The scariest threats out there are the ones that can crack your network without you even realizing it. That’s right, they’re using stolen credentials that they tricked your employees into handing over through a phishing attack. The good news, though, is that a simple multi-factor authentication solution (MFA) can be a significant step forward for your network security, and the simple act of having one makes your business much safer and less prone to cybersecurity breaches.
If you haven’t yet implemented MFA, here are three logical steps you can take to move in the right direction.
First, it’s important to acknowledge what exactly multi-factor authentication is and how it works.
The password is bad specifically because it’s a single factor that can easily be guessed or stolen. SMBs need all accounts to be secured with multiple factors. The fastest way to achieve this is through a one-time passcode app. When you move your passcodes off of your employees’ SMS network onto an isolated app, you deploy a phishing-resistant solution that generates new, unique codes every 30-60 seconds.
The only way a hacker is breaking through this is if they have possession over the password AND the employee’s unlocked phone, making it practically impossible for the hacker to break through.
A push-based authentication app makes authentication as easy as tapping a button on your phone to verify your identity.
Push-based authentication is popular because it removes the friction associated with entering codes sent to employee devices. The device in question receives a notification to approve a login from a specific IP address. Not only is this method easier, but it also increases the likelihood of adoption throughout the organization due to its ease of use. It also allows for contextual security, as it gives the user the ability to see when and where they are logging in, as well as on what device. They can confirm or deny their identity easily and effectively.
These solutions aren’t perfect, though, and they are known to cause MFA fatigue, where the user might blindly tap the Approve button without thinking about where the login is coming from. This means attackers can spam the user with login attempts and potentially break in that way.
So how do businesses get around these attacks?
The future is now, and many businesses are ditching passwords entirely in favor of biometric authentication.
Biometric authentication uses something you are, like a fingerprint or facial recognition technology, to achieve a passwordless environment. This biometric data never leaves your device, and it’s used locally to unlock the keys on the device. Biometrics are powerful as MFA options because they reduce employee frustration, eliminate weak passwords, and provide a higher assurance of identity. After all, it’s hard to fake something like a fingerprint or face scan.
These solutions are still maturing, but they will undoubtedly be the future of authentication.
Relying on passwords when there are so many sophisticated threats out there that can steal them is going to put your business at risk. To start taking your digital security seriously, you need to move your organization to multi-factor authentication as soon as possible. These methods are phishing-resistant and guaranteed to improve your digital security, regardless of what it currently looks like.
To learn more about MFA and to get acquainted with your options, give First Column IT a call at (571) 470-5594 today.
