Some organizations, especially government agencies, are often slow at updating their technology and processes due to budget constraints and other factors. They may be stuck with their legacy processes and systems. But, no one can afford to delay implementing basic security measures to protect the business.

Another reason why enterprises may have weak access management processes is due to the poor alignment of cybersecurity and identity practices within the organization. According to a recent analysis by SecureAuth, about 59 percent of IT decision-makers were said to have kept cybersecurity and identity decisions separate in their company. This kind of siloed environment can veil security threats, risking the company’s systems and data. 

In today’s age where security breaches have become an everyday occurrence, password-only authentication is not sufficient. Organizations should be looking for more than a username and a password to protect their networks. 

Increase Security with Two-Factor Authentication 

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), a form of multi-factor authentication, provides a second layer of authentication to access your systems by requiring users to provide a password (something they know) and a mobile app or token (something they have). 

An effective way of implementing a 2FA is to generate an ever-changing code, usually sent to your mobile device (via text or call), after you have entered your username and password.

2FA is one of the easiest methods to prevent cybercriminals from hacking into your systems by taking advantage of weak or stolen credentials (passwords). The fact that you need two authentication elements to login increases the level of security significantly. It also allows employees to work remotely without the fear of being breached. 

Another important advantage of implementing 2FA is related to compliance with industry regulations. Regulatory standards such as Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) require secure and authorized logins of users into company networks to help prevent data breaches. In fact, PCI DSS Requirement 8.1 clearly states the requirement to incorporate 2FA for remote access to the network by employees, administrators, and third parties. 

The Opportunity for MSPs 

Adding 2FA to their managed security services is an excellent growth opportunity for MSPs. It enables them to secure their clients’ networks from unauthorized logins and hackers. Small and midsize businesses (SMBs) usually have a small IT team with a limited IT budget, which makes it difficult for them to manage complex networks. In such cases, they may decide to outsource some or all of the IT function to an MSP rather than staff up to manage it themselves. In the case of IT security, an SMB may want the MSP to handle this and provide not only the technology but also the training of employees in the proper use of 2FA and other security best practices. In cases thike these, MSPs can step in and deploy a 2FA solution that enhances the security posture of the client company and keeps their data secure. 

Selling security solutions can be a tricky business for MSPs. Even with breaches hogging the news headlines every other day, many SMBs choose to ignore it as they don’t realize the risks they could face.

If you want to learn to build a security practice that increases your recurring revenue sales and profitability, register for our webinar How To Avoid MSP Security Pitfalls. 

The post Leverage Two-Factor Authentication for Maximized Security appeared first on Kaseya.

Back up and disaster recovery (BDR) has become an important security process for small and large businesses alike. However,today, even backups are not always safe and are being targeted by cybercriminals. Recently, a Managed Service Provider was hit by a ransomware attack which disabled their backup and recovery systems and spread malware to their end-customer networks. 

Companies count on MSPs to keep their data safe, trusting them to protect their IT infrastructure. Cyber criminals are taking advantage of the tools MSPs use to manage their clients systems, such as remote monitoring and management (RMM) solutions. Breaking into the RMM tool can give the hacker the “keys to the kingdom” and they gain access to client systems.

To avoid such breaches, MSPs should have a strategy in place to secure their tools. This includes multi-factor authentication (MFA) to protect access to their RMM.

Leverage Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) to Secure Backup 

MFA strengthens the overall security posture of a company and its customers. Adding this authentication process to RMM user accounts ensures that you have two layers of defense: First, the username and password, and second, a one-time passcode or token.

A password alone is a single authentication factor that is relatively easy to hack via brute force, phishing emails, and other social engineering methods. MFA, by requiring at least one additional authentication factor (making it 2FA in that case), makes it much harder for hackers to access your systems. 

Need an efficient MFA solution? Check out Kaseya AuthAnvil, an identity and access management (IAM) solution with MFA features that strengthens security for MSPs and their clients. 

Encrypt your Backup to Secure your Data 

Encrypting your backup serves as your last layer of defense, especially when you have sensitive data that you want to shield from hackers.

Encrypting a backup file essentially involves translating the contents of the file into a secret language – by using an algorithm that scrambles the data in an unpredictable unique format. This can later be recovered by using a password. And even if hackers have acquired your encrypted data, they wouldn’t gain from it.

Kaseya Unified Backup Comes To The Rescue 

Using the right backup and disaster recovery solution can make or break your backup strategy. MSPs and internal IT teams should look for an efficient and reliable backup solution that fits their requirements. 

Kaseya Unified Backup (KUB) brings together backup, ransomware protection, cloud-based storage and business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) services in a powerful, all-in-one appliance-based platform. With KUB you can automate critical backup and disaster recovery tasks including testing for guaranteed recovery. 

Request a demo of Kaseya Unified Backup here. 

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