What is adaptive MFA?
Adaptive multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security feature aimed at protecting user accounts while minimizing unnecessary interruptions. Instead of requiring additional verification for every sign-in attempt, the system prompts for authentication only when necessary.
How does it work?
When you sign in to your account, the system analyzes conditional access rules to determine whether to ask for another verification step:
- IP address ranges: Based on the defined permitted IP address ranges, the system blocks access attempts from outside these specified networks.
- IP address history: The system keeps a record of your previous IP addresses. This helps quickly identify unfamiliar sign in attempts.
- MFA cooldown: After a successful MFA sign in, a cooldown period may be established. During this time, you will not be prompted for MFA again.
Depending on these factors, you might be prompted to confirm your identity with one-time code, which can be received through an authenticator app or email.
You might see an MFA prompt in the following situations:
- Signing in from an IP address that does not match your recent sign in history.
- Re-verifying after a specific period has passed since your last MFA check.
Note: Even if a sign in appears familiar, you might occasionally be prompted to verify your identity to ensure your account remains secure.
Tips for a smoother sign-in experience
- Try to sign in from consistent networks or IP addresses. Frequent network changes, such as switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data, can trigger more verification prompts.
- If you notice that you're being prompter unusually often, contact our Customer Support team at location-risk-intelligence@munichre.com.