Techniques for validating a user on an electronic device in an Internet of Things (IoT) environment are provided. An example of an apparatus according to the disclosure includes a transceiver configured to detect one or more proximate devices, and at least one processor operably coupled to the transceiver and configured to receive authentication information from the user, determine that the one or more proximate devices is at least one companion device, and validate the user based on the authentication information and a detection of the at least one companion device.