Secure enterprise authentication in the AI era: OAuth2, ADFS, and MFA in practice

Enterprise authentication serves as a fundamental element of contemporary digital security because organizations depend on it to secure their cloud computing and distributed system and AI-based technology operations. Static credential-based authentication systems have become obsolete because they fail to protect against modern cyber threats, which include credential theft and identity spoofing and phishing attacks. The article evaluates three major enterprise authentication solutions through the lens of their development in AI-based threat detection systems, which include OAuth2 and Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). The paper defines security capabilities of each method through their operational implementations and architectural foundations while showing their security deficiencies, which include token flaws and federation flaws and usability flaws. Artificial intelligence (AI) creates disruptive authentication methods, which use behavioral biometrics and anomaly detection and adaptive access control to deliver authentication value. The comparative analysis shows how accessible these mechanisms operate in actual enterprise environments. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of implementing multiple authentication layers with secure implementation standards and AI security system integration. This review provides comprehensive knowledge about secure enterprise authentication systems, which protect organizations from AI-related security threats while supporting the development of effective identity management systems.