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Glossary

What is TOTP?

Time-based one-time passwords power authenticator apps and shared admin access—how TOTP works, team workflows, and MultiMFA TOTP.

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Shared MFA hub

Definition

TOTP (Time-Based One-Time Password) is an OTP algorithm (RFC 6238) where a shared secret and current time produce a short numeric code—usually six digits rotating every 30 seconds. Authenticator apps display TOTP for login prompts.

Operational context

Vendors enroll TOTP via QR code during MFA setup. Operations teams break the personal-app model when five engineers need the same org admin TOTP. Shared MFA and shared TOTP guides document governed alternatives.

Examples in team workflows

  • GitHub organization owner login during release freeze.
  • AWS break-glass IAM user during region outage.
  • MSP technician accessing client cloud console.

Platform playbooks: GitHub, AWS.

How MultiMFA applies TOTP

MultiMFA TOTP stores enrollment centrally; viewers read codes without seed sprawl. Automation uses RoboMFA under separate policy—see MFA for AI agents.

Operationalize TOTP for teams

One enrollment, governed viewers.

Start Free TrialTOTP product

How teams apply this in practice

  1. Identify TOTP-only logins

    Cloud admin, GitHub org, legacy IAM—tag shared vs personal.

  2. Enroll once in MultiMFA

    Scan QR during vendor setup; avoid multi-phone cloning.

  3. Invite viewers

    Map on-call and ops roles to governed dashboard access.

MultiMFA

TOTP

MultiMFA TOTP

Shared TOTP enrollment with viewer governance.

Try TOTP
Web Authenticator

MultiMFA Authenticator

Individual web-based TOTP vaults for phone-free teams.

Explore Authenticator
SMS

MultiMFA SMS

Shared SMS verification for operational accounts.

Try SMS

Frequently asked questions

How does TOTP relate to shared team access?
Teams share TOTP when multiple responders need the same admin login—enroll once and grant viewers instead of cloning seeds.
Can MultiMFA help operationalize this for teams?
Yes. MultiMFA TOTP and SMS provide governed second-factor delivery—recipients and viewers—without cloning seeds to many phones or forwarding texts in chat. Start with a 14-day trial on one shared login.
Is this the same as a password manager?
Password managers store credentials; some store OTP fields. MultiMFA focuses on second-factor delivery and visibility for accounts that must stay shared—complementary to vaults, not a full replacement.
How long is a TOTP code valid?
Typically 30 seconds per RFC 6238; some vendors use 60 seconds.
Is TOTP more secure than SMS?
TOTP avoids SIM-swap SMS risks but requires protecting the seed—central enrollment helps teams govern secrets.

More questions? Contact support or read our security overview.

Stop cloning TOTP seeds

MultiMFA TOTP for shared admin paths.

Try MultiMFA TOTPGlossary: OTP