Multi-Factor Authentication for business security
Passwords are the most popular and most common security measure used in all companies. However, passwords can be the most vulnerable aspect of a business’s security and can have a lot of shortcomings. Passwords do not provide thorough identity checks as anyone who gains access to a specific password can simply enter an account and take whatever they need. The security of an account is based solely on the strength of the password, which is very often not strong enough. Therefore, companies are adopting multi-factor authentication (MFA) to supplement the password as a means of access control.
Multi-Factor Authentication is the process of identifying an online user by validating two or more claims presented by the user, each from a different category of factors. The principle of MFA is that there is no perfect authentication factor. Any one factor that is implemented will have its strengths and weaknesses. The concept of multi-factor authentication is that a second or third factor will compensate for the weakness of the other factors.
The three basic factors that should be taken into consideration regarding MFA are:
- The user’s knowledge: A password or PIN number
- The user’s possession: A mobile device or laptop
- The user themselves: Their fingerprint or voice
Choosing the right authenticators should be a priority. Out-of-band verification methods such as SMS or voice calls are excluded due to the risk of SMS or voice calls being susceptible to interception. It is best to ensure that the MFA method you use is currently recommended and always has the goal of system and data security in mind.
Many companies are recognising the threat of data breaches and this indicates why cyber security has become a top priority for many organisations with the rise of cloud communications. It also demonstrates us why MFA is one of the best security measures you can implement to protect your company, users and sensitive data.
