Double down on cyber security with multi-factor authentication

Each day, we all use authenticators to prove our identity and establish trust. Whether it’s accessing our cell phones, bank accounts, or our employer’s network, authentication is a part of our daily life. Without authenticators, establishing trust would make business transactions very difficult, and without secure authentication, an imposter could severely damage a business’ financial interests and their digital persona. Proving identity is increasingly important as we use global online services and surround ourselves with the internet. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the value of using multi-factor authentication in your company’s cyber security efforts, and give you tips for further protecting your organization’s sensitive information.

When it comes to protecting your data, two is better than one!

Account takeover is a serious cyber security risk to both businesses and individuals. If someone steals credentials, they may wreak havoc in minutes that could last for a very long time. Since many people reuse passwords for multiple accounts, losing one set of credentials puts more than just one service at risk. Credential reuse is risky—it’s like putting your only copy of all of your keys on the same key ring and then losing it.

Multi-factor authentication (a.k.a., two-factor authentication, 2FA, MFA), is a second layer of security that requires you to provide an additional credential with your account password. The second factor may be an SMS-code, app-generated code, app touch, fingerprint, face scan, or even a physical key. Adding a second factor lowers account takeover risk, because the attacker has to defeat two controls to gain access to an account.

 

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