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Cyber-attacks continue to make headlines on an almost daily basis. It’s easier than ever before for hackers to breach cybersecurity defenses. Not many organizations are taking the necessary steps to protect themselves, their employees and their user data. According to the Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report 2019, 80% of security breaches involve compromised passwords. One way to protect your business from cyber criminals is to implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?

MFA is a security system that uses multiple authentication methods to verify the identity of the user who wishes to log in or perform a transaction. This type of authentication combines at least two different pieces of identification information about what the user knows (their password), what they have (a token or cell phone) and what they are (a biometric verification like a fingerprint).

The purpose of the MFA is to provide multiple layers of protection and to make it more difficult for an unauthorized person to gain access to a target, such as a physical location, computer device, network or database. Even if a hacker were to succeed in deciphering one of the factors, they would still have at least one obstacle to overcome before reaching their target.

Why Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?

Passwords do not provide a strong enough identity check, making it easier for hackers to quickly penetrate systems and steal data. The security of the account is based solely on the strength of the password, which, as we all know, is usually not strong enough. Nobody likes to remember a string of characters containing uppercase, lowercase, numeric and special characters. Users want something simple, easy to remember and unwittingly, easy to hack.

• Strengthens Security – Unless the hacker can satisfy all of the verification factors required by the system, they will not be able to access the account.
• Compliance – Aside from encryption of data, a lot of compliance standards specify that organizations need to implement MFA for certain situations. This is especially true when it comes to protecting sensitive data like personally identifiable information (PII) or financial details. This means that implementing MFA is actually a significant step towards achieving compliance.
• Fighting Cyber Crime – Cyber security has become a top priority for many organizations, especially with the rise of cloud communications.

These are just a few reasons why companies need to adopt MFA. As the workplace changes and more employees work outside the office, companies require more advanced MFA solutions to manage more complex access requests.

GridWay can help your business implement MFA and provides Security as a Service (SECaaS), Help Desk Services, Server Monitoring and Maintenance, Managed Malware Anti-Virus services, and a Total Protection Program that combines these services along with assessments with our experts.

Contact us today to get started.