What Is Two-Factor Authentication & Why Does It Matter?

As work-from-home culture is spreading across the globe, companies are adopting a BYOD (bring your own device) work culture. As it becomes more difficult to monitor where and which devices are logged into a company account, it is increasingly important to implement data protection protocols. With 95% of data breaches being caused by user error, 2FA (2-factor authentication) is a great first step in protecting your company’s secure data. If your company is not using 2-factor authentication for all devices that have access to company data, read this article to better understand the how and why of 2FA.

What is 2FA?

2FA provides an added layer of account security by requiring a user to confirm their identity twice before accessing their account. With 2FA, users must use two distinct types of identification to access their account. This identification can be a pin sent to a user’s smartphone, biometric data (such as facial recognition or a fingerprint), or a personal user question. As passwords alone can leave an account vulnerable to hackers, 2FA provides an added layer of defense against potential cyberattacks.

Why is 2FA Important?

2FA can help protect employee accounts. Here are three examples of how 2FA can help protect your business:

1. Phishing Defense – 31% of organizations have an employee that falls for at least one phishing email a year according to Security Magazine. 2FA helps protect against giving hackers access to sensitive login information. If an employee falls victim to a phishing attack, the hacker still lacks the second form of authentication necessary to access the account.
2. Password Breaches – When employees use the same password across personal and work accounts, the breach of a personal account could leave a corporate account vulnerable. With 2FA, password breaches are given an extra layer of protection by ensuring that one vulnerable password does not lead to a company cyberattack.
3. Demonstrated Security – Using 2FA demonstrates that your company is committed to data security. If your company takes credit card information or any personal information from users, using 2FA will help your clients feel that their personal data is secure with your business. 2FA meets General Data Protection Regulations which can boost the credibility of your business.

What’s Next?

If you are considering implementing 2FA into your company, Nuvodia is happy to help. As a premier Managed Service Security Provider, we specialize in making sure that your company’s data is safe. Contact us for a quote today.