No More Cyber Risks With Adaptive Authentication

Organizations are going crazy over cyber threat prevention methods and accepting any powerful authentication method as a doctrine. Gradually, authentication methods for securing digital identities are transforming from single/multi-factor authentication techniques to risk-oriented authentication methods.

Identity is an obvious source for user verification and authorization. So, we need to safeguard it. Although OTP systems are proving themselves as great tools for authentication, they no more guarantee security from advanced cyber-attacks.

Eventually adaptive techniques are designed as an attempt to increase and ensure security across different application areas of digital identity. These techniques are definitely configurable and the accessibility of data depend on various factors. It can range from value of information requested to grade of users who could access information.

Introducing Adaptive Authentication

Adaptive authentication can be picturized as a smart metamorphosis of Multi-factor authentication (MFA). Operations of Adaptive authentication can be related and compared with MFA.

Adaptive authentication believes in applying gateways depending upon the criticality of login requests rather than applying gateway over every request. Most importantly, the technique excels in measuring risk when your user logs into your site.

How Does It Measure Risk? 

Measures could be termed as “infinite factors”. They are expandable! They could range from IP addresses, geolocation, profile behaviors, biometrics (retina scan, facial and voice recognition, gestures and fingerprint) and shared intelligence (previous patterns of phishing attacks, threat intelligence and vulnerability information).

Depending upon the severity of risks, the authentication process is stepped up. SMS and email verification are added (according to the predefined risk based model). Application areas include browsers, applications, portals, websites and organization’s data.

Now adaptive authentication does have an upper hand. Here are some of them to watch out for: –

• You can optimize your security features

No one likes to leave their data unprotected. But, adding too many bottlenecks to login process would ruin your security experience. So, adaptive authentication offers a way to configure your security over login requests. You can actually place security features on requests according to your expertise. It implements a measured amount of friction in the login process.

• You can make your own security policies

Your IT team can mold security policies as per their preferences. Non-sensitive data can be accessed through unconstrained access (with a username-password combination) whereas highly sensitive data can be locked down with strong gateways (multi-factor authentication). Consequently, only specific users with authorization will be able to enter restricted areas.

• You can secure your data to BYOD issues

Everyone likes to access data (regardless of how confidential it is) as per their convenience. However, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) schema has increased vulnerabilities to business data. Adaptive authentication mends these issues by identifying mobile devices and networks used to access data. For example, a user while using safe network will face minimal authentication challenges. But if the user tries to access data via public Wi-Fi or an unsafe network, he will experience a “step-up” in the authentication process. He needs to undergo the process if he wants to access information/service. Through adaptive authentication, security measures can be easily executed.

• You can expand your business without sacrificing security

Business expansions sometimes can’t handle regulations due to security. With adaptive authentication, it is possible to access resources remotely and use mobile devices as well. Do you want to increase your offshore workforce? No issues. Need to set up a newly approved remote working policy? Thumbs Up! You’ll face minimal cyber threats at remote worksites with adaptive authentication at work. Respond to emergencies by adjusting access request policies through adaptive authentication. Thus, business runs without interruption.

Application Areas of Adaptive Authentication

Though, adaptive authentication secures identities across all sectors, it’s largely used in banking and government sectors where confidentiality of data is a prime factor.

In world, where end-users are easy targets as per research published by ISCA and RSA, 2015, adaptive authentication will prove as an effective technology for access control and user authentication.

Adaptive authentication is gaining popularity. Further, adding database with information such as device profiling, behavior profiling and geo-locations will improve it. Varieties in data range will continually make Adaptive Authentication smarter and intuitive.