It is a routine we follow day in and day out, several times a day. Whether logging into our desktops or signing into apps on our phones, we enter a username and password to gain access. However, that simple combination is not as secure as you think. Also, hacking can bring disastrous consequences. As outlined in IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2021, the average data breach cost an all-time high of $4.24 million last year¹. Therefore, you need a way to protect your data from cybercrime.
Enter two-factor authentication, or 2FA. Also known as multifactor authentication (MFA), this process combines multiple authentication factors in a manner that keeps your overall system secure even if one factor is compromised². Here, we will learn more about 2FA and why it matters for you and your business.
The reasoning behind 2FA is straightforward. While your login information remains the same, there is an extra wall of protection between the login page and the stored data that can prevent hackers from easily gaining access to sensitive information. For instance, you may enter a password followed by an SMS code on your phone to authorize login². This is a common mode of 2FA that introduces enough of an obstacle to deter most hackers.
Notably, 2FA technologies have gained momentum in healthcare, where patient data is a prime target for cybercriminals³. Indeed, data breaches in healthcare cost an average of $9.23 million in 2021, more than double the average for all sectors¹. However, according to HealthTech Magazine, 2FA has also helped to improve clinicians’ workflow³. Consider NorthShore University Health System, for example. The Evanston, Illinois-based healthcare network implemented an MFA called Confirm ID in 2014³. NorthShore utilizes this system, which integrates a fingerprint reader with patients’ electronic records, to “electronically prescribe controlled substances” for patients as needed³. Not surprisingly, NorthShore staff enthusiastically welcomed this technology³. This shows the growing importance of 2FA and MFA for healthcare providers.
2FA technologies are also becoming popular in finance. As outlined in Global Banking & Finance Review, Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has implemented a 2FA system called DIGIPASS 275⁴. Integrating security and fraud defense into a compact, user-friendly package, DIGIPASS works in tandem with the VACMAN Controller authentication platform to keep users’ financial information secure⁴. Users enter a one-time password to access their accounts; since these passwords change with each use, hackers cannot steal important financial information⁴. Additionally, since SMBC has approximately 1,550 branches across Japan, DIGIPASS provides thousands of customers with much-needed online protection⁴.
Although banks and healthcare workers have benefited from 2FA and MFA technologies, these systems are helpful for remote workers in any sector. Chances are that you have been forced to work from home for the past two years due to current events. If you live in northwestern New Jersey, like me, you may also need to work remotely due to inclement weather. Whenever you must work offsite, or you have the choice to do so, 2FA protects your business networks from exposure to malware, phishing, and other harmful activity⁵. In short, 2FA systems make working from anywhere safer.
Finally, 2FA can pay dividends for brand building. For instance, as outlined in this LinkedIn Pulse article, adding a strong 2FA platform for users logging into their accounts on your company’s website enhances the brand experience⁵. When implemented in conjunction with building ROC – return on conversation – 2FA technologies are an ideal tactic to improve customer relations with your brand and build lasting connections between you and your customers for years to come⁵.
Navitend can help you. Call 973.448.0070 or setup an appointment today.
Sources:
¹ IBM Security – Cost of a Data Breach Report 2021. Retrieved from https://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/OJDVQGRY.
² Security Intelligence – “Multifactor Authentication Delivers the Convenience and Security Online Shoppers Demand” by Pier Luigi Rotondo. Retrieved from https://www.securityintelligence.com/multifactor-authentication-delivers-the-convenience-and-security-online-shoppers-demand.
³ HealthTech Magazine – “The Benefits of Multifactor Authentication in Healthcare” by Juliet Van Wagenen. Retrieved from https://healthtechmagazine.net/article/2018/12/benefits-multifactor-authentication-healthcare-perfcon.
⁴ Global Banking & Finance Review – “The Security Benefits of Two Factor Authentication.” Retrieved from https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/the-security-benefits-of-two-factor-authentication.
⁵ LinkedIn Pulse – “The Benefits of Two-Factor Authentication, Part II” by Tyler Dannat. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/benefits-two-factor-authentication-part-ii-tyler-dannat?trk=portfolio_article-card_title
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