Using stolen credentials to breach network resources is the #1 tactic that hackers use. By requiring additional proof of identity beyond a simple password, multi-factor authentication is the single most important safeguard to protect your business.
WatchGuard’s unique multi-factor authentication (MFA) solution not only reduces network disruptions and data breaches arising from weak or stolen credentials, but this important capability is delivered entirely from the Cloud for easy set-up and management. Moreover, AuthPoint™ goes beyond traditional 2-factor authentication (2FA) by incorporating innovative ways to identify users, such as with our Mobile Device DNA. With our large ecosystem of 3rd party integrations, this means that strong protection can be consistently deployed across the network, VPNs, Cloud applications – wherever it’s needed. Even non-technical users find the friendly AuthPoint mobile app easy and convenient to use. Ultimately, WatchGuard AuthPoint is the right solution at the right time to make MFA a reality for businesses who desperately need it to block attacks.
When considering the direct and indirect expenses associated with a data breach, the costs can add up. After a breach, a company often hires specialists to investigate the cause of the breach, and then adds security measures to address any failures, as well as pays regulatory fines, legal fees, and more. Even so, the indirect costs from reduced employee productivity, and lost current and future customers can be more substantial. To put a number on it, a Ponemon Institute study puts the average cost of a data breach at $141 per data record with sensitive data… or $1.32M when you consider the average data breach of 9,350 records.
How likely is it that you will experience a breach from a weak or shared password? Data shows that 3 out of 100 people use the weak password “123456” and out of 100 use the same password for all online accounts. So, you have to ask yourself, how likely is it that one or more of your employees are mishandling their passwords? This may be why more regulatory bodies are requiring 2FA or MFA for at least some portion of compliant companies’ users – such as with the additions to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) v 3.2.
The good news is that you can mitigate these risks with Cloud-based multi-factor authentication for a reasonable cost!
