If you want to keep your online accounts safe, then adding two-factor authentication is the best option for your users. In order to protect your user’s accounts, you’ll need to implement another form of authentication beyond a username and password.
Adding RD Web Access login to your user accounts will ensure that every account is secure and only accessed with proper authorization.
Two-factor authentication adds another layer of security to the login process. This means that you need another authentication factor other than your username and password. This could be a knowledge factor, a possession factor, or an inherence factor.
2FA has its benefits and can give your organization a stronger security posture. It will protect your users from cyber attacks and also prevent any unauthorized users from accessing your company’s data.
When you’re setting up two-factor authentication, essentially you’re asked to prove that you’re the owner of the second-factor authentication method. Unless hackers have access to your second authentication factor, your account will be safe.
How Two-Factor Authentication Works
Logging into your accounts with just a username and password works to an extent. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there wasn’t a need for extra security measures until remote working became the new norm.
Now, with cyberattacks on the rise, a username and passwords don’t work the same way that they used to. A hacker can easily get a hold of your username and password since there is more sophisticated technology out there to do so.
Two-factor authentication adds another access barrier for unauthorized visitors who may have obtained access to your username and password.
Two-factor authentication means that you have to have another authentication method beyond your username and password. This could be anything such as hardware tokens, security keys, biometrics, authenticator applications, and SMS codes.
When setting up 2FA, essentially you’re being asked to prove that you’re the owner of your second-factor device. Unless hackers have access to this second-factor device, which normally they don’t, your account is protected.
2FA jumps into action when you try to log in on a new device that is not familiar or consistent with your other recent logins.
Authenticator applications are one of the best and most affordable ways to protect your user accounts since they do not leave any room for cyber attackers to intercept expiration codes without physical access to your phone. Authenticator apps generate a new code every 30-45 seconds and can be accessed right from your phone.
Biometric authentication is also on the rise but because of how expensive it is, it’s mainly used in high-profile environments like government or private security.
This type of authentication makes 2FA more secure as an individual’s features are unique to that specific individual and without it, there’s no access. 2FA is a quick and easy process to set up and with remote work becoming more common, there’s no reason why your company shouldn’t have 2FA implemented.
How To Be Protected Beyond 2FA
There isn’t a guaranteed way to make sure your online accounts are never going to be accessed but 2FA is one of the best ways to reduce your chances of your accounts being accessed without authorization. Most online services will have backup access methods available if you happen to lose your second-factor device.
Providing backup codes is what some of the major players have started doing. This is in the event that a user does not have access to their phone, hardware token, or authenticator application for whatever reason.
Some organizations will ask for additional questions to verify the user should the second-factor method not be available. This would be anything that an imposter may not know as it wouldn’t be common knowledge and only be relevant to the user.
As a user, you should make yourself familiar with various alternative methods of access and account recovery. You’ll want to use a system that is protected to keep important information safe. Even with 2FA in place, your accounts are only as strong as their weakest points.
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