A Licensing Model for Multi-Factor Authentication
The login screen waits. Credentials entered, but the system demands more: Multi-Factor Authentication. Behind that moment is a licensing model that decides who gets protected, how security scales, and what it costs to keep attackers out.
A Licensing Model for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) defines the rules and limits for deploying MFA across users, devices, and environments. It’s not just a technical choice—it shapes implementation speed, user adoption, and compliance coverage. Done right, it aligns security with growth. Done wrong, it creates friction, delays, and budget blowouts.
There are three core approaches to MFA licensing:
Per-User Licensing
Each licensed user gets MFA. This is straightforward for small to mid-sized teams but requires precise user counts to avoid overpaying.
Per-Authentication Licensing
Licenses are based on the number of authentication events. This allows scale across large or fluctuating user bases but demands accurate tracking and forecasting of login volumes.
Enterprise or Feature-Based Licensing
MFA is bundled into a broader security or software license. Simple to manage, but costs can balloon if features are locked behind higher tiers you don’t need.
Security leaders evaluate these licensing models based on scalability, pricing transparency, integration ease, and vendor lock-in risk. Standard MFA factors—such as TOTP, push notifications, hardware tokens, SMS, and email codes—must be supported across all licensed users without hidden upgrade fees.
Cloud-native systems and modern APIs make MFA deployment easier, but the licensing model still controls the rollout pace. An effective strategy connects licensing terms with technical capability, ensuring consistent enforcement across every service or microservice endpoint. That’s how MFA becomes a seamless layer of defense instead of a bottleneck.
The right Licensing Model for Multi-Factor Authentication is one that matches your security posture, predicts your growth, and adapts to changes in your infrastructure. Choose it with the same rigor you apply to encryption standards or code reviews—because it defines who and what remains safe.
See a flexible MFA licensing model in action. Go to hoop.dev and watch it run live in minutes.