What is Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
When signing into accounts online, such as your email or finance package, you are proving to the application that you are who you say you are. This is a process known as ‘Authentication’. It is your first line of defence from cyber-crime. Which is why your business must use MFA now.
Traditionally the primary way of handling authentication is a username and password. Unfortunately, this is not a very secure way of handling it.
Usernames are usually extremely easy to discover as they often relate to a person or include generic details like [email protected]. Additionally, because passwords can be hard to remember, many people use simpler passwords; simpler passwords are easier to hack.
Almost all services are moving to Multifactor Authentication (MFA). This adds additional methods to the basic username and password to ensure that malicious individuals cannot access your information. It is a very simple yet effective way of improving your business cybersecurity.
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MFA can come in many forms, but the most common are:
Phone verification
For quick and easy access, you can use your mobile phone to receive a text or call to confirm your sign-in. This is the most used method as it is incredibly difficult to bypass your phone, plus you always have it on you.
Application verification
Many vendors, including Microsoft 365, allow you to use this method. Application verification works by using a third-party or proprietary app to generate a random code that communicates with the service into which you are trying to sign. These codes only last a short amount of time so they are exceedingly difficult to hack.
Email verification
One of the more commonly used methods is email verification. This works the same as the above two methods, except you get codes sent to an alternative email. Unfortunately, it is not ideal, as emails are traditionally the most infiltrated service.
At MF Telecom Services, we offer MFA (multi-factor authentication) with most of our services by default. For services that do not offer it for free, we have partnered with Duo and N-Able Passportal to provide MFA.
If you need any advice regarding Cyber Security or IT Support for your business, please contact us today.