Oftentimes the most effective cybersecurity controls are the easiest ones to implement into your organization. Configuring the strictest firewall, constantly monitoring and filtering traffic, and blocking websites are all essential to a companies security posture, but if your passwords are at risk it may not matter. When it comes to securing your personal or business applications, multi-factor authentication is a must.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security best practice that secures logins by adding an extra level of authentication outside of simple usernames and passwords. Your password is considered the first line of defense to your private accounts and most breaches are started by either brute force attacks or phishing for these login credentials. MFA ensures that even if your password is compromised, attackers still have to have a second form of authentication in the form of an authenticator app (Microsoft Authenticator, Duo Mobile, etc) or through SMS messaging.
There are various different forms of MFA that can add an extra layer of authentication to your accounts. The most common form is through an authenticator app that sends you a push notification or randomly generated code that is unique to your account. This acts as a key that is used in tandem with your password to give you access to your account. Another common, yet less secure, type of MFA is SMS authentication. When you attempt to login to your account you'll receive an SMS text message with a unique code to use when signing in.
Other less common forms of MFA include physical access tokens, which are tangible keys that provide a second layer of authentication. This means that an attacker will need to have a physical USB key or device to access your accounts. You can also implement bio metric authentication including thumbprints, or facial recognition to lock up your applications.
The most obvious benefit of MFA is that it secures all of your login credentials and applications from bad actors. Most data breaches are caused by a cyber criminal gaining access to an account using default or weak usernames and passwords. MFA helps curb this attack vector in your organization. Multi-factor authentication is incredibly effective too, 99.9% of automated attacks are stopped in their tracks by MFA implementation. While not perfect, MFA greatly decreases your chances of falling victim to a data breach caused by an accidental click of a phishing email.
For many businesses, MFA is required to be compliant with certain standards. If you create, store, or transmit sensitive data then you most likely have to implement multiple security controls to stay compliant. MFA is one of the most basic controls security frameworks require to be considered compliant.
If your organization wants to implement MFA and isn't sure where to start, contact CorpInfoTech today to take advantage of our managed services to become compliant and secure!
CorpInfoTech (Corporate Information Technologies) provides small to mid-market organizations with expert I.T. services including compliance assessment, cybersecurity penetration tests, and comprehensive business continuity planning services. CorpInfoTech can help organizations, quantify, create, refine, and mitigate the risks presented by business threatening disasters in whatever form they may be disguised.