Embodiments provide user authentication based on proximity to a close network of a user. Embodiments receive from a user a request to execute a user action associated with an application, wherein execution of the user action requires validation of one or more authentication credentials; collect a set of data comprising information related to a physical location of the user; determine a close network score associated with the user; determine a level of authentication associated with the close network score; determine which one or more authentication types are associated with the level of authentication associated with the close network score; request one or more authentication credentials corresponding to the determined one or more authentication types; receive credentials from the user; validate the credentials, thereby resulting in a successful validation of the credentials; and, in response to the successful validation of the credentials, execute the user action.