate users and devices post-login and instantly eject non-compliant devices 
on change detection.

Traditional MFA
Static

Authentication checks primarily at login, missing ongoing risks.

Security stack 

integration
Checked
Beyond Identity
Fully integrated

Put your security stack to work in making and enforcing holistic risk-based access decisions.

Traditional MFA
Limited

Typically does not support integrations across the security stack. Where it exists, depth of integration is shallow with no enforcement capabilities.

Security stack 

enrichment
Checked
Beyond Identity
Enhanced

Exportable audit logs of cryptographically linked user and device access data to expedite incident response.

Traditional MFA
Siloed

Where logs are available, it does not provide rich authentication context into events.

Compliance and 

policy enforcement
Beyond Identity
Easy

Enables strict adherence to security and compliance policies with secure-by-design controls that are easy to configure.

Traditional MFA
Complicated

Admins may struggle to enforce policies consistently across devices due to a lack of visibility and confusing admin configuration experiences.

Zero trust 

readiness
Checked
Beyond Identity
Compliant

Designed for Zero Trust architectures with continuous validation.

Traditional MFA
Immature

Does not fully support Zero Trust
principles, focusing on perimeter 
defense and maintaining implicit trust.

Get the Guide

The Benefits of Integrating Zero Trust Authentication and IAM

Learn the foundational requirements, and the features to look for in tool providers, to achieve a true, zero-trust approach for your organization.