Anastasiya Novikava
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Anastasiya believes cybersecurity should be easy to understand. She is particularly interested in studying nation-state cyber-attacks. Outside of work, she enjoys history, 1930s screwball comedies, and Eurodance music.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA)requests multiple identification factors when users log into network services. These factors could be one-time codes delivered by secure third-party providers. Or they could be biometric identifiers.
MFA aims toverify user identities and strengthen network protection beyond the level provided by traditional passwords. But how should you achieve this goal?
This blog will explain some core MFA best practices. It will also lead you through a step-by-step guide to implementing multi-factor authentication. The result should be an MFA system ensuring rock-solid network protection, which matters most.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security protocol that adds an extra layer of protection to user accounts by requiring multiple forms of identification for access. It can include factors like passwords, PINs, biometrics, security tokens, and more to verify the user's identity. This way it enhances security and reduces the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.
Multi-factor authentication is an essential addition to cybersecurity setups. Properly configured, MFA allows employees to work from home, connect as they travel, and use cloud resources anywhere.
These MFA best practices will help you create an authentication system that meets your needs.
Multi-factor authentication is not a one-size-fits-all technology. Choose the right authentication system for your business needs. For instance**,** types of MFA to think about include:
Workers could benefit from biometric scanning if their business relies on mobile devices. Quick, user-friendly biometrics can provide secure access away from the office. Smartphones are well-suited to techniques like fingerprint scans.
Workforces where remote working is routine might prefer hardware tokens or tags. These tiny devices are easy to carry between work and home. The tokens will still be required to access network resources if devices are lost or stolen. So they are an excellent extra defense measure.
Whatever solution you choose must comply with network infrastructure. Find an MFA system that is compatible with critical apps and employee devices.
Multi-factor authentication solutions must cover all access points to network resources.
Carry out a device audit before sourcing any technologies. This will help you understand which types of MFA tech to choose and how to train employees to use authentication systems.
Cloud assets and on-premises resources should all be included. Secure all cloud endpoints with multiple authentication factors, which add an extra layer of protection to your assets.
The biggest problem with MFA is ensuring employees use authentication tools consistently and safely. Workers may lapse into unsafe behavior if MFA is too time-consuming or complex. That’s why change management is all-important.
Plan a staged introduction that makes every user feel like they are part of the process. Extra authentication methods will disrupt working practices, at least for a while. Yet, if you approach employees as participants, they will respond positively.
Inform users about upcoming changes at the start of the project. Explain how MFA will benefit workers and how user identification works. Answer any questions as the project unfolds. Employees must understand exactly what's needed and how to comply with security rules.
Change managers can isolate areas of potential resistance. Focus on chokepoints like using third-party devices, managing biometrics, and password management. Provide training and refresh user knowledge after MFA comes online.
When mainstreaming MFA,companies need to craft user-friendly solutions. Systems should minimize friction and maximize speed while remaining secure.
Explore ways to reduce the work of users. Adaptive MFA can remove the need for passwords and use device or location information alongside biometrics. Single sign-on portals can bring services together and make logging on easier.
Where possible, provide multiple options for users. Some workers will embrace retina or fingerprint scanning. For others, it could be impractical or intrusive. They might prefer hardware tokens.
When people choose their solutions, they are more likely to feel in control. When they “own” their authentication choices, workers will be less likely to back-slide and abandon MFA.
As hinted above, one common solution for MFA is single sign-on (SSO). SSO creates a single identity security portal. This gateway allows users to access core resources according to their individual privileges.
SSO fits neatly with MFA. You can combine standard password portals with biometrics and one-time passwords. Using a single portal and extra identity verification factors balances user experience and network security.
Multi-factor authentication systems use more than biometric scanners and hardware tokens. MFA can also leverage contextual information about individual users and their devices.
Contextual information is passive. Users do not need to provide information consciously. Instead, agents detect data about the user’s device or location. Agents on user laptops can tell whether the computer is in the owner’s home or connected to insecure public wifi. Blocklisting screens out unknown devices or those accessing from unsafe locations.
Users move. They won’t always be located at home. If employees request access from elsewhere, MFA systems ask them for additional information. That complicates matters for laptop or smartphone thieves with access to worker devices.
More advanced authentication factors are also available for highly high-security situations. Techniques like liveness testing and biometric keyboard verification provide maximum information about user identities. These contextual factors represent a solid barrier against data thieves when used with physical tokens.
In some cases, MFA allows companies to remove traditional password access from their network perimeter. Passwords are clumsy to use. Few employees use strong passwords or store them safely. Going passwordless can make a lot of sense from a security perspective.
MFA can use contextual information about mobile devices, user locations, and behavior. These factors may be sufficient to allow access when combined with biometric data. This saves time while providing a degree of security. However, strong passwords should be retained to access sensitive data and critical workloads.
MFA can apply uniformly to all users, but it’s also better to implement role-based MFA to enforce the principle of least privilege . Part of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), this principle states that users should only have access to essential data and applications. All non-essential resources should be off-limits.
Identity and Access Management and network segmentation are core ZTNA technologies, but MFA also plays a role.
