Two-Factor Authentication Methods for Managing Data Security

Authentication personalizes accessibility to any account of users. It’s a way to secure & limit accessibility to certain information, which can be a company’s database or personal Gmail account.

There are its two methods, i.e. One-way and two-way authentication.

The first method typically requires just one principal account password to verify the true user. To make it a little bit more complicated for hackers, many apps, devices and software harness the benefit of another factor. This added factor can be one-time codes, hardware tokens or other contextual ones. The need is surging to leverage on multi-factor authentication so that the whole nine yard system won’t compromise on the password.

Two- Factor Authentication Procedure

As aforementioned, it’s hard to compromise on details, whose probability is more in one-way verification. What if you forget the password? What if someone has hacked it?

These are a few possibilities that can hurt your best data management services. Some clever social engineering or guesswork can tease you out. This is where two-factor authentication puts a barrier for those who are not allowed to enter.

Also called mutual authentication, this method has different mechanism. Simply put, you can ask to provide another bit of information apart from your password or email address. There is a provision to fill up an SMS code that is sent on your registered mobile number.

Let’s get through how it works.

• Through Phone Number

To let the device or system know that it’s you (the valid user), it most probably asks to provide the associated phone number where a code is sent to input. This is the best way to keep hackers away unless they have any access to you own phone or system.

• Through Email Id

Sometimes, it provides an option to receive the code on your integrated email id, which is registered with some particular services. In short, you receive the code on your email id also, which you can provide to unlock your account.

Oftentimes, you don’t need these two layers of security. Just one way is enough, given that you are accessing your account on the same system or device. It is to simplify the process of unlocking your account. When you log in on some other devices that has no history of browsing, it quickly asks to authenticate through either of the two ways.

If you are using an authenticator app like Authy, there is no suspicious element to intercept with the codes without physical access.

Integrate 2-Factor Authentication To Account-How?

The sensitive information, especially personal identifiable information, needs an envelope to stay inside. These crucial sensitive details can be emails, financial information, files, social media, contact details and many more, which you do not like others to get in and explore willingly. This is where you need this sort of authorization.

• On Google

Although the methods for two-way authentication may be dissimilar, yet it’s not hard to know about these methods. If you talk about Google, let’s say, you click on Security menu to find it. Besides, you can use an authenticator app also, which allows to browse what is inside once you tap on prompts flashing on your registered phone number. Or, you can verify with the code in the SMS in your mobile phone.

• On Apple Devices

If you are an Apple user, these are available in Settings. You can just tap on your name and move to Password & Security. This can get you to Turn-on 2-Factor Authentication option on your iPhone. If you have a Mac, the procedure will begin from System Preferences. Then, you can just input your Apple id, move to Password & Security and then, to Turn-on 2-Factor Authentication. This is how you can verify by putting the code sent through an SMS on the registered mobile number.

• On Microsoft Products

If you have a Microsoft account, straight away go to the Security page in your account portal over the internet. Tap to More Security options and then, Set Up 2-Step Verification. This will turn on the process to authenticate by two ways. For another device, you can use your email id, app or phone number.

Account Protection Beyond 2-Factor Authentication

There is no certainty, ensuring no accessibility of your account without authorization. Simply put, the tech upgrades every then and now, which causes a possibility to break in to your account without your permission. However, 2-factor authentication mitigates this risk to the minimum possible level.

The most trending data management services is to access the backup, which allows to enter the archive & restore what information you have lost on your phone. It is the most striking way to get to inaccessible data, which you won’t be able to get to for being failed in validating 2-Factor authentication. But, this can be a prospect given that you have the backup in your mobile phone or system.

Besides, there are pronounced data management companies that follow particularly tried and tested methods to reset data, instead of validating to get an access. These methods may vary, but are not publicized so that breaching won’t become a new normal for even a naive.

Let’s say, FB asks to provide various pieces of information to prove that it’s you before entering your account. Likewise, Google asks you to write down the backup codes for exploring your account.

Being a digital business strategist, Lovely has gained grounds in the digital transformation. He lets the performance speak about the plus and minus of what is done, which helps him drive to winning strategies over the internet.