By 2023, most people have been exposed to multi-factor authentication (MFA) through apps, websites, or some other form of online services, but do you really understand what MFA is and how it helps to keep you secure?

What is Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)?

In the past, authentication was a simple means of proving identity by entering a unique username and password; however, with the rise of bad actors and cyber-attacks, there is a greater need for increased security. Introducing multi-factor authentication. MFA technology requires multiple methods of authentication from independent categories of credentials to verify a user’s identity. The goal of MFA is to create a layered defense that makes it more difficult for unauthorized parties to access sensitive data and applications.

Authentication Criteria

What you know

Password
Pin

What you have

Laptops
Smartphones
Email Addresses
Key Fob

Who you are

Fingerprints
Retinal Scans
Voice Recognition
Facial Recognition

Your Location

Time
Location

Why is MFA important?

To put it simply, MFA is important because makes it harder for bad actors to gain access to your sensitive data and information. Traditional username and password combinations no longer provide the amount of security necessary to protect from hackers (no matter how many times you update your password). Hackers now have password-cracking software that allows them to try thousands of number and letter combinations until they find the right password and cracking your username is often as simple knowing your email address. Employing several forms of criteria for verifying identity is the best way to stay ahead of cybercriminals and secure your personal information.

What is the difference between Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and MFA, and which is better?

The difference between MFA and 2FA is exactly what the name suggests. Two-factor authentication relies on two of the above criteria to verify a user’s identity while MFA could involve two or more.

If you have a Gmail account, you are probably familiar with 2FA, as this is Google’s primary method of authentication. Consider what a hacker might have access to if they were able to gain entry to your Google account: calendars, emails, and a host of other apps connected to your Google account. Two-factor authentication provides an extra-layer of protection that is far superior to single-factor authentication (SFA).

Conversely, Microsoft, uses MFA technology and reports that it is effectively able to block 99.9% of cyberattacks. One might conclude that since two is better than one, then three or more must be better than two. In terms of security, they would be correct, but there is evidence to show that some users prefer a more frictionless experience over security. The answer to the debate is that both 2FA and MFA are better than SFA but deciding which is best for your organization depends on what you value more: security or user experience.

Pros of MFA Cons of MFA
  • Enhances protection at the hardware, software, and personal identification levels.
  • Uses one-time use, randomly generated passwords sent to your phone in real-time to make it extremely difficult for a hacker to crack.
  • When compared to passwords alone, this system has the potential to reduce security breaches by nearly 99.9% while still being easy for users to set up.
  • Businesses have the option to control access based on time of day or location, and the cost can be adjusted to fit their needs. There are options available for both larger, more sophisticated businesses as well as smaller ones with more limited budgets.
  • In order to receive a text message code, a phone is necessary.
  • Hardware tokens that are used for MFA can be lost or stolen.
  • If a phone is lost or stolen, it could impact the ability to use MFA.
  • Biometric data used for personal identification in MFA algorithms, such as thumbprints, may not always be reliable and may result in incorrect verification.
  • MFA verification may not be possible in the event of a network outage. It is also important to regularly update MFA techniques in order to protect against constantly evolving threats from cybercriminals.

Multi-Factor Authentication is included with our Managed Services

Weaver Technologies provides MFA services as a part of our 3 different Managed Service packages. The Multi-Factor Authentication management by Weaver Technologies:

  • Protect your systems with multiple layers of security
  • Minimize the risk of unauthorized access
  • Customize user access based on location
  • Easily manage access for different user profiles
  • Get support with configuring and managing multifactor authentication (MFA)