Identity management tools defend against data breaches by ensuring people have access to the right resources. They can also limit the amount of information an employee can access, which helps prevent cybercriminals from stealing sensitive account credentials and passwords.
Ping Identity offers a powerful solution for both small and large companies. This tool can manage multiple systems and VPN credentials, allowing for granular security.
Two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (also known as multi-factor or 2FA) is a security measure that requires more than just your username and password to verify your identity. This additional step makes it much harder for hackers to hijack your account, even if they obtain your login credentials. 2FA also helps prevent data breaches by ensuring the attacker isn’t using your account to access other accounts.
Most online services that require a login offer the option to enable 2FA. It’s a good idea to allow it on all your accounts, including personal and business ones. You can also use a strong password generator to create complex, long and unique passwords for each of your accounts and store them in one of the best password managers, making it easier to keep track of them.
Many hacking methods depend on stealing passwords or other login information from compromised devices, such as malware that logs keystrokes on infected computers. These methods, called brute-force attacks, harvest accounts from hacked servers and then sold them on the dark web for profit. 2FA can stop these types of attacks by requiring that the user enter a second authentication factor, such as a smartphone app or a security token like a USB device or fingerprint reader.
Law enforcement agencies can also use two-factor authentication to confirm the identity of users who try to access their networks. This can be useful to combat the growing problem of phishing and social engineering attacks that target the law enforcement community.
Automated reporting
Automated reporting allows companies to monitor all accounts and access systems, making it easier for security teams to spot potential threats and rogue activities. Identity management tools can help reduce human error and the time required to investigate incidents, which can save money in the long run and mitigate damage from cyber attacks. They can also provide actionable intelligence and alerts on systems that are at risk.
IdentityIQ is a powerful identity and access management (IAM) tool that offers several features for businesses of any size. It can interface with a long list of applications and data stores and manages access to those systems based on the user’s role and permissions. It can even verify the identity of users during login and while they are in session, making it possible to identify anomalies or suspicious activity.
One of the best features of this IAM solution is that it can be used for a “bring your own identity” (BYOI) approach to IAM, which eliminates the need for employees to use corporate usernames and passwords when accessing personal applications like social media or benefits administration programs. It is also suitable for the healthcare industry and can interface with Cerner device connectivity and Epic systems.
Its privileged account management capabilities can protect the specialized access rights of certain users and allow administrators to assign them specific roles. It can also track and report on all account activities, ensuring that users do not exceed the privileges they have been granted.
Role-based access control
Role-based access control (RBAC) restricts network access based on an employee’s organizational role. It is one of the main methods for controlling data access and has a major impact on cybersecurity. It helps prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information and protects systems by tracking users’ actions. RBAC controls operations and objects and can be applied at the board or granular level.
A user’s role is a collection of permissions that allow them to perform a defined job function. For example, a software engineer might need to change system settings, while an HR manager should only be able to view employee data. By defining these roles, an IT team can reduce the time and effort required to manage individual user permissions. It is also easier to apply changes to the security model when a user’s job responsibilities change.
Implementing a role-based access control framework is critical to prevent data breaches and improve the efficiency of your business processes. However, starting with coarse-grained access is important to minimize the workload and potential for business disruption. It’s best, to begin with a core group of employees and then move toward more granular access. Ensure you have documentation and user feedback to guide your decision-making process as you roll out the framework.
Single sign-on
Keeping track of multiple usernames and passwords for different accounts can be a hassle for administrators and users. Single sign-on is a centralized session and user authentication service allowing users to access multiple applications using one login credential. Using SSO can help reduce the number of logins and passwords exposed to hackers in data breaches.
SSO uses open standards to communicate with other apps and websites about the identity of a user. These protocols don’t include any information that reveals a user’s password, which makes it harder for hackers to steal these credentials.
In addition to facilitating easier management of logins, single sign-on also reduces the time hackers have to spend gaining access to sensitive business data. SSO provides an extra layer of verification, a critical identity, and an access management aspect.
When selecting an SSO solution, consider whether it can support all of your business’s needs and requirements. This includes determining how much integration it offers with other security tools, such as multi-factor authentication and access control tools. It should also handle high traffic volumes without sacrificing performance or scale. Additionally, it should provide a high level of reliability through built-in security tools and services that can prevent cyberattacks.
