Multi-Factor Authentication: 4 Easy Tips to Get the Most Out of It

 Many enterprises think of multi-factor authentication (MFA) as an issue that was solved years ago and which now requires only routine maintenance. Keeping in mind the current scenario worldwide, it is high time the critical role of MFA security solutions in organizations was reexamined.

The technology environment was completely different when most organizations first introduced MFA technology. There were only one or two major technology providers, and they offered expensive hardware-based solutions that were unwieldy to use. Today we have hundreds of vendors that deliver versatile and user-friendly solutions running as mobile apps and in many other convenient formats also.

Designed for an Older Technology Environment

Many organizations are still operating MFA security solutions deployments built around the constraints of yesteryears, rather than today's versatility. These obsolete MFA strategies use the technology to safeguard remote access for workers and highly sensitive information. They had been planned to keep the MFA footprint as low as possible in order to optimize efficiency while keeping costs in check.

Over time, the technology landscape has also seen significant changes. In the past, companies spent considerable time and energy safeguarding remote access solutions because their security architectures were built around the concept of placing all protected resources within a nice little geographic boundary. If people needed to access those resources, they either had to go through a variety of physical security controls to access the facilities or use multi-factor authentication (MFA) for remote connection.

Today this paradigm does not exist anymore owing to the fact that both the users as well as the data have become more mobile. We've moved our assets around the world as we transition to cloud-based computing models, expanding, at the same time, our MFA use across geographies.

Organizations have discovered multiple ways to leverage their MFA investments to achieve higher value for their businesses. Let's consider the following four ways that can help you take advantage of this experience and optimize your own MFA implementation.

1. Protect your Tools for Collaboration and Productivity

Some of our most sensitive communications are included in email and chat services. These are also usually very easy to protect with MFA since they are only offered by a few major collaboration tool providers and are supported by all MFA vendors.

2. Ensure Critical Business Applications are Secured

If you haven't checked your list of essential resources that are protected by MFA, it’s time to take another look. There could be many new resources in your list that can be secured applying MFA.

3. Password Resets Must Be Automated

Across organizations worldwide, password reset requests consume a considerable chunk of the working hours of the staff manning the IT help desks. It isn't easy to establish a remote caller's identity, but MFA can make it much smoother. Automating password resets with built-in MFA maintains protection while reducing the cost of service.

4. Migrate Services to Cloud

Because of security concerns, many organizations prefer to keep certain services on-site, but MFA can catalyze efforts to move them to the cloud. Identify services you're comfortable to migrate with MFA's added security control.

Having a fine-tuned strategic approach towards the numerous benefits offered by multi-factor authentication enables companies to achieve greater control and, at the same time, gain greater business value and a competitive edge. Companies must reexamine their MFA deployments and make suitable changes that could usher in a strategic security advantage for them. MFA remains a very effective way for enterprises to protect their data from hackers, thus enhancing organizational effectiveness.