Passwords are the first line of defense between a hacker and your data. A decade ago, a password alone may have kept your data secure, but today, that’s no longer the case. The easiest way for a hacker to gain access to your data is by impersonating your digital identity. With social engineering, brute-force, and dictionary attacks more capable than ever, breaking in to an account that uses a username-password combination is a lot easier than it seems.
To protect your sensitive data and ensure that no one other than you can access your Windows system, two-factor authentication is the way to go.
What is two-factor authentication?
Two-factor authentication combines something the user knows (such as a password or pin) with something the user has (secure ID devices, mobile phones for push notifications or verification codes, and physical devices that generate time-based one time passwords). Even if hackers get ahold of your credentials, they won’t be able to authenticate themselves without the second form of authentication, which usually involves a one-time verification code sent to a device that’s always with you.
Factors to consider while implementing a two-factor authentication solution
Improper implementation of two-factor authentication can create problems of its own. For instance, if users forget their passwords while two-factor authentication is configured, they’ll have to contact the support desk to get their passwords reset.
A comprehensive two-factor authentication solution should support multiple methods for the second form of authentication. This way you have the freedom to implement the authentication mechanism that works best in your organization.
The right way to implement two-factor authentication for Windows logons
You can get a copy of our expert’s guide Securing Windows logons using a password and OTP, and learn the best way to implement two-factor authentication for Windows logons.
In this e-book, our product expert will talk about how two-factor authentication for Windows logon works, future proofing two-factor authentication, and the advantages of using ADSelfService Plus to implement two-factor authentication.
