Businesses in Central Pennsylvania are implementing more security measures, like multi-factor authentication (MFA), to provide that extra level of security from data and system breaches.
More and more organizations and platforms are requiring MFA as cyberattacks, including ransomware attacks, continue to occur every 11 seconds around the world. Hackers continue to use their most popular method to threaten a breach on businesses of all sizes, hacking passwords.
Businesses in Central Pennsylvania are implementing more security measures, like multi-factor authentication (MFA), to provide that extra level of security from data and system breaches.
Maintaining strong and complex passwords is not as easy as it sounds. Most users opt for passwords that are short and easy to remember instead. Even though passwords are the most direct way to access a user’s private information, most passwords in use today are simply not strong or complex enough.
Microsoft stated that 99.9% of the accounts that are compromised each month do not have an MFA solution enabled. In fact, MFAs have resulted in a 67% reduction in breaches, according to Microsoft.
MFA is a great way to overcome the user’s resistance to maintaining strong passwords, while still ensuring adequate standards of cybersecurity. MFA is a method that requires the user to utilize two methods to confirm that they are the rightful account owner. There are three categories of information that can be used in this process:
With MFA, you can enroll new employee devices in minutes, given that there’s no need to install an endpoint agent. An MFA solution will also give you the capability to specify security policies to individuals.
Even with an MFA in place, it is still important to make sure you and your employees are creating strong, and complex passwords. When creating passwords, keep the following in mind:
Microsoft provides two levels of their MFA services to meet the demands of clients with MFA in Office 365 and an enhanced version in the Enterprise Mobility + Security Suite (EMS). Office 365 includes MFA to help provide extra security of resources and is managed from the Office 365 Admin Center.
Basic features, like the ability to enable and enforce MFA for end users along with the use of a mobile app or phone call as a second form of authentication, are some of the features that MFA offers.
MFA is included, for free, with Office 365. However, businesses using legacy protocols and infrastructure that can’t handle MFA will have this level of security bypassed by using an application password.
MFA in Windows Azure offers many more features than in Office 365. Extra features included in Windows Azure are:
Email attacks, like phishing and spear phishing campaigns, continue to be the most popular way for hackers to gain access to your systems and sensitive data. These attacks can be prevented by using MFA. MFA makes it harder for hackers if they don’t have the extra device your employees use to verify they are the account holder.
MFA will enhance your organization’s security by requiring your users to identify themselves in multiple ways. By enforcing the use of MFA, you will experience increased confidence and peace of mind knowing that your organization is safe from cybercriminals.
Due to an increase in cybercriminal activities, there is a heightened awareness of the risks and demands of cybersecurity. MFA will add that extra layer of security to protect your organization, to fulfill compliance requirements, and to increase productivity.
MicroXpress can assess your organization’s IT requirements and can implement the right solutions, including MFA solutions, within your IT environment. We provide comprehensive monthly IT support plans for Central PA businesses of all sizes with our Managed IT Services and IT Support. Click here to find out more:
https://microxpress.net/managed-it-support-services/
To learn more about our MFA solutions and how we can help protect your business, call us at (717) 840-HELP. You can also send an email over to info@microxpress.net.
MicroXpress has been providing professional IT services to Central PA businesses since 1989. Watch this brief video to find out the Top Five Reasons so many local businesses are switching to MicroXpress for their IT support.