# PhoneFactor

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PhoneFactor
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**PhoneFactor** is a proprietary [multi-factor authentication](/source/Multi-factor_authentication) owned by Microsoft. It uses [telephone calls](/source/Telephone_call), [SMS](/source/SMS) messages, and [push notifications](/source/Push_notification) to verify identity.[1][2]

PhoneFactor was originally developed by Positive Networks Inc., founded in 2001 by Tim Sutton and Steve Dispensa.[3] The PhoneFactor product was launched in 2007,[4] and the company changed their name to PhoneFactor Inc. in 2009.[3][5] On October 4, 2012, [Microsoft](/source/Microsoft) acquired PhoneFactor,[6] and the PhoneFactor service is now available as Azure Multi-Factor Authentication. In addition to securing on-premises applications and identities, the service now also works with cloud applications like [Microsoft 365](/source/Microsoft_365) that use Windows [Microsoft Azure Active Directory](/source/Microsoft_Azure_Active_Directory).

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Haiyang Qian; Chandra S. Surapaneni; Steve Dispensa; Deep Medhi (June 2009). [*Service Management Architecture and System Capacity Design for PhoneFactor--A Two-Factor Authentication Service*](https://web.archive.org/web/20130927160703/http://sce.umkc.edu/~dmedhi/papers/qsdm-im09.pdf) (PDF). IFIP/IEEE International Symposium on Integrated Network Management (IM'2009). Archived from [the original](http://sce.umkc.edu/~dmedhi/papers/qsdm-im09.pdf) (PDF) on 2013-09-27.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Haiyang Qian; Chandra S. Surapaneni; Marsh Ray; Steve Dispensa; Deep Medhi (April 2010). [*DReaM-Cache: Distributed Real-Time Transaction Memory Cache to Support Two-Factor Authentication Services and its Reliability*](https://web.archive.org/web/20130927160922/http://sce.umkc.edu/~dmedhi/papers/qsrdm-noms2010.pdf) (PDF). IEEE/IFIP Network Operations and Management Symposium (NOMS'2010). Archived from [the original](http://sce.umkc.edu/~dmedhi/papers/qsrdm-noms2010.pdf) (PDF) on 2013-09-27.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-change_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-change_3-1) ["Positive Networks changes name to PhoneFactor"](https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2009/01/05/daily27.html). *Kansas City Business Journal*. bizjournals.com. 7 January 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Two-Factor Authentication Without Tokens: Positive Networks Debuts PhoneFactor(TM)"](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20070522005281/en/Two-Factor-Authentication-Tokens-Positive-Networks-Debuts-PhoneFactor) (Press release). Business Wire. 22 May 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Quain, John R. (8 Oct 2008). ["Logging on Securely, and Confirmed via a Cellphone Call as a Sentinel Against Intruders"](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/technology/personaltech/09phone.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink&_r=1&). *New York Times / NYT.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Microsoft buys security vendor PhoneFactor"](http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9232063/Microsoft_buys_security_vendor_PhoneFactor). *Computerworld*. 4 Oct 2012.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [PhoneFactor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PhoneFactor) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PhoneFactor?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.