The Importance of Multifactor Authentication
With security breaches, digital crime and internet fraud on the rise, the importance of safeguarding your information has never been greater. In this brief article, we are going to outline the importance of multifactor authentication, as well as provide an infographic containing valuable insight.
What is Multifactor Authentication?
Multifactor authentication (MFA) is a technology solution that adds an additional layer of security to the platforms you typically access (such as online banking, Microsoft 365, Google, etc.). The first layer should be extremely familiar to you - a username and password combination. Issues that arise from this layer include:
Individuals reusing the same password across multiple services, and
A significant increase in successful email phishing attacks
Multifactor authentication mitigates these issues by requiring an additional method of verification when attempting to access services. This additional verification method can be in the form of:
Push notifications to a mobile device,
A unique, time sensitive code, typically 6 digits generated either by an app, or sent via SMS or email,
A physical token, such as a USB key or RFID device, or
Biometric devices such as fingerprint, facial, or iris scanners.
What are the benefits?
In short, multifactor authentication is quickly becoming a requirement to adequately protect our digital identities. Some benefits are more obvious than others, but generally it is a method of improving security for individuals and organizations without hindering the services we are accessing. If you care about security and data privacy, you absolutely need MFA.
How do I begin utilizing MFA?
Many well known service providers offer MFA as part of their platform. This includes the likes of Microsoft and Google. These MFA services can typically be enabled in the “Settings” menus of your individual accounts. In a business setting, it’s extremely important to have a unified approach to multifactor authentication for your organization to streamline your processes, and ensure your team is not encumbered by the technology. For support and guidance in developing your MFA roll-out at your organization, contact us at Deltaform Technology, and we’ll be more than happy to assist.
