Proximity-based Authentication
You set up proximity based authentication by linking a badge or phone to a workstation. The workstation unlocks when the user brings their token within physical range. Teams use this setup to speed up logins in offices, hospitals, and shared rooms. Still, broad role permissions still let logged-in users run risky commands or read sensitive data. How proximity based authentication works in practice A physical range login system uses short-range radio signals to check user presence. The user ca
Push-Based Authentication: the complete guide
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You set up proximity based authentication by linking a badge or phone to a workstation. The workstation unlocks when the user brings their token within physical range. Teams use this setup to speed up logins in offices, hospitals, and shared rooms. Still, broad role permissions still let logged-in users run risky commands or read sensitive data.
How proximity based authentication works in practice
A physical range login system uses short-range radio signals to check user presence. The user carries a hardware token, a badge, or a mobile phone. A reader on the computer listens for Bluetooth, NFC, or Wi-Fi signals from that token. When the user walks up to the desk, the reader measures the signal strength. If the signal meets the distance rule, the system starts the login handshake.
The local agent on the computer sends the token ID to the identity service. The identity service checks that the token belongs to an active user with valid permissions. Many teams pair this distance check with a quick PIN or a biometric tap. Once the check passes, the operating system opens the local desktop or app session. When the user walks away, the signal drops below the set threshold. The computer then locks the screen right away to block passersby.
How teams configure tokens and distance rules
Admins start by choosing a radio standard that fits their floor plan and desks. NFC requires the user to tap a badge right against the reader pad. This short range stops a badge from unlocking a computer at the next desk. Bluetooth Low Energy lets the system detect a phone from a few feet away. Admins tune the signal strength threshold so the screen locks when the user steps back.
Next, the security team maps each hardware token to a single directory identity. Users register their phone or badge through an enrollment portal with an admin check. The team also sets a fallback login method in case a battery dies. Finally, admins assign role permissions to the user account for databases and servers. These roles control what systems the user can reach after the desktop unlocks.
Push-Based Authentication: architecture patterns and best practices
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What range checks solve and what they leave open
Physical distance checks solve a major problem on shared floors and busy desks. People forget to lock their screens when they step away for coffee. A range check locks the machine the second the user leaves the desk area. It also saves time for staff who switch workstations many times each day. Doctors, floor managers, and support engineers log in without typing long passwords.
Yet a physical check only proves that a person is standing near a screen. It decides who logs in to the machine, not what happens inside the session. Once the session opens, the user holds whatever database or server role they were given. A broad role lets an engineer run a drop command or pull raw customer tables. The range check cannot inspect individual SQL statements or CLI commands in flight. It also cannot rewrite sensitive fields like emails, phone numbers, or card numbers in query results.
Add runtime guardrails and masking beside your databases and APIs
Login rules, role grants, and CI checks govern who connects to your stack. Yet any allowed script, engineer, or AI agent still runs commands with the full scope of its role. For workloads on Postgres, MySQL, SQL Server, MongoDB, ClickHouse, Kubernetes, SSH, or internal HTTP services, hoop.dev sits beside the service as an open-source proxy, a sidecar for your database or API.
Before a query runs, hoop.dev guardrails check the statement against your rules. An AI Analyzer you configure can score intent or hold risky calls for human review. Next, hoop.dev data masking rewrites sensitive fields in responses, and each verdict is logged per listener. Explore the MIT-licensed project on GitHub.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if a user loses their proximity token or phone?
An admin revokes the lost token in the central identity directory right away. The user then logs in with a backup method until they get a new token.
Can proximity checks replace multi-factor login rules on their own?
No, a single badge or phone signal only counts as one possession factor. Teams combine the range check with a PIN or fingerprint to meet multi-factor rules.
Why do range checks fail to protect production databases?
Range checks only lock and manage the local workstation screen based on distance. They do not inspect or limit the queries a user runs after logging in.