Enhancing Identity and Access Management

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is one of the most frequently required cybersecurity solutions by industry standards, insurance providers, and companies. In the recent executive order by the Whitehouse on improving cybersecurity, they mandated that MFA be implemented by federal organizations. Additionally, many insurance companies are requiring MFA as a basic requirement for obtaining cyber insurance. MFA is being frequently required because of its simplicity and effectiveness in ensuring identity. MFA is an identity and access management (IAM) solution that prompts users to ensure their identity on multiple devices to allow them access to an application or set of data. This can help block someone using stolen credentials from accessing your organization’s system. It is a basic and effective way to begin ensuring that the users accessing your organization’s data is authorized to do so.

Why Identity and Access Management is Important

The amount of data that organizations share and store both in the cloud and on-premises continues to grow. IT departments no longer have the bandwidth to manually monitor who is accessing what data and at what time. Identity and Access Management solutions aim to automate this process using artificial intelligence (AI). The cost associated with malicious actors accessing your sensitive data is too high not to implement identity and access management solutions to minimize the threat of unauthorized access. Even if you have a small cybersecurity budget, our experts at Aurora can help you understand what type of IAM solution is best for your security goals and current resources.

The Benefits of Implementing Identity and Access Management Solutions

IAM can help reduce your organization’s risk of data breaches both internally and externally. Implementing this solution can help your organization enforce security policies around user authentication. With IAM, sharing files internally and to partners or customers, is made more secure. Identity and Access Management tools will alert your administrator of any malicious activity and act immediately to prevent a potential breach. Implementing IAM solutions help organizations comply with industry standards and could make an organization more eligible to get cyber insurance.

Flaws in Existing Identification Methods

It is far too easy for hackers to gain access to a system using stolen passwords or by fabricating other forms of authentication. Additionally, once a user has been authenticated, it grants them access for the entire day. A weakness of this traditional way of authentication is that it only occurs one time a day and it relies on information that can be imitated. If a user were to leave a device logged in, the session could be accessed by an unauthorized user, making an entire organization vulnerable to attack.

Behavioral biometrics is a technology that aims to address these limitations of traditional authentication while enhancing its strengths. Behavioral biometrics is the process of analyzing micro-patterns in movements. These patterns are unique and difficult to fabricate and are therefore a more secure way to identify users. By analyzing behavior, behavioral biometrics can authenticate continuously, monitoring a user’s behavior in real-time throughout the whole workday.

Behavioral Biometrics and Traditional IAM

DEFEND is a powerful solution that uses behavioral biometrics to identify users in real-time. When a user’s behavior matches their typical movements and keystrokes, no risk will be detected. If a user’s keystrokes and mouse movements differ from their typical behavior, a high-risk event will be detected and security staff will be alerted to stop the threat. DEFEND can be integrated with SIEM solutions like Splunk, to more quickly and effectively identify risk. DEFEND is not a replacement for traditional IAM solutions but it will enhance them to increase security and productivity.

Whether you are just getting started with implementing basic IAM solutions or if you are looking to further enhance your security portfolio, Aurora can help. See our full solution portfolio here or learn more about DEFEND by visiting http://aurorait.com/defend.