What does Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enhance in AWS accounts?

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enhances identity verification within AWS accounts by requiring users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access. This additional layer of security makes it significantly harder for unauthorized individuals to access sensitive information or resources associated with an AWS account, even if they obtain a user’s password.

Using MFA combines something the user knows (like a password) with something the user has (like a physical token or a mobile device application that generates time-sensitive codes). This ensures that even if a password is compromised, the account remains secure as long as the second factor—such as a one-time code—remains confidential.

While data encryption, network security, and cost management are important aspects of overall cloud security and operational efficiency, they are distinct from the primary role of MFA, which is focused on secure identity verification rather than securing data, networks, or reducing costs.