There are a lot of innovative technology solutions that can be used to help safeguard your business in the Greater Boston area. Regardless of the industry you serve, it is highly likely that computers play some role in your day-to-day business operation. Whether you rely on them for making sales, communicating with customers, or creating a digital product, it is essential to ensure that you do everything you can to keep your company data and records safe. Multi-factor authentication, or MFA as it is known in the network security industry, can help to make your computers more secure. Whether you choose to use a simple two-factor authentication system or something even more strategic, such as a layered form of adaptive authentication, Boston business security services can provide you with the support you need to maximize the return on your investment.
What is Multi-Factor Authentication?
Using a basic password to log in to the company network can be a weakness for many organizations. Most employees choose a basic word, word combination, or pin that is something familiar, such as the names of their children or pets, a wedding anniversary, a birth year, or even their own social security number. These choices can come with significant risks, not just for the user but also for your business. Passwords and pins are still used regularly, but many organizations have become smarter about how and when they are used. Adding a second security measure, such as an additional pin or answering a series of security questions, like the name of your grade school or the place where you first held a job, can make it harder for someone to guess the log-in for the system. This is known as two-factor authentication, which technically falls under the category of multi-factor authentication.
But if two-factor authentication is good, wouldn’t even more factors and options be better? There are other methods for providing a secure access to your company network, which can include a variety of physical and personal checkpoints. Inherent authentication includes things that only you can possess, such as your fingerprints, voice, retina scan, or facial recognition. Many organizations, including high-security medical labs and government offices, utilize this type of authentication to keep unapproved individuals away from essential data and access. A physical form of verification can also be used in addition to a password and pin, such as a smart card, log-in card, access badge, or a USB key. We use this type of multi-factor authentication all the time without realizing it when our bank, credit card company or even Microsoft account sends us a one-time code to use when logging in on a new device.
Adaptive Authentication Measures
Another way that organizations can ensure that only authorized employees are accessing essential or sensitive data is to use adaptive authentication techniques. Boston business security services use this kind of multi-factor authentication all the time. This type of service looks at a lot of different criteria to verify the legitimacy of the individual accessing the network, such as the GPS location, network connection, the device being used, and even the time of day. The security program uses this information to estimate the risk of the unique log-in and can then adapt the level of protection used to prevent or allow access accordingly. Humans are predictable: most will log in at approximately the same time every day from the same device and use the same network. If something is different, such as logging in via a mobile device on another continent, adaptive authentication can block access until the individual can be properly verified.
Synviate specializes in helping our clients take advantage of innovative technology solutions to improve their security, communications, and network management in the Greater Boston area. If you are looking for new ways to secure your essential business data, consider trying multi-factor authentication. Our reputable Boston business security services can provide you with a custom solution based on your unique needs and industry requirements. Whether that means implementing a basic two-factor authentication or using adaptive authentication techniques will depend on your individual goals. Contact our team by calling 617-848-1248 to speak with one of our friendly and knowledgeable technicians. You can get a FREE IT Assessment on our website to help identify the areas where you require the most services and support.