What You Need To Know About MFA Solutions- Beyond The Basics

What is MFA, and how do MFA solutions help?

Multifactor authentication, or MFA, is a multi-layer authentication approach that grants access to a user, account, application, or device. The first level comprises the conventional username and password authentication method. The following authentication levels include a range of authentication methods, including OTPs, email notifications, biometrics such as facial recognition, iris or ear scanning, and fingerprints. Businesses these days are investing in premium MFA solutions for cybersecurity purposes and to facilitate the seamless flow of data across their digital ecosystem.

Having MFA solutions installed in your organisation is similar to having a vault at home that opens with a specific combination of fingerprints and numeric codes. Even if a thief figures out the code by chance, he will still not be able to open it as his fingerprint will not match the owner’s. 

2FA, or two-factor authentication, is the most common form of MFA that is widely used by businesses. It involves two levels of authentication, such as swiping a card at the ATM and entering the PIN code. It is a common practice to use both 2FA and MFA interchangeably, and most organisations opt for this strategy for added data security. 

Organisations must implement robust MFA solutions to secure the entry points and gateways of their digital network. MFA usually involves two levels of authentication. They are:

• System-level or device-level MFA- This type of authentication is used when logging in to a system or device.

• Application-level MFA - This type of authentication is implemented at a particular application level. Take, for example, the process of sending an OTP to a mobile device whenever a logged-in user tries to alter the account password. 

MFA implementation is also of two types. They are as follows:

Employee-facing

In this type of MFA implementation, MFA is usually applied to remote access, VPN, email, and third-party services like cloud repositories, file sharing applications, etc., at an internal, business level. This kind of MFA implementation is dependent on the organisation’s size, industry, security aspects, and compliance policies that must be followed. Additionally, the implementation of the MFA must be uniform across all organisational systems and networks.

Customer-facing

The organisation’s customers use this type of MFA implementation. For example, e-commerce websites send OTPs to the user’s registered phone numbers during the checkout process. This is more complex than the employee-facing MFA implementation technique as this must consider the trade-off between security and ease of use. This kind of MFA is necessary for protecting customer’s data to which customers entrust the company. 

The actual checkpoints and nature of implementation of MFA must be decided before an organisation has to finalize an MFA solution for its business. It is commonly seen that most organisations opt for a mix of application and device-level MFAs.

Benefits of MFA solutions

It has become imperative for organisations to implement top-notch MFA solutions for the vast number of benefits it comes with. Suppose you are considering investing in the best MFA solutions for multi-level security in the US and Europe. In that case, you must be aware of these crucial benefits that MFA poses for small, medium, and large-scale organisations. 

Enhanced security

With users having to provide multiple credentials before accessing accounts, cybercriminals are prevented from hacking into the system with stolen passwords, devices, or even individual information pieces that allow legitimate users to access their accounts. The key benefit of MFA solutions is that they protect the organisational network from all sorts of phishing attacks, malware, credential stuffing, keylogging, etc., thus improving the security posture of the organisation. 

Customisable security solution

Every authentication factor in the MFA method offers various options offering customisable features to organisations to their user requirements. For instance, users may be able to do facial scanning on their devices but not voice recognition features. It is possible to adapt MFA solutions from 2FA to complex multi-factor setups to meet up with higher security requirements. 

SSO compatibility

MFA solutions can be embedded into various applications and integrated with SSO or single sign-on. This means that users do not have to create several unique passwords or risk reusing the same password for multiple applications during log-ins. In coordination with SSO, MFA decreases friction during the verification of user identity thus saving time and enhancing productivity.

Scalability

MFA offers great scalability as it can be deployed for every user including customers, employees, partners, etc., in an enterprise. SSO, in combination with MFA, erases the requirement for multiple passwords and streamlines the login process while improving user experience and reducing the total number of IT tickets sent for password assistance.

Regulatory compliance

MFA can be a regulatory requirement in many regions and industries. For example, PCI-DSS has made MFA imperative in some cases to facilitate secure payment processing systems. In the EU Payments Service, Directive 2 emphasizes stringent customer authentication, including MFA. Additionally, HIPAA encourages healthcare providers to adopt MFA for the security of the health information of patients.

Enterprise mobility

With the surge in the remote work culture after the pandemic, the need for employees to access office resources through their personal devices has increased significantly. MFA facilitates remote access to business applications with SSO integration, thus increasing productivity and flexibility in working all around the clock. This helps enhance data security across all networks.

