Adaptive Authentication Scheme Selection Using Risk Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user authentication systems fail to adaptively select optimal authentication schemes based on user properties, system properties, and historical authentication data, often balancing security and convenience inadequately.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that use weighted scores to select an optimal authentication scheme by considering user profiles, system policies, and historical authentication data, incorporating machine learning to predict user preferences and success probabilities, and presenting users with tailored authentication options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional authentication systems require multiple authentication procedures to ensure security, then security level is improved, but user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system dynamically adjusts the number and type of authentication factors required based on real-time risk assessment. The system evaluates user behavior patterns, device characteristics, and contextual information to determine the appropriate authentication level, transitioning from static multi-factor authentication to adaptive authentication that requires more factors only when risk is detected
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of authentication requirements based on assessed risk levels. When low risk is detected, the system reduces authentication factors to improve convenience; when high risk is detected, it increases factors to maintain security. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by making authentication requirements flexible rather than fixed
2Device complexity
If authentication systems use a fixed set of authentication factors for all users, then system simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different user situations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments users into different risk profiles and authentication categories based on their behavior patterns, device types, and historical data. Each segment receives tailored authentication requirements rather than a uniform approach, allowing the system to maintain simplicity in implementation while achieving adaptability through differentiated treatment of user groups
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously collects feedback from authentication attempts, user behavior monitoring, and device characteristics to refine its understanding of different user situations. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt authentication schemes over time while maintaining a relatively simple core architecture, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability
3Measurement precision
If authentication systems collect and analyze extensive historical authentication data, then authentication accuracy is improved, but data processing complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the most relevant features and patterns from extensive historical authentication data, such as typical login times, device identifiers, and behavior patterns, rather than processing the entire raw dataset. This extraction of essential information maintains high authentication accuracy while significantly reducing data processing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary processing and organization of historical authentication data in advance, creating pre-computed user profiles and risk indicators. This preliminary action reduces the computational burden during real-time authentication decisions, maintaining accuracy while reducing processing complexity at the point of need
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and a system for determining an optimal authentication scheme for an authenticating system. Embodiments may include: receiving, from the authenticating system an identity of a user requiring access to the authenticating system and a policy of the authenticating system; receiving, from a storage device, data including historical information regarding previous authentication attempts by the user; producing a list including an optimal selection of one or more authentication schemes, each including one or more authentication factors, according to the historical information and the authenticating system policy; and sending the selection list of one or more authentication schemes to the authenticating system.