There used to be a time when knowing how to change the copier toner was a big technological challenge at an office. In today’s tech-driven world, trying to keep the wrong people out of your data and preventing a breach is at the top of most organizations’ IT priority lists.
Without properly managed network security, businesses can be tied up for months, and even years, cleaning up the damage from a data breach, which can cost millions of dollars in damages. In fact, many small businesses never recover from a data breach and have to close their doors for good.
Credential theft is one of the biggest goals of many hackers and the malware that they design. If they can gain access to the right password, they can bypass any network security by having the proper permissions.
In 2019, a repository of 773 million stolen emails and 21 million stolen passwords were discovered online, which illustrates just how prevalent and lucrative password theft is and how much of a threat to a company’s security.
To combat the more advanced and ever-evolving nature of today’s cyber threats, threat protection developers are bringing out solutions like Duo, which use what’s called “Zero Trust” security.
What is Zero Trust Security?
The concept of Zero Trust security harkens back to the old X-Files slogan of “Trust no one,” and that’s exactly what zero trust means.
Zero Trust security employs features that assume no one is trusted by default to get into a network or company application. Thus, anyone requesting access must verify who they are before being granted access.
How Zero Trust differs from other types of network security is that a firewall for example typically assumes that users already inside the network are legitimate and it focuses on traffic coming from outside.
The Zero Trust model means nobody is trusted, whether they’re inside the network on a company device or outside of it.
This helps combat many of the more advanced attacks that hackers are employing, such as file-less attacks.
For example: Instead of sending a malicious code in a file, a hacker will exploit a vulnerability in a trusted system file, then command that file to do their bidding and basically wreak havoc. Because the system file is trusted, a standard security protection won’t be on the lookout for it to be doing anything malicious. But a Zero Trust application doesn’t assume anything, so the system program is treated just as suspiciously as an unrecognized one.
How Duo Helps Prevent Unauthorized Access
Duo is a set of security solutions that runs on the Zero Trust model. It employs several different layers of security to ensure only those authorized can access your data and network.
Here are the ways that Duo can safeguard your business systems from unauthorized access.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA requires users to prove they have access privileges, and just a username and password aren’t enough. Using MFA has been proven to prevent susceptibility to credential breaches, because a hacker will get stopped when asked for the additional verification factor.
Duo gives companies several different verification methods to use:
- U2F Security Token: A USB device that is used for login
- Phone Callback: Get an automated phone call and press a key to authenticate
- Mobile Passcodes: One-time passcodes can be generated for multiple applications
- SMS Code: Receive a code by text message
- Biometrics: For use with built-in TouchID devices
Endpoint Visibility
Is an unknown device trying to gain access to your network? Duo technology will keep it out. You have the ability to check that all user devices meet your security standards and are “trusted” before they are granted access to your applications.
Control Access Attempts
You can control how many times someone can try and fail to gain access to your network before they’re locked out completely. This helps protect against bot attacks that may keep trying different hacked credentials until they gain entry. The policies can be based upon user attempts and device attempts.
Protect Cloud and On-Premise Applications
When you’re not using a security solution like Duo to control access to your applications, your employees are left with differing policies across different application providers.
Using Duo’s remote access and single sign-on (SSO), users have one fluid and consistent sign-on experience across all business applications no matter what device they’re using or where they’re signing in from. This process not only gives you more control over your security, it streamlines the login process for your users.
Reduce Cost & Risk
By using a single method of user authentication throughout your entire organization instead of having to administer several that are used in 3rd party platforms, you lower your administration costs.
At the same time, you’re reducing your risk of a data breach or security compliance violation by employing more control over all your data no matter which application it resides in.
Request a Test Drive of Duo from Connect2Geek
Would you like to see what a Zero Trust security platform looks like? Connect2Geek can give you a Duo test drive and show you just how fluid the user interface is at the same time it’s increasing your application security.
Take a step towards better security today by contacting us at 208-468-4323 or through our website.