Adaptability

There is no denying the fact that certain situations call for a greater level of security, such as conducting high-value transactions and gaining access to critical data from unknown devices and networks. With the help of adaptive MFA, it is possible to make use of behavioural and contextual data like geolocation, time, IP address, etc., since the time of the last authentication to analyze risk. In case the IP address is risky, like that of a restaurant or anonymous network, it is possible to add extra authentication factors to increase the level fo security and gain assurance about the user’s identity. 

Key components of MFA

The main components of an MFA solution comprise the various factors that are used for each authentication level, along with the tokens utilized to facilitate each factor. Every token has its own specific software and hardware needs. This makes it pivotal to be aware of each of these needs and ascertain which requirements can be accessed by the organisation’s employees and customers before implementation. 

Each authentication level uses one of these five different identifying factors:

Knowledge (what you know)

This refers to something that only the user knows, such as a password, PIN, security question, etc. Usually, this is the first authentication level and also the most widely used one. 

Possession (what you have)

This authentication makes use of something the user owns, such as a smartphone, a SIM card, a key fob, a smart card, etc. This means that even if any hacker manages to access the password, they cannot enter into the system until they get access to these possessions.

Inherence (what you are)

This kind of authentication uses biological traits like iris, fingerprints, facial features, etc., to grant user access. Usually, this needs a database, reader hardware, and software to process for authentication. 

Location (where you are)

This authentication method refers to the location from which the user requests access. It recognizes the user’s IP address and geolocation, which, if matched, gives access to the user.

Time (when you are)

This considers the time when the user requests access. For instance, if an employee’s working hours are between 10 am and 6 pm, after which they are not granted log-in access, then their request to gain access after 6 pm is denied.

The first three MFA factors are the most commonly used ones in enterprises. While some MFA systems leverage time and location, some consider behavioural context as well for granting access to log in to the system. It is best to opt for a combination of the above factors for a strong MFA setup. 

To enable the above five authentication factors, the following five types of tokens  are generally used:

• Security or hardware-based tokens- They are USB devices or key fobs that generate OTPs when connected to the device that needs to be accessed.

• Soft tokens - These are software-generated codes that facilitate authentication, for example, a time-based OTP algorithm that generates a time-bound OTP, restricting the use of expired tokens.

• Biometric tokens - These are generated by devices that can read and process unique biometrics or bodily identifiers like fingerprints.

• GPS tokens - These are generated by the user’s location.

• Mobile phone-based tokens - These work in tandem with soft tokens. Generated soft tokens are communicated to the user through a text or phone call.

Best Practices for MFA Management

Let us discuss the best practices that help in the efficient management of an MFA system!

Use varied and strong authentication factors

It is never a great idea to rely solely on passwords as an MFA method, as it can leave your digital system vulnerable. The effectiveness of MFA depends on the strength and diversity of the various authentication factors used. Incorporate hardware tokens and biometrics for a higher security level. 

Implement MFA across all access points

It is recommended that MFA be implemented comprehensively across all access points, including on-site systems, remote access, cloud applications, etc. Opting for a selective approach gives way to potential vulnerabilities. 

Regularly rotate and update MFA credentials

MFA credentials need regular rotations and updates to protect them from being compromised and stale. Establish policies that implement periodic changes and foster users to comply with these standards. 

Educate users

It is necessary to impart adequate knowledge and training regarding MFA solutions to employees, clients, and all users so that they have a clear understanding of the system. They should be able to use it independently and must know how to identify threats. 

Monitor and audit the MFA system

It is essential to conduct regular monitoring and auditing of MFA usage to locate any unusual activity or other weaknesses in the system. Use tools that help you with real-time insights and send alerts for any suspicious behaviour. Make sure any such instance is immediately addressed for the smooth operation of the MFA system.

Adopt adaptive MFA techniques

Adaptive MFA allows adjusting authentication requirements based on login text and user behaviour. For example, if a user is trying to log in from a known device but from an unfamiliar location, then it would require additional security measures. It helps strike a balance between user convenience and security. 

Bottomline

Multifactor authentication is pivotal to modern cybersecurity, and this makes it imperative to set up advanced MFA solutions for the security of any organisation's digital ecosystem. eMudhra is committed to delivering the best MFA solutions for multi-level security in the US and Europe. You can protect your digital assets and stay reassured that your digital networks are well-protected from all kinds of cyber attacks. If you want to know more about our varied range of MFA solutions, contact our expert team at eMudhra today!