What are the most common reasons authentication systems fail?

According to me the primary and preventable reason behind authentication failures is human error. These errors encompass actions like inputting incorrect credentials, memory lapses regarding passwords, misplacement or loss of authentication tokens, and susceptibility to phishing or social engineering schemes. To mitigate the likelihood of such errors, IT services ought to enact protocols and procedures fostering user education, awareness, and adherence to security best practices. To avoid it advocate for the creation of robust passwords, adoption of multi-factor authentication methods, exercising caution against interacting with dubious links or attachments, and promptly reporting any instances of suspicious or unauthorized behaviour.

A prevalent cause of failure in authentication systems is attributed to configuration errors. Such errors arise from improper or inconsistent configurations or parameters within the authentication system or its associated components. Instances of configuration errors include discrepancies in time zones, the expiration of certificates, protocol incompatibilities, or inaccuracies in firewall configurations. To avert or rectify these configuration errors, IT services are advised to adhere to industry best practices in the architecture, implementation, and management of authentication systems.

A third prevalent cause of failures in authentication systems is network errors. These errors manifest as a result of issues or disturbances within the network infrastructure or connectivity underpinning the authentication system. For instance, such network errors may arise from congestion, latency, packet loss, routing dilemmas, or denial-of-service assaults. To mitigate or rectify network errors, IT departments must ensure the network's reliability, robustness, and security. This includes adopting redundant and varied pathways, enforcing quality of service and traffic governance, instituting firewalls and intrusion detection mechanisms, and executing consistent backups and disaster recovery strategies.

Operating system can contribute to authentication failures. I had customer who had a hybrid environment where AD sync was broken. We checked server updates. We check the event logs. We looked up the event log error. It started that it was an issue with AD sync software version. When I tried upgrading it- it showed it was not longer support of the version Windows server 2012. Result we needed to spin up a new window server 2022 and install new version of AD sync and migrate the old to the new to make sure we could retire the old system that wasn’t working.

Continuous system updates, compliance of security, changing pw frequently, ensuring the network and ISP given Internet or wireless is working perfectly, are a few to do on user end. All mentioned reasons are main reasons for failures though at times some simple task of router switch was not on, the ethernet cable was out hanging in air... monitor was not on.... kind of funny reasons also found..in practical life..

A fourth prevalent cause of failure within authentication systems is attributable to software anomalies. Such anomalies manifest through defects, malfunctions, or security weaknesses in the programming or logic underpinning the authentication system and its operations. Instances of software anomalies may arise from errors in coding, lapses in logical reasoning, memory leaks, buffer overflows, or failure to handle exceptions properly. To avert or rectify software anomalies, IT departments must adhere to established standards and methodologies for software development and quality assurance.