MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) and password recovery are important features to ensure the security of an application. MFA provides an additional layer of security by requiring users to provide two or more forms of identification before accessing their account, while password recovery allows users to regain access to their account if they forget their password.
Among the options listed, A and D are the only two that provide both MFA and password recovery mechanisms. Let's examine each option in more detail:
A. Use TOTP as a second factor and SMS as a password recovery mechanism which is disjoint from an authentication factor.
TOTP (Time-Based One-Time Password) is a common method of providing a second factor authentication. It involves generating a unique, one-time code that the user must enter along with their password to access their account. SMS (Short Message Service) is a common method of delivering a password reset code to a user's phone. This option recommends using TOTP as the second factor and SMS as the password recovery mechanism, with the two mechanisms being disjoint, meaning that they are not related to each other.
B. Enable MFA as Required immediately after creating a user pool to add another layer of security.
This option recommends enabling MFA as soon as a user pool is created, which would require users to provide an additional form of authentication before accessing their account. However, it doesn't provide any guidance on how to implement password recovery.
C. Disable adaptive authentication, so you can configure a second factor authentication in response to an increased risk level.
Adaptive authentication is a feature that allows the authentication mechanism to adjust based on the risk level associated with the user's login attempt. This option recommends disabling adaptive authentication to configure a second factor authentication in response to an increased risk level, but it doesn't provide any guidance on how to implement password recovery.
D. Use SMS as a second factor and TOTP along with a security key as the MFA device for your IAM and root users.
This option recommends using SMS as the second factor authentication and TOTP along with a security key for IAM (Identity and Access Management) and root users. This option provides both MFA and password recovery mechanisms, but it is important to note that SMS has some security concerns as it can be intercepted by attackers, making it a less secure option than TOTP.
In conclusion, option A is the recommended practice in this context as it provides both MFA and password recovery mechanisms and uses TOTP as the second factor, which is more secure than SMS.
