Multi-Factor Authentication
Having one password for all your accounts or something simple you won’t forget is no longer enough to keep unauthorized people from hacking into your accounts. It was never enough, actually, as cases of fraudulent sign-ins (successful or not) have been a problem since the internet and social media became a normal part of our lives.
Microsoft confirmed in 2019 that on the 300 million attempted fraudulent sign-ins each year, 99.9% of them could have been prevented with only one extra form of security; multi-factor authentication.
The SANS Software Security Institute reported three major vulnerabilities that often lead to fraud or data breaches:
- Business email compromise through phishing or spoofing to gain access to platforms and steal data and money. Only one password accounts are the easiest to exploit.
- Legacy protocols. Using basic protocols like SMTP that aren’t created to host multi-factor authentication usage makes it easy for hackers to find a back door, such as a compromised web browser, to gain access.
- Password reuse. Using the same password across important platforms can be disastrous. Steal one password and use it to log the same account credentials into multiple platforms to gain access to sensitive data.
Having our accounts hacked is troublesome when it comes to our personal information, but if you factor in business accounts that can lead hackers to steal the sensitive information of all your clients, customers, employees, and more — it becomes a gigantic problem. Multi-factor authentication is just one fix that can save your organization time, money, and stress from dealing with cybercriminals.
What is a Vulnerability Assessment?
Multi-Factor Authentication, also known as two-factor authentication, is a password/user authentication method that requires the user to provide a second or sometimes third verification of their authorization to log in. Typically, these other verification methods are a code sent via email or SMS to a registered phone number. SMS is the best option as an email is more likely to be compromised.
Multi-Factor Authentication is one of the most effective methods for ensuring only those with access to an account, application, or VPN are actually authenticated. If you can make the use of this authentication method widely available throughout an organization or institution, then it is far less likely that the average online criminal will gain access. The less enticing your data looks or the harder it will be to gain access to an organization through password stealing, the more likely criminals will move elsewhere.
Of course, multi-factor authentication is not a one-all solution and should be blended with a complete host of cyber security tools to ensure complete and 360-degree protection.
Varsity Technologies Can Help Protect Your Organization With Multi-Factor Authentication
There are multiple ways in which Multi-Factor Authentication can benefit your organization, First, for employees, volunteers, students and staff members using accounts such as Cloud-based storage or Microsoft 365, integrating multi-factor authentication across the board is a smart move to protecting your organization’s data. One fraudulent login to an email account can spread a hacker’s access to your organization like wildfire, giving them access to other apps and emails, phishing scams, and eventually the networks and servers of your business.
Varsity Technologies can also help integrate multi-factor authentication into your server and networks as well as any applications or programs that have been developed for your organization by external SaaS providers. We can ensure your clients and end-users have complete protection when using your software so no hackers gain access to any private data
We can also help integrate your organization with password-free capabilities with the FIDO2 standard. Passwordless authentication, possible with WebAuthn and CTAP2 makes devices and networks more secure and extremely difficult for hackers to exploit.
Why Choose Varsity Technologies to Provide Your Business or Organization with Two-Factor Authentication?
Varsity Technologies is adept and passionate about cybersecurity. We’ve dedicated years to getting into the minds of the most crafty cybercriminals so we can stay one step ahead of them. We are committed to implementing all of our clients with the right tools and resources that will ensure they are optimized for full growth and scalability. Has your organization set up a cybersecurity strategy that includes a strong multi-factor authentication plan? Let’s chat.
Our certified Information Technology (IT) experts located in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, and across California are knowledgeable in the modern educational setting and can easily work with more in-house and Cloud-based storage software to assure complete security. Our entire staff is friendly and approachable and available for questions extended hours of the day and to act on emergency situations at any time of the day or night.
