User Permissions and Two Factor Authentication
User permissions and two-factor authentication are an essential part of a robust security system. They reduce the likelihood of insider threats and limit the impact of data breaches and aid in meeting regulatory requirements.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is also referred to as two-factor authentication requires users to supply credentials in different categories: something they have (passwords and PIN codes) or possess (a one-time code sent to their phone, or an authenticator app) or something that they own. Passwords are no longer sufficient to shield against hacking methods. They can be hacked or shared with others, or even compromised through phishing attacks, on-path attacks or brute force attacks and so on.
It is also crucial to set up 2FA for accounts with high risk such as online banking websites for tax filing as well as email, social media and cloud storage services. Many of these services can be accessed without 2FA. However making it available on the most sensitive and important ones adds an extra layer of security.
To ensure the effectiveness of 2FA, cybersecurity professionals need to reevaluate their authentication strategy regularly to account for new threats and improve user experience. These include phishing attempts that fool users into sharing 2FA codes, or “push-bombing” that overwhelms users with multiple authentication requests. This results in them accidentally approving legitimate ones due to MFA fatigue. These challenges, and many others, require an evolving security solution which provides visibility into user log-ins to identify anomalies real-time.
