Traditional password solutions that rely only on the user’s username and password credentials are no more secure and reliable.
Cybersecurity attacks are getting more sophisticated and evolving daily, and it’s much easier to guess the user’s passwords and other credentials to grant malicious access. Hence, implementing much more robust authentication measures is important.
This is where Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) plays a major role.
If you’re wondering about Multi-Factor Authentication meaning, MFA is an authentication system requiring more than one authentication method. Users must enter more than one authentication or identity verification factor to access a network application, account, or network resources.
In this article, we’ll see the importance of MFA and why you should implement it to prevent unauthorized and malicious access to your network enterprise.
4 Reasons To Implement Multi-Factor Authentication
There are many Multi-Factor Authentication advantages for businesses, and they are becoming increasingly important to combat breaches and password-related attacks.
Here’s why you should implement Multi-Factor Authentication for your enterprise.
1. Boosts security
Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication solutions adds extra layers of security and increases the barrier between your sensitive data and network applications and malicious users.
Requiring users and employees to enter multiple credentials and pass more than one authentication factor before accessing their accounts or applications prevent hackers from breaking into the network and exploiting user credentials and applications.
Adding additional security or authentication methods is better than dealing with malicious breaches or data losses later.
2. Safeguards user identity
It’s essential to enhance the network security protocols by establishing a continuous context-based authentication and security system throughout the entire login journey.
MFA secures user identity and makes logins easier through solutions like Single Sign-On (SSO), which requires only the initial user login credentials for the user to access multiple business applications and resources.
SSO doesn’t require users to memorize or remember countless passwords or go through multiple steps to grant access while preventing the risks of account compromise or stolen credentials.
At the same time, users can further strengthen their digital security by educating themselves about the best password practices, cybersecurity practices, and risks of password reuse.
Hence, identity management and security awareness are equally important for modern enterprises apart from MFA implementation.
3. Meets regulatory compliance requirements
MFA is of the utmost importance to meet the industry standard compliance regulations and requirements, especially if your organization deals with personally identifiable information or huge finances.
PCI-DSS, in particular, requires MFA in certain instances to prevent unauthorized access and protect critical user information.
Moreover, MFA implementation also helps businesses comply with HIPAA, ensuring that only authenticated and authorized users can access sensitive and protected health information.
4. Prevents password-related thefts because of exposed passwords
Credential theft is the most effective and common way to infiltrate enterprises of all shapes and sizes and gain access to sensitive information.
The major types of sophisticated password thefts include:
- Phishing: Asking for the user’s credential information by creating a duplicate login page or website or illegally via emails, calls, or texts.
- Keylogging: Secretly paying attention and capturing the keyboard keys when the user enters the login information.
- Pharming: Installing malicious software, code, or script on a system, diverting users to a malicious page or website where they enter their sensitive credentials.
By adding additional security measures, MFA prevents these harmful data theft operations and password thefts from harming your organization’s network. Even if the employee’s initial credentials get compromised or exposed, MFA ensures that the data remains safe from prying eyes and malicious unauthorized access.
Conclusion
With the growing digitalization, ensuring cybersecurity also becomes essential.
MFA implementation greatly secures confidential business information and consumer and employee data from malicious breaches.
So, if you want to implement robust MFA solutions, check out InstaSafe Zero Trust Security services and their Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication solution that helps authenticate user’s identity and prevent identity and credential theft with reliable Zero Trust Security.
