Security passcodes, fingerprint readers, and facial recognition are security layers that should be applied to the company or personal data. Cybercriminals are targeting businesses of all sizes. Since many medium-sized and small firms don’t have the same level of security, a huge name or higher profit margins don’t necessarily make a target more alluring.

Many of your accounts may now require numerous ways to confirm your identity when you log in, as you may have seen. You no longer need to provide your username and password to access your email, cloud apps, or accounting system. 

A short code texted to you, generated by an app, or generated via email must be entered. You might occasionally receive verification calls, a smart card, or be required to submit biometric information like a fingerprint. What could that be? That is MFA.

Why is MFA Important?

Because MFA adds an extra step of authentication that hackers will not be able to obtain while attempting to log into your system, it is important. For instance, a unique code is delivered to each smartphone when users enter their usernames and passwords. Before access is permitted, that code must be typed into the system, and hackers will frequently have your password but not your phone.

Hackers are not likely to get access to the smartphone linked to the user account, even if they have stolen usernames and passwords. Hackers can’t access the system unless they have access to the verification code. Adding the second authentication factor of MFA is one way to increase security, as a 2016 Verizon study found that   69% of data breaches can be linked to outsiders.

Benefits of MFA

MFA offers numerous advantages, but the following are the top three:

• Password spraying

 Testing a single, common password against the accounts of numerous users.

• Credential stuffing

 Testing username/password combinations obtained from other hackers or purchased on the dark web.

• Brute force

 Testing a variety of automatically submitted passwords taken from a dictionary.

Challenges of MFA

Identity management is the only technology requiring users and administrators to balance convenience, efficiency, and security. It is indeed a challenge, but one that can be defeated. 

Here are the top three obstacles listed by companies that continue to reject MFA’s practical solution:

• MFA increases system complexity for all users, including administrators and regular users. For some people who have never configured it, it can be challenging to use because it adds another layer to the login procedure. Your helpdesk and support team might have to handle more work.
• MFA implementation errors might harm user experience (UX)
• If your application is unavailable, MFA could be a single point of failure for your firm. Until you’re back up and running, this can prohibit your users from accessing the programs they need to do their jobs.

Best Way To Use MFA

The following best practices can be used by an organization to minimize the burden on users, strengthen security procedures, and get around some of the challenges of MFA. Although these suggestions may be helpful, we advise you to do your own study to determine what will work best for your organization:

1. OTP/TOTP-based MFA systems should issue new codes no more than every 60 seconds and have a maximum validity of 60 seconds.
2. If your company is currently utilizing Single Sign-on (SSO) or has talked about introducing it, pair it with MFA. Your MFA system substitutes ours when you create SSO for your users who access FTP Today’s application.
3. Provide your staff with MFA choices, such as SMS, email, or an app. Each technique has benefits and drawbacks, and FTP Today enables an administrator to choose for users or give users a choice.
4. Implementing a second authentication factor, such as an acceptable IP address range for login, is crucial if your users connect over FTP/FTPS/SFTP protocols.
5. No matter their position or title, all users should be subject to OTP requirements inside your organization. As mentioned, anyone can suffer disastrous consequences from a hacked email and password, but administrators who have granted themselves the authority to bypass MFA are particularly vulnerable.

Administrators should not give up at the first hint of pushback or opposition. MFA is a useful weapon in your cybersecurity toolbox that can spare you the discomfort of having a system compromised in the future.

Types of MFA

There are several types of MFA, below are a few essential types:

Mobile Authentication

Receive an OTP to your registered mobile number via SMS, phone, or the Ahelio mobile app, then safely authenticate to your workstation. You can as well register third-party authenticator programs in your mobile app to enjoy a more smooth login process.

Push Authentication

Through the Ahelio mobile app, the security system verifies login using a mobile authentication technique that sends push alerts to your smartphone. You can confirm each login effort for your desktop access and web accounts with a simple click.

Fingerprint

A person’s fingerprints are impossible to replicate. AhelioTech connects with an internal or external fingerprint scanner to assess user identification and securely permits users to access their selected network.

Facial Recognition

In AhelioTech, facial recognition compares a user’s face to a previously provided image saved in the database. After identifying and assessing the image, the facial recognition software package accepts the handler with protected authentication to workspaces.

Receive MFA Assistance for Your Organization

Still unsure if MFA is ideal for your company or which MFA solution would be best? When your firm partners with AhelioTech, you will get complete IT support and expert advice on MFA solutions that we can practice at your business. 

To find out more, contact us!