It must go beyond the traditional username and password to protect systems and data from cyber-attacks.
It is straightforward for cyber criminals to exploit a user with only one defence mechanism in place.
This is why businesses are now moving to advance further their cybersecurity measures, including adding Watchguard VPN MFA as their extra layer of protection.
WatchGuard VPN for Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication eliminates the risk of a password leak by adding another factor of authentication: something you know, something you have, or something you are.
Multi-factor authentication is relatively easy to implement, and if your company correctly plans for it, it can significantly benefit your security.
MFA is integral to your business’s infrastructure and should be enabled as quickly as possible. Here are some best practices for multi-factor authentication:
Implement MFA across every user and department
Deploying MFA in select departments is the same as locking the doors to your house but leaving the back door unlocked.
To minimize the risk of a cyber-attack, you need to consider all access points within your organization, including cloud services.
Many businesses use the cloud to store their information but don’t have adequate security to protect the cloud data.
Multi-factor authentication must be deployed for all remote access networks employees use when not in the office.
Server usernames and passwords are the authoritative sources for cyber attackers, which is why MFA is necessary.
When you implement MFA to your remote access, you significantly decrease the chance of a cyber attack.
Leverage an adaptive MFA solution
A multi-factor authentication solution that can adapt to your existing infrastructure is the most beneficial.
Not only can this enhance your user experience, but it only asks users for extra verification when necessary.
This means that the MFA uses contextual information that includes the location, network, device settings, and time of day to help verify if the user is who they say they are.
For example, if a user is logging in through the corporate network from a familiar device and IP address, they can be granted access with their username and password.
If a user logs in through a different device and IP address, then there will be an additional authentication required.
Provide a variety of authentication methods
User convenience and security are essential when choosing an MFA solution for your organization. You want an MFA solution that doesn’t have the ‘one size fits all’ approach.
Since multi-factor authentication is now a requirement for most industries, many authentication methods have emerged. Some options for authentication methods include:
- Hardware tokens
- Security keys
- SMS push notification
- Phone call
- Bypass codes
Combine MFA with another identity security authentication
Suppose you combine multi-factor authentication with other solutions, such as a single sign-on.
In that case, you can eliminate the need for multiple passwords by allowing users to authenticate once and access all of the applications and cloud services they own.
This reduces the use of weak, re-used passwords. By implementing an MFA solution that doesn’t require a complex and lengthy log-in process, you’re eliminating the risks associated with shared accounts and compromised credentials.
You are also raising your user’s privilege to an as-needed basis versus an everyday occurrence.
Regularly re-evaluate your MFA solution
Vulnerabilities can happen even if there are measures in place. The threat from cyber attackers is constantly changing, but so are IT infrastructures, authentication systems, and applications available to users.
Since this environment is so dynamic and changing consistently, companies need to regularly evaluate their MFA and continue to meet the needs of their users in the organization to ensure that the MFA solution is still working to their benefit.
