Between remote work and evolving cyber threats, an additional layer of security beyond the password is not a “nice to have.” One of the most effective methods to safeguard your user accounts is two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA requires users to provide two distinct forms of identification to verify they are, in fact, who they claim to be.

While many 2FA methods exist, push notifications are one of the most popular options. An authenticator app with push notifications makes 2FA easy for users, who can simply tap a notification to approve 2FA on their smartphone.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) via push notification offers quick setup and access without compromising security.

If you’re looking to employ 2FA via push notifications for your end users, choose an app that targets the capabilities you need. The best 2FA push notifications will:

• Save users time

• Offer a quick enrollment process

• Minimize push fatigue and accidental approvals

As push authentication has become more widespread, a range of mobile authenticator app providers now offer this service, often in tandem with an MFA solution. Which push app is “best”? It all depends on your organization’s needs.

Below are some of the most popular push apps, including their benefits and features.

UserLock’s two-factor authentication with push notifications secures the logon to on-premise Active Directory and cloud resources, mitigating threats of Windows user account compromise.

UserLock Push App allows users to receive push notifications and TOTP codes as an MFA authentication method for Windows logins protected by UserLock. Admins can choose to enable push notifications alongside another MFA method, such as hardware tokens or keys (YubiKey or Token2) or other TOTP authenticator apps.

• One-minute setup for IT admins

• Quick self-enrollment for users

• One-tap notifications

• Secure account storage

• Details about each login request to minimize push fatigue and accidental approvals

• Warn users of possible account compromise

Each push notification also shows the location, device, and time of the login attempt, helping minimize push fatigue and brute force atacks. When users deny a push notification, they also get a warning of possible account compromise, reminding them to change their Windows account password and contact an administrator immediately.

IT teams looking for a simple push notification or TOTP code for their end users will appreciate the simplicity of UserLock’s Push App. Totally user-friendly, it reduces the workload on your help desk, and keeps users happy with one-tap 2FA approval.

UserLock also integrates seamlessly with on-premise and hybrid AD environments to extend AD security, instead of replacing it. Thanks to SAML-based single sign-on (SSO) you can combine SSO and MFA with push notifications to secure AD identities’ access to popular apps such as Microsoft Office365, Salesforce, and Zendesk.

From simply supporting push notifications to offering TOTP and password management, a range of authenticator apps are available for organizations looking to improve their cybersecurity.

CISCO’s DUO Push offers a secure mobile app solution to complete two-factor authentication.

• Biometrics and security keys

• Tokens and passcodes

• Duo Restore portal

Duo does not have the same offline MFA options as UserLock, and is not primarily designed for Windows users. There is not as much network visibility as alternative options, and you need a second piece of software to integrate Duo with Active Directory environments, potentially duplicating your directory.

It offers four main subscription models, from free MFA for up to 10 users to Duo Beyond, at $9 per month. UserLock offers a scalable pricing model which is based on the number of active users, offering yearly and multi-year license subscriptions.

Rublon’s Mobile Push Authenticator App works by transforming mobile devices into software tokens. Authentication is available via push, mobile passcodes, and QR codes.

• Biometric fingerprint locks and face recognition

• Multiple devices per user license

• Offline authentication via SMS

Rublon Mobile Push does not offer the same level of granularity for user access controls, for example, grouping policies by user, group, organizational unit, or connection type. It also has a minimum number of user licenses, so any organization with fewer than 30 employees will need to seek alternatives. Some organizations may also have an issue with using less-secure SMS notifications as an offline authentication method.

Rublon Mobile Push offers on-premise and cloud solutions. While UserLock is available for Android and iOS, Rublon can also be used on Huawei phones.

HelloID’s Push to Verify App offers passwordless entry by sending a push notification to a user’s registered device. HelloID leverages out-of-band authentication to protect against hackers and fraud.

• Out-of-band authentication not intercepted at password entry

• Synchronize users and groups from Active Directory

• Security and access controls for users and groups

HelloID’s Push to Verify app is compatible with iOS and Android, like UserLock. It offers a semi-granular level of user access, allowing customers to configure either users or groups from their Active Directory. Its pricing model may be cumbersome for finance teams as it offers a pay-as-you-go setup if users go over their licensing limits. This may incur extra costs without teams knowing, whereas UserLock is fully scalable and dynamic.

ID Agent’s Identity and Access Management platform combines two-factor authentication, SSO, and password management.

• Access controls for Windows desktops and servers with 2FA

• Remote Management and Monitoring platform for user access

• Reserve users on shared accounts to protect privileged accounts with 2FA

Unlike Passly, UserLock does not offer an added password management system, although this will already be a feature of most organizations’ Active Directory policies. Passly offers a similar level of granularity for user access, featuring a built-in Remote Management and Monitoring platform that admins can configure.

In some cases, you may feel restricted by Passly’s pricing model. The costs are reasonable but it only offers one fixed price, rather than a scalable subscription model to adapt to changing needs.

Authfy is a low-code platform that provides a seamless user experience through multi-factor authentication and risk management.

• API-first platform

• Risk adaptation with dynamic authentication

• Integration with a range of service providers, including Microsoft, Oracle, and Whatsapp

Authfy is designed with developers in mind, offering integration with 1,500 apps in a low-code solution. Like UserLock, it offers a scalable subscription model and can also provide push authentication for third-party platforms.

Both Authfy and UserLock offer risk management solutions with monitoring, alerts, and response. If an unauthorized user has tried to access an application, both platforms will send out an alert. Authfy is designed for larger-scale businesses, so it may not be the best solution for those seeking flexible options or looking to secure a smaller number of users.

Thales’ SafeNet MobilePass is a software token that offers a secure one-time passcode on mobile devices, as well as single-tap push authentications.

• Compatible with leading VPNs, security gateways, and cloud applications

• Biometric fingerprint locks and face recognition

• App can be reprogrammed on demand

Thales’ SafeNet MobilePass may be compatible with more VPNs than are currently offered by UserLock. However, on-premise users may become frustrated by the lack of granular MFA policies, and they also have to install an additional piece of software for single sign-on.