What is a security token?

A security token serves as both a physical or digital object utilized for authentication purposes, which makes it essential in securing access to sensitive systems and information. This type of token is designed to add an extra layer of security, ensuring that only authorized users can access critical resources.

In practice, security tokens can come in various forms, such as hardware tokens that generate one-time passwords or software tokens embedded in a user’s mobile device. They operate on the principle of something the user possesses, further enhancing the security model alongside something the user knows (like a password) and something the user is (biometric data).

Understanding the role of a security token is crucial for implementing effective authentication mechanisms in any security strategy. This choice aligns with modern best practices in cybersecurity, where multi-factor authentication has become a standard approach to safeguarding access to data and applications.