Importance of Multi-factor Authentication in the Changing Digital World

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a layered approach to securing data and applications where a system requires a user to present at least two factors that prove user’s identity.

Why Use MFA?

Cybercriminals use stolen credentials to perform online scams viz. taking over your bank accounts, health care records, etc. Multi-factor authentication is important, as it makes hacking personal information harder for the average criminal.

MFA combines at least two separate factors for authentication. One is typically your username and password, which is something you know. The other could be:

Something you have: A cell phone, key card, or USB could all verify your identity.

Something you are: Fingerprints, iris scans, or some other biometric data prove that you are who you say you are.

Somewhere you are: like your location.

Remember, addition of secondary factors to your username and password protects your privacy.

Do Passwords Offer Enough Security?

We use passwords to sign in into our email systems, work databases, and bank accounts. But, we are usually forced to change our combinations periodically with a hope to stay a bit safer. The fact is, passwords alone can’t provide an appropriate level of security.

When we think about data breaches, we often think about bank accounts and lost money. But the health care sector is also a common target for hackers. Once the health care data is breached, people can change medical records to bill fraudulent companies and make money. An altered record is incredibly difficult to change, and it could impact your health care and credit going forward.

How Does MFA Work?

Instead of eliminating usernames and passwords most MFAs put layers on another verification method to ensure that the cybercriminals are kept away.

How a Typical MFA Process Looks Like?

Registration: A person links an item, such as a cell phone or a hardware token, to the system and asserts that he/she owns it.

Login: A person enters a username and password into a secured system.

Verification: The system connects with the registered item. Phones might ring with verification codes, or hardware token might light up.

Process Completion: The person completes the process with the verified item. Entering verification codes or pushing a button on a key fob are common next steps.

Some systems remember devices but systems demand verification with each login. So, if you always use the same phone or computer to log in, you may not need to verify each visit. But if you attempt to log in on a new device or during an unusual time of day other than your regular time, verification of your identity might be required. Though simple, yet MFA is remarkably effective.

Benefits of Multi-Factor Authentication

Given the realities of today’s security landscape and regulations countless organizations have adopted MFA. Companies are accessing and recognizing these risks and are acting accordingly. Enterprises are adopting MFA to protect security, and that number is rising each year. MFA usage in India in 2022 was recorded at 66%, as compared to 56% globally. So, if you haven’t adopted this technique, the time is opportune to start.

With privacy regulations requiring the latest security policies, the presence of MFA will only continue to become more widespread.

Several reasons for MFA’s current existence:

MFA Enables Stronger Authentication

Risk reduction is critical for any organization, which is why MFA is growing exponentially. In a world where credential harvesting is a constant threat this kind of shielded authentication solution is essential.

With MFA, it’s about granting access based on multiple weighted factors, thereby reducing the risks of compromised passwords. It enables in adding another layer of protection to check cyber security breaches that cost organizations millions.

A security breach caused by a weak user password would understandably have huge consequences for both the company and the customers who trust it.

MFA Offers Security Without Compromising User Experience

Passwords are a headache to remember — the more users need to remember, the lazier their password habits become. Moreover, it’s important to avoid weighing IT teams down with password resets after they’ve implemented more stringent password policies to protect the company.

MFA secures the environment, the people in it, and the devices they’re using without requiring cumbersome resets or complicated policies. Organizations can also make it easier for users by providing them with a variety of factors to choose from or by only requiring additional factors when necessary.

With MFA’s simple deployment and management as well as its seamless integration with a broad range of applications, IT teams are freed up and can focus this time on more strategic tasks.

Use AUTHENTRICA

AUTHENTRICA, adaptive MFA, takes care of cost, inconsistency, inefficiency of secured OTP delivery that are the main challenges in OTP delivery for any enterprise. Some vendors only provide the bare minimum needed to meet compliance requirements – and include lots of hidden costs required for operation and maintenance.

Decide for better method of authentication and learn how AUTHENTRICA, adaptive MFA, could be the right choice for your organization at present.