Two-factor authentication is an increasingly popular way to prevent forced login attempts from non-employees. It works by establishing a second “gate” of entry you must pass through to reach the valuable information stored on the other side; often times by sending a verification code to your email or mobile device. This is a simple, smooth process for your business and employees but provides considerable data protection.
For hackers who might have uncovered a password that would otherwise provide them access to your account, two-factor authentication blocks access and lets you know a login attempt was made.
Many software as a service (SaaS) companies now deploy this technology due to the rise in brute force attacks and other techniques hackers use to login to personal or business accounts fraudulently. While not all SaaS providers or companies deploy two-factor authentication currently, it’s a standard for online security that should be deployed as soon as possible.
Why do Companies Need Two-Factor Authentication?
When it comes to cyber-security, one of the greatest weak links that hackers exploit is not in technology, but the humans using it. For example, hackers can learn information that impacts business security from an employee’s social media account:
- Personal Data Common in Passwords: Social media pages are a gold mine of personal information that you might use in a password – such as children’s names or pet’s names – helping to narrow down the contents of your passwords.
- Lifestyle Information for Phishing: If a hacker knows your interests, it becomes easier to craft phishing emails that will catch your attention and lead you to click a malicious link.
The Danger of Convenience
Unfortunately, if a hacker learns how to access an employee’s personal account, they may also learn to access your business’s database. This happens especially when the employee is working remotely in the cloud. Workers often recycle their home device passwords into their office world, leading hackers to easy access of remote portals and VPNs.
How to Protect Your Business with Two-Factor Authentication
You might wonder how to keep yourself and business safe since usernames and passwords are less secure now than ever. One effective method of protecting against hackers is implementing two-factor authentication (2FA).
What is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)?
2FA is a second layer of protection that is more difficult for hackers to break through. Once the username and password combination are approved, you’re then taken to the next step. The second factor could be based on:
- Information – such as an answer to a pre-set question, a design, or a pin.
- An Item – such as a phone, an email, or a key fob.
- Yourself – such as a fingerprint, iris scan, or a voice print.
If any of these factors aren’t met, then your information remains secure, and it’s highly unlikely that anyone would have access to your second-factor information. Not to mention, it’s also a lot cheaper than the fallout from a cyber-attack.
What about the other 0.1% of hacks that 2FA does not solve? You still need to train your users on how to avoid phishing and boost protection to your network and software tools. No one security solution can beat everything!
Establish Two-Factor Authentication with Just Fix It
As a trusted IT partner that has established an easy and workable two-factor authentication solution, we help implement best practices while managing IT support needs. Just Fix It offers one-time security audits, managed support to ensure compliance, and 2FA on our private cloud to ensure that your information is as secure as possible.
Want to learn more about how to enhance your business’ security and become more resilient to malicious activity designed to interfere in your day-to-day operations? Contact Just Fix It.