Multi-factor authentication (MFA) in AWS is a simple best practice that adds an extra layer of protection on top of your user name and password. With MFA enabled, when a user signs in to an AWS Management Console, they will be prompted for their user name and password (the first factor—what they know), as well as for an authentication code from their AWS MFA device (the second factor—what they have). Taken together, these multiple factors provide increased security for your AWS account settings and resources.
You can enable MFA for your AWS account and for individual IAM users you have created under your account. MFA can be also be used to control access to AWS service APIs.
After you've obtained a supported hardware or virtual MFA device, AWS does not charge any additional fees for using MFA.
You can also protect cross-account access using MFA.
MFA form factors
| Virtual MFA Device | Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) Security Key | Hardware Key Fob MFA Device | Hardware Display Card MFA Device | Hardware Key Fob MFA Device for AWS GovCloud (US) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Device |
See table below. |
Purchase. | Purchase. | Purchase. | Request a MFA token for AWS GovCloud (US) |
| Physical Form Factor | Use your existing smartphone or tablet running any application that supports the open TOTP standard. | Durable, waterproof, and crush resistant hardware YubiKey security key provided by Yubico, a third-party provider. | Tamper-evident hardware key fob device provided by Gemalto, a third-party provider. | Tamper-evident hardware display card device provided by Gemalto, a third-party provider. | Tamper-evident hardware key fob device provided by SurePassID, a third-party provider. |
| Features | Support for multiple tokens on a single device. | Support for multiple root and IAM users using a single security key. | The same type of device used by many financial services and enterprise IT organizations. | Similar to key fob devices, but in a convenient form factor that fits in your wallet like a credit card. | A key fob device exclusively for use with AWS GovCloud (US) accounts. |
| Compatibility with AWS GovCloud (US) |
✔ | ✔ | |||
| Compatibility with Root Account | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Compatibility with IAM User | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Virtual MFA applications
Applications for your smartphone can be installed from the application store that is specific to your phone type. The following table lists some applications for different smartphone types.
U2F security key
AWS supports U2F security key as a MFA device for accessing the AWS Management Console using certain web browsers. We encourage you to use virtual or hardware MFA for the AWS Console Mobile App. For more information, please review the configurations associated with U2F security key supported by AWS.
More information about MFA
For more information about MFA, see Using MFA in AWS.
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