MFA systems can ask for extra information when users try to exercise administrative functions. MFA can also apply conditional access to high-security databases and request additional user credentials regularly.
Companies can combine MFA systems and critical cloud assets by using provisioning protocols. For instance, Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) supports protocols like RADIUS and Oauth 2.0.
Standard protocols like RADIUS make combining legacy network tools and cloud applications easier. MFA systems must operate across all network devices and resources. Adopting an approach based on standard protocols makes this possible.
Enabling MFA doesn’t end when users start to apply biometrics or hardware tokens. Companies must see authentication as an ongoing challenge requiring constant attention and regular audits.
The threat landscape does not stand still. New phishing techniques emerge monthly. Novel malware threats can compromise previously secure endpoints. Network managers must be aware of these developments. Security teams must update MFA systems to reflect real-world cybersecurity risks.
Regularly assess multi-factor authentication systems to ensure they are delivering adequate security. Are workers, including remote employees, using them correctly? Do you need to use more or different authentication factors? Are any gaps not covered by authentication processes?
Companies also need to be persistent and determined when deploying MFA. Most MFA solutions experience problems. Users regularly report difficulties, which can cause IT teams to roll back authentication projects. Resist this urge.
Provide support to any departments or individuals experiencing issues. Drill down into the concerns reported by users. They may detect technical problems that were not apparent to security professionals.
Above all, don’t expect overnight success. MFA eventually becomes embedded in everyday work, but this won’t happen immediately.
Step-by-step MFA deployment strategy
When implementing MFA, here are the steps to follow:
Employee education is critical when implementing MFA. Every process must be centered around upskilling and reassuring users.
Poorly informed workers may resist authentication techniques or back-slide to unsafe practices. Here are some things to bear in mind when training staff:
Choosing the correct form of multi-factor authentication is critically important. Some companies find that biometric scanners like facial recognition are appropriate. This works well when end users can access smartphones with reliable cameras and fingerprint scanners.
Other companies prefer to distribute hardware tokens to remote workers. Tokens provide one-time passwords and can be tracked remotely by security managers.
Questions to ask when choosing an MFA solution:
Create privilege levels for different access requests. This allows individuals to access core resources while keeping sensitive data off-limits to those who do not need it.
You might want to request extra identity data when accessing customer records or executing admin commands on cloud platforms. Multi-factor authentication requests may also be needed every few hours when accessing financial records.
Some resources may not need MFA at all. Contextual controls and passwords could be sufficient to protect low-sensitivity resources. However,risk assesses each asset to avoid leaving confidential data exposed.
Authentication is a core aspect of significant data security regulations, including HIPAA, GDPR, NIS2, and PCI-DSS. Sectors like healthcare or financial processing have specific requirements that are absent from other business areas. Knowing which regulations affect your business is vital.
For example, PCI-DSS requires:
Third-party authentication providers should possess the accreditation. Look for an Attestation of Compliance (AOC) with PCI-DSS or HIPAA. This means the provider has been independently assessed to meet compliance standards.
Sometimes, employees lose authentication hardware or business laptops. In these cases, they will probably also lose multi-factor authentication data. Security best practice involves resetting the user’s account with a backup factor and creating a new set of authentication information.
One option is to enable multiple devices on a single account. If users have more than one authorized device, they can use it to request backup factors and reset their accounts.
Security teams should also be prepared to remove authentication factors from user accounts when thefts occur. There should be a straightforward process for quarantining compromised factors, making it challenging for thieves to use stolen identity credentials.
The importance of multi-factor authentication for remote workforce can never be underestimated. All work-from-home equipment must be audited and authorized with MFA software installed. But, setting up an MFA with remote workers can be time-consuming. It may leave security vulnerabilities if staff members are left to use their own devices.
Many companies provide work laptops for new hires. If you take this route, take time to lead staff through the MFA onboarding process. If necessary, schedule video meetings to explain the process. That way, you can verify that staff properly follow every step.
Before you implement MFA, exploring additional security controls your provider offers is essential. This should include adaptive MFA systems designed to detect anomalies and meet threats proactively.
At this stage, you can block specific access locations. For instance, you may block all public wifi hotspots. But you could even limit access from entire continents.
Plan to reassess your authentication setup regularly. Every MFA implementation experiences some problems. They are generally not deal-breakers and tend to involve easing users into the authentication process.
Conduct regular assessments. Check that users are following MFA practices. And make sure privileges match risk reviews. Do multiple factors protect confidential data, or can general users access databases?
As new threats emerge, authentication systems can become outdated. Be prepared to update software or add new factors if the situation changes.
NordLayer offers a suite of security tools allowing companies to implement MFA and create secure SSE architecture at the network edge: guard cloud assets, on-premises data centers, and remote work laptops. And make life easy for workers to carry out their tasks.
Our products include 2FA or MFA for authentication to enhance security levels while connecting to company networks. NordLayer caters to apps like Google Authenticator or Authy and USB devices to deliver security keys.
Adding MFA is quick and easy, especially when you combine authentication and SSO. The result is a successful MFA rollout and improved security standards.
Following these MFA best practices presented here can ensure robust protection for your critical assets. To find out more, get in touch with the NordLayer team today.
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