IDC Planscape: Deploying Multifactor Authentication

Multifactor authentication provides organisations with an effective security control that overcomes the weaknesses of knowledge-based authentication and protects network, application, and data assets in an increasingly sophisticated threat environment. By combining passwords with physical devices and/or biometric measurements, organisations add a layer of strong security and protect themselves against password theft.

Recent advances in multifactor authentication make this technology more accessible to nontechnical end users and allow widespread deployment throughout the organisation. Using multifactor authentication may now be as simple as clicking a button on a pop-up window that appears on the smartphone that a user was already carrying. The simplicity of this approach improves security while increasing user satisfaction.

Organisations planning the deployment of multifactor authentication should consider approaching both users and services in a phased approach that prioritises high-risk users and applications to achieve the greatest benefit as early as possible in the deployment. Communicating frequently with both management and end-users increases the likelihood of a smooth deployment.

This IDC study provides senior technology leaders with a multifaceted approach to multifactor authentication.

 Digital
Okta

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