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Choosing the right approach to multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a hugely important step in ensuring the security of your organization. A robust MFA mechanism is crucial for protecting against threats like MFA bombing, brute force, and credential-stuffing attacks. Most organizations tend to go for either FIDO Keys or push notifications, but how, exactly, do they work? And which approach to MFA is right for you? Keep reading to find out.

What is MFA?

If you’re reading this, you probably have a working knowledge of MFA. But just in case, here’s a (very) brief explanation: MFA is a security measure that requires more than just a username and password combination to access an account. It involves at least two verification steps, the first being a password and the second being another factor, like a verification code, a physical device, or a biometric. MFA dramatically improves the security of passwords, making it much harder for cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to a user’s account.

What is a Push Notification?

You’re probably at least broadly aware of the push notification approach to MFA. If you have MFA enabled on any of your personal or work accounts, your service provider will probably use this method. It’s a simple concept: push notifications are alerts sent to your device when you attempt to log in to a service. On receiving the alert, you are given the option to “Approve” or “Deny” the login attempt.

Benefits of Push Notifications

Push notifications are a popular form of MFA primarily because they are so convenient. Most people will have a device – like a mobile or laptop – they can use to accept or deny a push notification, meaning organizations don’t need to purchase additional hardware to authenticate their staff.

Limitations of Push Notifications

However, push notifications are a less secure option than FIDO Keys. They are susceptible to phishing attacks and MFA bombing because users can accidentally approve requests and grant an unauthorized actor access to their account.

What is a FIDO Key?

FIDO Keys are physical devices that generate unique, one-time codes for authentication. When you attempt to log in to a service that requires FIDO Key authentication, you’ll be prompted to insert your FIDO Key into the USB port and press a button to authenticate yourself. Essentially, the FIDO Key is your second authentication factor.

Benefits of FIDO Keys

FIDO Keys are one of the most secure forms of MFA. They are resistant to phishing and MFA attacks because they use strong cryptography, rely on physical possession of the device, and can be bound to specific websites or services. What’s more, these devices are platform-agnostic, working across multiple devices and operating systems.

Limitations of FIDO Keys

However, organizations opting for FIDO Keys trade convenience for security. To authenticate themselves, employees must have their Key with them at all times; if they forget it, they’ll have to go home and get it, which can impact productivity. FIDO Keys are also significantly more expensive than push notifications, as organizations need to purchase hardware for each of their employees.

So, What’s Right For You?

Deciding between push notifications and FIDO Keys depends on your organization’s specific requirements. You need to consider what is most important to you: security, convenience, and cost. If you prioritize security, FIDO Keys are your best bet. If you need to keep costs down and keep authentication convenient, go for push notifications.

That said, choosing between push notifications and FIDO keys doesn’t have to be a binary decision; you can use a combination of both. Many organizations reap the benefits of both approaches by using FIDO Keys for their most critical systems – like financial applications or healthcare patient data repositories – and using push notifications for less critical systems, like word processing or project management software.

Implementing a Robust MFA Strategy

Regardless of the MFA strategy you choose, there are several best practices that will help ensure a successful implementation. They are:

      User Training: Educate staff on the importance of MFA, how to recognize and avoid common cybersecurity threats, and how to use your chosen MFA approach.

      Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits to identify and address any vulnerabilities in your MFA implementation.

      Strong Password Policies: Ensure that all staff use strong, unique passwords for all their accounts to minimize the risk of password-related breaches.

      Incident Response Plan: Develop and regularly rehearse a comprehensive incident response plan for all security incidents, including MFA-related attacks.

Choosing a robust MFA strategy can greatly impact your organization’s resilience to a wide range of cyber threats. Whether you choose push notifications, FIDO Keys, or any other approach to MFA, you’re taking a huge step forward in your ability to ward off cybercriminals.

About the author:

Josh is a Content writer at Bora. He graduated with a degree in Journalism in 2021 and has a background in cybersecurity PR. He’s written on a wide range of topics, from AI to Zero Trust, and is particularly interested in the impacts of cybersecurity on the wider economy.

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