On-Premise MFA Solutions: When Data Breach Is Not a Course of Action

How to find out that a person is not pretending to be someone else? This is exactly the question that MFA attempts to respond to. Verifying identity takes more effort and time these days since cybersecurity has become a huge challenge. In the case that usernames and passwords aren’t enough, a great amount of businesses would employ cyber security services or multi-factor authentication (MFA).

On-Premise MFA Solutions

Is it the first time you have heard of MFA goals? Are you curious about how it can protect your enterprise from the leakage of data? In this article, we will give you practical tips on how to select active directory mfa on premise and why this option is fundamental for your cybersecurity.

What is MFA in a nutshell? 

Let’s come up with exact figures first. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), MFA is an authentication tool that requires more than a single separate authentication factor to use a website, application, or server.

An authentication factor can be explained as an indestructible credential that proves a user’s identity when attempting to access a particular source. Let’s say someone is logging into an email account. Typically, they would enter just a username and a password. These credentials are a form of identification showing that the access request comes from a legitimate individual who exists in real life.

It should be added here that MFA is drafted to make this process much safer by requiring at least one extra protection factor, hence the name multi-factor authentication. Why is MFA of primary importance then? If hackers compromise your login credentials, they can gain unlimited access to key sources and sensitive information which the user is unwilling to lose. MFA helps to prevent any unpleasant occurrences.

Factors Used in MFA

• Something you know:

  • Passwords: The most common factor, but susceptible to breaches.
  • PINs: Personal Identification Numbers used for various accounts.
  • Security questions: Questions with personal answers, often used in conjunction with passwords.

• Something you have:

  • Security tokens: Physical devices that generate time-based codes.
  • Smartphones or tablets: Used for receiving authentication codes via SMS, push notifications, or dedicated apps.
  • Hardware security keys: USB devices that store cryptographic keys for secure authentication.

• Something you are:

  • Biometrics: Fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scanning, or voice recognition.
  • Behavioral analytics: Analyzing patterns in typing, mouse movements, or other user behaviors.

Benefits of MFA

• Enhanced security: Reduces the risk of unauthorized access, even if passwords are compromised.
• Reduced fraud: Protects against identity theft and financial losses.
• Compliance: Meets regulatory requirements for data protection and security.
• Increased user confidence: Provides peace of mind knowing their accounts are better protected.

Common MFA Implementations

• SMS-based authentication: Receiving a code via text message.
• Time-based one-time password (TOTP): Generating a code using an app on a smartphone or tablet.
• Push notifications: Receiving a notification on a trusted device to approve or deny access.
• Hardware security keys: Using a physical device to generate authentication codes.
• Biometric authentication: Using fingerprints, facial recognition, or other physical characteristics.

Let’s imagine cybercriminals hack into an account that belongs to a privileged user (for instance, someone with permission to access critical IT systems and perform actions that average users are not allowed to do). Such users can extract sensitive data, including Social Security numbers, financial reports, and so on. Of course, potential data breaches can result in the theft of employees and cause significant damage to a business, costing an average loss of $4.45 million annually.

With the right protection system on board, organizations gain a stunning opportunity to preserve the identities of staff, consumers, and those who need strong identification.

Where is the fine line between MFA and two-factor authentication (2FA)?

Overall, MFA and 2FA are quite close concepts, however, there are some discrepancies to discuss further. 

In simple terms, 2FA is an authentication method that strictly demands two identities. Therefore, it is a subset of MFA, which needs a couple of factors. It should be noted that MFA is usually more secure than 2FA because it can include as many authenticators as you need for a specific user case. Each additional factor transforms unauthorized access into a challenge by creating an extra layer of protection between hackers and private information.

That said, 2FA is not insecure by default. It is more reliable than single-factor authentication since conventional password protection is too vulnerable to updated cyber threats. 

What points should be borne in mind while selecting on-premise MFA solutions for your business management? 

If you are thinking about buying MFA for your enterprise, there are two key points to note: 

First and foremost, you need to determine the type of On-Premise MFA for your business to prosper. As we have already stated, numerous methods of MFA exist such as SMS code encryption, tokens, biometric data, and many others. You should rely on the tool that reflects your business strategy. 

Second, you have to find your next MFA provider. To achieve high-quality standards, it is a must-have for a provider to build up an impeccable reputation in the sphere of ​​data privacy. It is vitally important to realize which type of MFA promotes and guarantees the benefits for the safety and comfort of your business. This choice might be influenced by additional factors such as the company size, number of workers, digital technology type, and others.

The advantage of Protectimus on-premise 2fa provider is that this software can be used unassisted on all kinds of platforms. Supporting most PC systems, it can be put into service for personal use and business organizations. Additionally, it helps to stop losing your valuable data through a chosen SMS provider. The browser security and user environment are well analyzed to guarantee only protected access to the storage. The final step is establishing the database you will use for the Protectimus on-premise MFA solutions platform in the future.