About OneSpan push notifications

A push notification is a message that is pushed from a server to a user and pops up on an end-user device, e.g. a mobile device. Push notifications are received by a particular app. This must be registered on the respective server to receive notifications. Notifications can be sent at any time and their users do not have to actively use the respective app at that time.

Applications of push notifications

Push notifications serve as a separate communication channel to receive additional data or call-to-action items to perform or complete a security operation initiated by a client application or website.

Push notifications can be used for different applications:

  • Push notifications for user authentication (push and login)

    Push notifications can be used as an out-of-band (OOB) authentication method. The push mode enables client applications on mobile devices to authenticate a user, e.g. the OneSpan Mobile Authenticator app. During the authentication process, the user receives a notification prompt on the mobile device and completes the authentication process by tapping on the device (push and login).

  • Push notifications for transaction data signing (push and sign)

    Push notifications can be used as an out-of-band (OOB) method employing client applications on mobile devices, to perform transaction data signing. First, the user initiates a transaction data signing request, e.g. on a banking site. The user receives a notification prompt on the own mobile device and completes the process by tapping on the device to confirm the request (push and sign).