Choosing the Best Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) For Your Business

Implementing the right 2FA solution for your business is the most effective single step you can take toward stronger security

Two-factor authentication is when you use another means of verifying the identity of users logging into your network, beyond just a simple password. 2FA solutions are built by combining two of the different factors below.

Something you know

The most common factor of authentication, this is most often:

• Password
• PIN number
• Answer to a question

Something you have

Common factors here include:

• Cell phones with a temporary one-time password (TOTP)
• Hard tokens
• Smart cards

Something you are

This is commonly biometric data:

• Fingerprint scan
• Iris scan
• Voice identification
• Facial recognition

What’s the best form of 2FA for your business?

Start by running a thorough analysis to determine which two factors of authentication for each of your network services is best. During each 2FA deployment, the Complete Network team will carefully evaluate your business, processes, and technology to deploy the right 2FA service for your business.

Important issues you should address when deploying a 2FA solution

What level of security do you need? Some factors, like SMS authentication, provide less security than others. After all, a mobile phone can be stolen or dropped, and SMS messages can be easily intercepted. Other solutions may offer greater security, but not the right kind of security for the needs of a specific service.

Recent research from Google shows that 2FA helped blocked 100% of automated bot hacks and 99% of bulk phishing attempts.

Who will use the service? Each IT service has unique security requirements, and each department in your organization has unique user experience expectations. You must consider these factors deploying a 2FA solutions, so that everyone from the mailroom to executives are protected with the appropriate measures.

According to the 2019 Verizon’s Data Breach Report, 80% of data breaches involved weak or stolen credentials, a statistic that’s remained consistent for several years.

How will 2FA fit into your overall cybersecurity protections? 2FA is a powerful addition to your security, but it’s not a silver bullet. Because even 2FA can be hacked, you must integrate it into a holistic network security strategy that provides additional protection for sensitive systems.

How to Deploy 2FA with Confidence

Building and managing a cybersecurity strategy that includes 2FA is beyond the capabilities of most in-house IT teams, which is why many organizations seek to partner with a partner like Complete Network.

If you want to improve security at your organization with 2FA or other security measures, contact our friendly team at 877.877.1840 or [email protected]. We’re passionate about helping business in Albany, New York and Charlotte, North Carolina attain maximum security. If you would like to bolster your password protection or train your staff for better awareness, contact us now.