3 March 2016
 Categories: , Articles

As a business owner, it is important that you understand the fundamentals of securing your employee workstations and your network. When it comes to server access and network authorization, the more security you have, the better. That's where two factor user authentication can help. Here's a look at the basics of what it is and why it's helpful. Understanding these things may help you to appreciate its benefits for your company.

What Exactly is Two Factor User Authentication?

Two factor authentication is a user authentication method that goes beyond the basic password system. Instead of requiring just a user password to access a computer system, network drive or other asset, two factor authentication requires two separate authentication methods.

For example, you can require users to enter a combination of a basic password and a palm scan or a numerical access code and a fingerprint. That's not to say that two factor authentication requires any form of biometrics. In fact, you can even use any combination of a password, identification number and a scannable identification or access card.

Why Should You Consider Two Factor User Authentication?

Two factor user authentication can help you to enhance the security of your company's networks in many ways. Here are a few of the benefits you'll enjoy if you opt for this type of authentication system.

• Reduced Risk of Employee Carelessness - Any time you have employees, there are some inherent risks of carelessness and human error. Those risks can threaten the integrity of your network and computer systems. With two factor user authentication, your computer systems won't be in jeopardy over a written list of passwords left in a desk drawer absentmindedly. In addition it protects against accidents like access cards being left in a public restroom. One of those components alone isn't going to grant access to any computer systems. A would-be intruder would need both components to gain access to the employee's system.

• Protection Against Password Crackers - Most password cracking systems try a barrage of computer-generated passwords based on common user password behavior to try to locate the correct password for a system. If your employees don't create particularly strong passwords, this can threaten the integrity of your systems. However, with two factor user authentication, even if a password cracker were to succeed, the would-be hacker would still be missing the additional authentication method.

• Reduced Demand on Your Support Staff - When system integrity is a concern, including things like strong passwords, your technical support staff often spends a lot of time creating and distributing strong password reminders and prompts for password changes. In addition, when you require auto-generated or especially strong passwords, staff may find themselves tied up with forgotten password or password reset phone calls. Allow your technical support staff and your office personnel to maximize their work time by eliminating these types of calls and the lost productivity for the employee who is locked out of their workstation. When you opt for two factor user authentication, passwords can be easier for people to remember since they aren't the only element of access control. Your employees can happily choose their kids' names, pets or even their anniversary dates as passwords without affecting the integrity of your company's network.

Two factor user authentication can be a great investment for most any business. As you can see, there are many benefits to putting a system like this in place. After all, the security and data integrity company's network and workstations should be a top priority. For that reason, additional authentication methods are worthwhile. Before you lock into any security measures or turn things over to your network security staff, consider asking about this type of solution.

Learn more about grvty multi factor authentication by reaching out to a local company that deals with security.