Essential Guide to Account Management: Security, Authentication & Compliance

Account Management Overview

We make several online services and have developed 30-40 services within the past 4-5 years. A common feature across all of them is account management. This document outlines what account management includes and what is necessary to implement it effectively.

1. The Account Creating

A. Account / Login ID
An account must be created through registration. You may ask for several details about the user, which can be used later, but the minimum requirement is an identification field and password. If you insist on making a service without passwords, we still need some form of identification number (or string) to uniquely identify the user. Separating account ID from login ID can improve security and allow users to change their login ID while maintaining the same backend identity.

B. Password
Once a user registers, they must be able to log in or prove ownership of their account. Passwords can be simple, but shorter passwords compromise security. However, if the password requirements are too strict (as I often enforce), it raises the registration barrier.

C. Email and Phone Number Verification
To prevent spam accounts and improve security, verifying a user’s email or phone number is beneficial. This confirms the validity of the user and provides a recovery method in case they forget their credentials.

D. Social Login and OAuth Integration
Some users prefer signing up via Google, Apple, Facebook, or other social accounts instead of creating new credentials. Integrating OAuth allows authentication through third-party services while maintaining an internal account ID.

E. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
For additional security, enabling MFA is recommended. This typically involves an OTP sent via email, SMS, or an authenticator app like Google Authenticator. While optional, MFA significantly reduces unauthorized access risks.

2. Account Authentication and Security

A. Login Mechanism
The login process should allow users to authenticate using their login ID (email, username, or phone number) and password. If social login is implemented, users should also be able to log in using linked accounts.

B. Password Security
Passwords should be securely stored using hashing algorithms like bcrypt or Argon2. Enforcing password strength requirements and implementing CAPTCHA and rate limiting can help prevent brute-force attacks.

C. Session Management
Users should remain logged in while ensuring security. Secure session tokens with expiration policies help prevent session hijacking. Implementing refresh tokens enables seamless re-authentication.

D. Account Recovery
Providing secure password reset options is essential. Common methods include sending a reset link via email or an OTP via SMS. Security questions are discouraged due to their vulnerability to social engineering.

E. Device and Location Tracking
Enhancing security with device and location tracking is advisable. If a login attempt occurs from an unfamiliar device or location, additional verification steps can be required.

3. User Profile and Account Management

A. Profile Information
Users should be able to update their profile information, including name, avatar, and contact details. However, changes to login credentials may require additional verification.

B. Linked Accounts
If social login is enabled, users should be able to manage and unlink third-party accounts from their profile settings.

C. Account Deactivation and Deletion
Users should have the option to deactivate or permanently delete their accounts. Deactivation allows them to return later, while deletion should ensure data removal in compliance with regulations like GDPR.

4. Access Control and Permissions

A. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
For services with multiple user roles (e.g., admin, moderator, user), RBAC ensures that users only have necessary permissions, preventing unauthorized actions.

B. API Token and OAuth Scopes
For services with APIs, authentication should be managed via API tokens. OAuth scopes can restrict third-party application access.

C. Audit Logging
Tracking user actions like login attempts, password changes, and account modifications helps with security monitoring and troubleshooting.

5. Compliance and Privacy Considerations

A. Data Protection Regulations
Compliance with regulations like GDPR and CCPA is essential. This includes proper consent management, data access requests, and secure data storage.

B. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Users should accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy upon registration. Transparency about data collection and usage builds trust.

C. Secure Data Storage
Personally identifiable information (PII) should be encrypted both in transit and at rest to prevent data breaches.

Managing accounts properly is fundamental to building secure and user-friendly online services. Implementing strong authentication, account recovery options, and compliance measures ensures a reliable and trustworthy system for users.