With cyberattacks becoming a growing concern lately, passwords no longer serve a sufficient amount of security to your data. Multi-factor authentication or MFA adds an extra level of safety against threats like phishing attacks and other kinds of security breaches.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a robust authentication technique that mandates users to validate their identity by presenting two or more pieces of evidence (or factors) when they log in. One factor involves something that the user is familiar with, such as their username and password, while the other factors include something that the user possesses, like an authenticator app or security key. With MFA, user access is linked to various types of factors, making it difficult for common security threats, such as phishing attacks and account hijacking, to succeed. The MFA functionality offered in ConvergeHub can be utilized to protect customer data across channels.
Rolled out on February 14, 2023, ConvergeHub’s MFA functionality comes with strict security features. Here’s what a user needs to know:
MFA (multi-factor authentication) and 2FA (two-factor authentication) are similar because both involve using more than one method of verifying a user’s identity during login. However, MFA refers to any authentication method that involves the use of two or more factors, whereas 2FA specifically involves using two factors.
MFA can include 2FA as one of its factors, but it can also include additional factors such as biometric authentication (such as fingerprint or facial recognition), location verification, and behavioral analysis. In contrast, 2FA typically involves a combination of a password or PIN (something the user knows) and a physical token (something the user has), such as a smart card, USB token, or one-time code generated by an app or sent via SMS.
Multi-factor authentication strengthens security levels to the highest degree. From Dropbox to Google, Multifactor authentication or MFA has been used everywhere to provide an extra layer of security to users. There are instances of breaches in the past and to do away with them, security reinforcement becomes a survival imperative. In the context of a CRM product, where the crucial customer data is stored, it’s obvious that the threat of breaching will always be there. With MFA authentication it is difficult for the attacker to access sensitive data.
Multi-factor authentication not only protects against external threats but also prevents internal theft from occurring through employee negligence or incompetence (think: phishing attacks). Plus, when you combine two forms of identification into one login process—something that most people already do on their smartphones—you create an even stronger barrier against identity theft than one might expect at first glance!
If someone manages to steal an account username and password combination after cracking into your CRM system, they still won’t be able access all its features unless they have access elsewhere within the company’s infrastructure as well—but multi-factor authentication makes this more difficult because only certain individuals will have those keys (for example: administrators).
While MFA adds an extra security layer to our CRM product, there are several drawbacks of the feature and in no way we can ignore the fact. Here’s what you must be missing in our product with the new MFA feature.
While adding security is the core function of MFA authentication, it’s also true that it increases complexity. But the entire process becomes a tad bit complex due to the double layer of authentication. Users, so far used to log in to their accounts using usernames and passwords. But with Multifactor Authentication, users need to authenticate through several steps. It is time-consuming and frustrating, especially if the user is in a hurry or using a mobile device.
For many users MFA causes inconveniences. They have to access their own accounts by completing several authentication phases. This certainly causes inconveniences to the customer support team, especially when they are in hurry. It might add to their frustration.
Implementation of MFA on the products is sometimes expensive. It demands full-fledged hardware support to accomplish the job. It includes tokens or biometric scanners, which can be extremely pricey to purchase and maintain. Other types of MFA authentication forms need specialized costs. For an SMB, the cumulative costs become huge.
Implementing this complex authentication process often causes problems because IT infrastructure does not support its integration with existing applications. While this is quite time-consuming, integration would need high-end tech support, which is not always available to SMBs at the initial stages.
MFA needs more than a user id and password to let a user access CRM data. From banks to Federal government agencies use MFA as a reliable format to safeguard sensitive data. It works by sending an SMS on the authorized number or authentication code to email so that only authorized users to get access.
There are three basic MFA authentication methods, which rely on different types of additional information:
Knowledge-based authentication, which involves things you know, such as a password or PIN or may be answers to security questions.
Possession-based authentication, which involves things you have, such as a badge or smartphone, USB devices, software tokens or certification,
Inherence-based authentication, which involves things, such as biometric authentication using fingerprints or voice recognition.
The emergence of Cloud Computing has made Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) even more critical. With the shift of company systems to the cloud, it is no longer safe to rely on physical network proximity as a security measure. Therefore, additional security measures must be implemented to prevent unauthorized access by bad actors. As users can now access these systems from anywhere and at any time, MFA can serve as an effective way to confirm their identities. By requesting additional authentication factors that are harder for hackers to replicate or crack through brute force methods, MFA can help ensure that only authorized individuals can access the systems.
As the world becomes increasingly reliant on digital technology, the need for robust security measures has never been more important. There are everyday incidents when cybersecurity breaches lead to crucial data loss. With MFA authentication, this can be prevented.
It’s a new and emerging form of security threat. Mostly the hackers use email and text messages for this and present it in such a way that the entire process looks legitimate. Users often fall prey to this. But with MFA authentication, even if the attacker gets access to the password he can’t break open the account itself. Because the original user will get the notification almost instantly and adopt measures right away.
Password attacks are the most common breaches in the current scenario. Hackers try out all possible combinations in order to crack the security and get access to it. With MFA authentication, the owner will get an immediate notification every time a security breach like a password attack happens and he can take immediate steps to safeguard it.
This is the most common form of a security breach with products like CRM or any other business process management software. Insider attacks happen when someone from inside the company with legitimate access performs any malicious action for whatever reason. MFA checks this kind of action on an insider basis and provides multiple security layers at every phase.
Today, when security risks are the biggest threat in every sector, an MFA authentication is obviously the most reliable safeguarding option for any account. Be it a CRM, ERP, or any such business process management tool, MFA is by now the best option to protect them.
While it stands always true that no security measure is foolproof, MFA or Multifactor authentication is by far the most trusted account-safeguarding version. It not only provides the perfect cybersecurity measures but also makes potential attackers stay away from sensitive data.
