No matter where you work or what you do, chances are that a significant portion of each workday involves signing in to different accounts and using different devices while keeping track of different passwords.
But what happens when you forget your login or have to reset your password? Your workday slows down, productivity screeches to a halt, and frustrations build.
It doesn’t have to be this way, though. With single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA), you can simplify the login process, protect your company’s important information, and empower your employees to work securely and efficiently.MFA is an authentication method that requires a user to combine something they know (a password) with something they have (a unique code delivered via text or email, or a push notification to a mobile device). Once MFA is in place, businesses can then implement SSO to streamline the login process by using a centralized app or login process to access all business applications.
Best of all, MFA and SSO can strengthen your business’s safety and security by establishing added layers of protection around networks and data while managing access rights for all users. MFA also helps to prevent further cybersecurity problems by eliminating the threat that compromised passwords pose to individual users and companies.
That’s because weak or stolen passwords are particularly attractive to cybercriminals. Once a password has been stolen or hacked, bad actors can infiltrate entire systems—installing malicious code, redirecting users to illegitimate sites, seizing personal information, and demanding a ransom for its return.
Password requirements come in a multitude of shapes and sizes, and the adoption of SSO and MFA tools must evolve with cybersecurity trends. Right now, passwords are reused far too much—on average, the same password is used across five different accounts. That means that if hackers do steal a password, it can be tested across multiple platforms, exponentially amplifying the impact of a single compromise.
Businesses haven’t adopted SSO and MFA quickly enough to keep up, either. Microsoft estimates that only 11% of its enterprise accounts use MFA, and many employees are initially hesitant to embrace the sign-on method, which can seem unwieldy at first because of the need to coordinate a unique code delivered via text, email, or mobile device push notification with an existing username and password.
But stronger passwords and the adoption of SSO and MFA can make a difference—especially if you partner with an IT provider that takes cybersecurity seriously. With nearly 25 years of experience working with clients across North America, CMIT Solutions understands the evolving nature of security issues related to identity protection and data access.
An investment in enterprise-grade SSO and MFA is an investment in your company’s future. Want to find out how? Contact CMIT Solutions now to secure your information, streamline user access, and empower your employees. Don’t wait for a data breach or cybersecurity issue to implement single sign-on and multi-factor authentication.