What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that requires the user to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to an online cloud account, applications, network, or VPN. MFA is a core component of a strong Identity and Access Management (IAM) policy which helps in decreasing the likelihood of a successful cyber attack. Rather than just prompting for a username and password, MFA requires one or more additional verification factors. Additional verification factors can be OTP over SMS/Email, Token based authentication, or any of your preferable MFA methods from a plethora of MFA login methods provided by miniOrange.

Know more about MFA: https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa

Why is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) important?
Reduces Security Risk
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) helps in reducing security breaches and keeping the data more secure. Without MFA, weak or stolen credentials can be used to commit fraud or violate privacy. Using MFA as an additional password protection measure can help keep hackers out of your system. You can avoid 99.9% of account assaults by using MFA!

Ease of Use
Authentication based on usernames and passwords alone is not reliable. Users may have trouble storing, remembering, and managing them across multiple accounts, most of them reuse passwords for multiple accounts and create passwords that lack complexity. MFA develops a multi-layered defense system that makes it more difficult for an unauthorized individual to access a target, such as an account, device, network, or database. MFA eases down this process and also provides an option for offline access for users who don't have internet access.

Know what the MFA methods: https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-methods

How does MFA works?
When a user attempts to access a resource, they are presented with multiple authentication factors along with a traditional username and password. A core Identity Provider (IdP) or directory services platform verifies the user's credentials. If the user's login credentials and second authentication method pass successfully they are granted access to the resource.

MFA systems generate a unique one-time passcode (OTP) for each login attempt. miniOrange also offers a more current and secure form of MFA called "push notification." This is delivered to your registered smartphone, which you must approve to access your account. You can also use a hardware token (like a Yubikey) or a soft token to access critical services.

The Future of Workplace Security - Adaptive / Risk-based Authentication
Adaptive Authentication provides an extra edge to MFA security based on risk and access provided by the security admin to control user access.

Adaptive Authentication (also known as Risk-based Authentication) detects fraudulent attempts based on predetermined risk criteria and prompts customers to complete an additional authentication step to confirm their identities.

Importance of adaptive authentication: https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa

Adaptive / Risk-based authentication takes advantage of real-time analytics to get a complete picture of the circumstances surrounding each login.

When a user tries to sign in, a adaptive authentication system looks at things like:

Device - Is the employee using their personal laptop instead of using a company-issued laptop?
Location - Is the employee trying to access a system using a public network rather than the company's network? Or is the employee in another time zone?
IP Address - Is the employee connecting from a known IP? Or Is it info from another country?
Sensitivity - Is the requested file critical to the company's operations? Is it a little bit of knowledge, or is it significant?