In today’s digital age, organizations sector-wide face a dual-pronged challenge of providing seamless access to resources while maintaining the highest standards of security etiquette.
Some organizations have embraced this challenge head-on, by trying to get the best of both worlds. In recent years, the most often lauded solution which checks both of these boxes is an authenticated, secure and straightforward login experience.
Single Sign-On (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) have emerged as two time-saving, user-friendly, and highly secure methods of authenticating users accessing vendor resources. These two approaches have been touted as quintessential measures for maintaining access control of critical assets and data.
Evaluating SSO and MFA, however, with one another, can be challenging. Both solutions offer distinct advantages in the ongoing battle to preserve critical data integrity and system security simultaneously.
Single Sign-On (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Defined
Single Sign-On (SSO) represents an authentication mechanism that enables users to access multiple applications and services with just one set of credentials. This streamlined approach has become increasingly preferential to users trying to counterbalance memorizing strong, unique passwords for each login or system, offering a simple, authenticated solution to gain access in one fell swoop. As organizations begin to centralize more of their resources into a cloud-based, on-premise, or hybrid infrastructure, SSO can make access control and management processes highly efficient.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), on the other hand, focuses on strengthening security by requiring users to verify their identity through two or more authentication methods. The idea behind MFA is that even if one layer of security is breached or compromised, the additional layer(s) makes it significantly more challenging for perpetrators to execute their attacks.
Comparing Approaches to Security and UX
SSO is arguably the more user-friendly of the two processes while retaining a solid foundation of security hygiene. Organizations that adopt SSO across their estates decrease the risks of password fatigue among their teams, not to mention mitigate the dangers of reusing passwords across logins and systems, or, worse yet, using passwords that are drastically weak and ineffective. SSO reduces the amount of details to remember and input for users which is highly effective and beneficial.
MFA, in contrast, provides an additional layer of security on top of what is already present in an incumbent system, network or estate. Additional authentication factors exponentially reduce the risk of account or file compromise by unauthorized users, while making it exceptionally more challenging for them to gain access. While this may add additional steps to a login process or access request, modern solutions have adopted user-friendly interfaces through innovations in mobile-based verification and biometrics.
Interestingly, a recent study conducted by VISA showed that 86% of respondents prefer using biometrics over standard passwords to verify their identities or authorize payments. Over 176 million Americans are even using facial recognition to access their everyday apps, accounts and devices, which only underscores how popular and accessible it is as an MFA method.
SSO vs MFA: Underlying Security Considerations
While both SSO and MFA provide robust and reliable security features inherently designed to protect organizations, a salient point to bear in mind is that authentication remains one component of an over-arching, cohesive security strategy and policy.
Several security challenges still exist outside the realm of control of these authentication methods, outlined below.
Data in Transit and Storage
Even with strong authentication protocols present, organizations must ensure end-to-end encryption of data both in transit and at rest. This becomes particularly crucial when handling sensitive files, including various image file formats, which often contain metadata (such as EXIF data) and potentially confidential visual information. Regardless of the authentication methods used, organizations must deploy strict access controls and encryption protocols to safeguard any assets and imagery, especially if they are licensed, trademarked, registered or copyrighted.
Integration with Existing Systems
The effectiveness of both SSO and MFA hinges on how seamlessly and effectively they integrate with an organization’s incumbent infrastructure. When deployed and managed correctly, SSO and MFA can align well with identity and access management (IAM), Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and automated certificate management solutions.
That said, in one study, researchers found that MFA is not entirely foolproof, with all methods and measures offering both advantages and drawbacks. The key conclusion derived was that certificate-based authentication offered the best results when rigid security was enforced from the top down.
The Power of Combined Implementation
Rather than viewing SSO and MFA as siloed or competitive solutions, organizations should endeavor to pursue a hybrid of both technologies across their estates. In turn, they will end up with a robust security framework that maintains usability while dramatically fortifying protection against unauthorized access from fraudsters, malicious actors and cybercriminals. With cybercrime rife and projected to reach soaring costs of $13.82 trillion by the end of 2028 if trends continue, organizational security can ill afford to be overlooked.
When deployed, managed and maintained together, SSO and MFA create a formidable duo as part of a company’s overall security architecture, providing users with a convenient signing-in process while safeguarding applications and data with stringent authentication methods. Different resources can be easily allocated with additional or lowered levels of security depending on their sensitivity and value, without posing additional barriers for users.
Next Steps to Implement Both SSO and MFA
Take the time to research the MFA and SSO solutions that align with your organization’s security posture and requirements. Conduct regular security audits to validate any potential weak spots that could be reinforced with enterprise-grade solutions. Consider a phased approach where the most at-risk departments are given sufficient security controls from the outset, before gradually deploying the same solution(s) across your estate. Continually test and validate their effectiveness, perhaps in a staging or test environment before rolling them out onto live servers and networks prone to vulnerabilities.
To round it off, it’s important to isolate the specific quirks of SSO (the convenient sign-in option users need and prefer) and MFA (the vital additional layers of security that safeguard resources), as they both have clear purposes as part of a wider organizational goal. The key is not to choose one or the other, but to leverage both strategically to create a secure and user-friendly environment that meets individual and business needs while providing enough flexibility to evolve with new and emerging security challenges.
Ensure robust security for your networks with GlobalSign’s Authentication Solutions
Note: This blog article was written by a guest contributor for the purpose of offering a wider variety of content for our readers. The opinions expressed in this guest author article are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect those of GlobalSign.
