Verification Channel Selection
Each verification channel has its own advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the appropriate verification channel based on the country/region where your business operates can help improve the pass rate of the verification process and ensure account security. Many companies offer multiple verification methods for customers to choose from.
YCloud's verification API supports multiple verification channels, allowing you to integrate quickly:
SMS
WhatsApp
Voice
Email
SMS
SMS is the most popular dual-factor authentication (2FA) and one-time password (OTP) channel because most people worldwide can receive SMS messages without any obstacles. Google research shows that SMS is an effective form of authentication that helps "block 100% of automated bots, 96% of bulk phishing attacks, and 76% of targeted attacks."
However, since SMS relies on the communication networks of operators worldwide, its delivery capability and the cost per verification depend on the delivery infrastructure in each country/region where your business operates. In countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and China, where costs are low and delivery capabilities are high, this may not be an issue. But in some countries/regions in Southeast Asia and South America, SMS may not be the most cost-effective option.
Secondly, due to the increasing global fraud risk and malicious attackers, if your application lacks effective countermeasures, you may spend a lot of message costs without gaining real customers. Understand the defense measures.
WhatsApp
WhatsApp is the most popular social tool in over 100 countries/regions, with more than 2 billion people interacting through WhatsApp every month. You can send verification messages to the corresponding WhatsApp account via phone number.
As a verification channel, it has the same advantages as SMS, is unaffected by local operator infrastructure, does not charge for unsent messages, and is less susceptible to telecom network fraud. In India, Indonesia, the Middle East, and South America, we recommend using WhatsApp as the preferred verification channel, as it can improve your overall verification conversion rate and is inexpensive. In other regions, it can serve as a backup channel for SMS.
YCloud verify WhatsApp is not something you have to build from scratch, but allows you to start sending OTPs immediately through pre-approved WhatsApp shared phone numbers without message quantity and industry restrictions.
Voice Verification
Voice verification is commonly used as the primary backup for SMS authentication. Although SMS delivery rates vary globally, voice verification has priority on operator networks.
In YCloud verify, we have integrated voice networks in over 200 countries, supporting localization in 12 languages.
Similarly, it can also be attacked. International attackers will attempt to make a large number of voice calls to certain phone numbers to profit from them.
Understand the defense measures.
Email
Email is also a common verification channel, often used for account registration activation and dual-factor authentication. In countries/regions like the United States, Canada, and Europe, people frequently use email in their daily lives and work and are accustomed to using email addresses as account names. In this case, using email as the primary verification channel is a correct choice.
However, the disadvantages of email are also obvious. In many countries/regions worldwide, people do not frequently use email, and some may not even have the corresponding applications installed. Another serious issue is that passwords can usually be reset via email. This means that attackers only need to compromise one factor, the customer's email inbox, to take over the corresponding account.
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