Send secure SMS one-time passcodes (OTP) with a trusted service provider

It enhances user experience by providing a simple and familiar method of authentication. Users don’t need to install additional apps or configure settings to receive OTPs. The quick and direct nature of SMS ensures that users can easily and securely complete transactions or access accounts without unnecessary delays.

Common use cases include securing online banking transactions, protecting e-commerce accounts during registration and high-value purchases, verifying identities on social media platforms, and authenticating users for digital services like streaming and messaging apps.

Global reach is crucial because it ensures that OTP messages can be reliably delivered to users anywhere in the world. For businesses with a global customer base, it’s important that users in different regions receive their OTPs promptly and securely, regardless of their location or local telecom infrastructure.

While SMS OTP is one of the most widely used 2FA methods, it does have certain drawbacks compared to other, more advanced authentication methods. However, these can be mitigated by working with a reliable SMS OTP provider. Let’s explore this in more detail:

Vulnerability to fraud:
Bad actors can intercept SMS messages, making SMS OTP susceptible to fraud (most often in the form of smishing, or SMS pumping).

Solution: Choose an SMS OTP provider with advanced anti-fraud solutions. At Infobip, we use an SMS firewall to protect customers against smishing attacks and a solution called Signals to block fraudulent OTP traffic automatically.

Connection quality and delays:
SMS delivery relies on mobile communication channels, which may have low signal quality. Delays in receiving SMS can render the OTP invalid if it expires before reaching the user.

Solution: Choose an SMS OTP provider with direct operator connections (quality routing).

Gateway downtime:
Organizations rely on external SMS gateways for OTP delivery. Malfunctions or downtime in these gateways can disrupt the authentication process.

Solution: Choose an SMS OTP provider with the least downtime.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security feature that requires a user to prove their identity before being granted access to an account or performing an action. SMS OTP is a form of 2FA that uses SMS as a channel for sending and receiving OTP codes.

Besides on SMS, you can send OTPs on other channels, like:

While SMS OTPs are less secure than app-based tokens or biometric verification, they are more convenient and easier to implement. In terms of security, the main difference is that apps can generate codes locally on a device, while SMS OTP depends on the security of the connection between the mobile operator and the SMS provider.

Ultimately, the choice depends on your needs and the desired level of security. However, SMS that goes through quality routes and is protected by anti-fraud solutions will be enough for most use cases. You can also combine multiple methods of 2FA along with SMS.