Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) solutions improve enterprise-level security by enforcing additional authentication measures, such as biometrics, or a text message, before users can access accounts with their sensitive information or controls.
Essentially, with MFA in place, businesses gain an extra layer of security over their accounts. It helps to ensure that everyone who accesses company information is who they say they are, helping reduce the risk of account compromise. MFA sends users an email, SMS message or requires a biometric check such as a fingerprint scan or a FaceID check before users can log in.
Multi-Factor Authentication isn’t designed to make things more difficult but stops attackers from getting into accounts in a password theft case. It is still relatively easy and quick for legitimate users to access their accounts, which is why having the right MFA solution is necessary.
Passwords can become pretty troublesome as a form of authentication. Any Cybercriminal can hacks, guess, or shoulder-surf your password to get full access to your account. You can opt for a Password Manager to manage Strong, Unique Passwords for all your websites can help. A shoulder-surfer will have a tough time remembering a Password like C@LI0Ff%hus>?s8D
. But for an extra layer of security, you do want to add Multi-Factor Authentication to your accounts.
What is Cisco Duo Security?
Duo Security Increases security by adding another layer of security verifications to logins. By requiring Multi-Factors Authentication: First, you need your Password (You need to remember it or use a Password Manager). Second, another layer of something Unique (that you can have with you at all times), like your phone, protects your login accounts from unauthorized access.
Duo Multi-Factor Authentication makes Two-Factor Authentication easy for both Administrators and Users. Duo provides a user-friendly GUI and an easy-to-use, secure Mobile Authentication Application for quick, push notification-based approval to verify user’s identity with U2F token support, Smartphone, and a Smartwatch. Or you can choose from a variety of other supported authentication methods to fit every user’s needs.
As a secure, cloud-based solution, Duo MFA requires no on-premises hardware to be deployed. Our most popular authentication method, Duo Push, is sent via Duo Mobile, our smartphone application. It requires minimal administrative effort when enrolling new users.
Protecting User’s With Cisco Duo Security
Duo provides a variety of authentication methods that makes it easier for users to log into all of their accounts in any possible way. Duo also helps businesses reduce security risks and meet regulatory compliance by ensuring that all users have secure access to their accounts. Duo provides adequate, scalable security, which helps organizations be more productive by allowing users to share passwords securely and efficiently across teams.
Duo allows legitimate users to provide authentication via their mobile phones, which will enable users to easily hit “approve” or “deny” for login attempts. Duo also integrates with Hardware Tokens, Universal Two-Factor Authentication Tokens, Mobile Passcodes, SMS Authentication, and Biometric controls such as FaceID. Duo makes it a good option for companies who want to enforce a wide range of authentication controls.
Cisco acquired duo in 2019, and Duo can be purchased as a solution with Cisco that offers zero-trust security inside and outside the enterprise network. Duo is suitable for teams that range from two – infinite users, with scalable MFA solutions.
Alternatives To Cisco Duo Security
Cisco Duo Security has a lot of features. Still, most of the advanced features come with a price. If you are purchasing the free version, Duo limits the advanced features to 30-day free trials, like Endpoint Support, Mobile Device List, Self-Remediation, Policies, and Duo SSO (Single Sign-On).
Some Software that also provides basic MFA features with some of the more advanced options and is an alternative to Cisco Duo are:
1- LastPass Authenticator App
LastPass is one of the leading Password Managers that helps users remember Unique, Complex, and Robust Passwords. LastPass is one of the popular choices for multi-factor authentication for Enterprises. LastPass provides a complete identity and access management platform for Enterprises of all sizes, combining PasswordManagement, MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication), and SSO (Single Sign-On) so that administrators can improve their organizations security. The LastPass MFA solution allows employees to access their accounts with an MFA experience that works across On-Premise Tools, Cloud and Mobile Applications.
LastPass MFA combines contextual and biometric factors so that legitimate users can easily access all of their secured accounts. When logging in, you can use the authenticator app, which automatically verifies your identity without entering a code. It helps to ensure accounts are secure without requiring users to go through a complicated authentication process. LastPass helps save admins time by streamlining identity management, with an admin portal where password sharing policies can be set, and automated identity authentication across accounts.
LastPass is one of the popular Password Manager and an MFA solution with customers. Customers praise the easy-to-go setup and the wide range of authentication methods available. Identification of legitimate users can be made via any browser extension or a Mobile Phone Application. LastPass provides low monthly costs and multiple tiers for different sizes of enterprises. LastPass is one of the best Excellent Multi-Factor Authentication Options for any organization.
2- Twilio Authy
Twilio provides 2FA via their Mobile Phone Application “Authy.” Authy provides 2FA Rest API for developers and a Full Authentication platform for the enterprise. Every time a transaction is made or a user tries to log in to their account, Authy creates a Unique Token code. Authy authenticates all users’ identities using a Mobile Application.
Twilio Authy provides users with an easy-to-use 2FA experience; it also automatically backups on new devices or in the clouds. It works everywhere, even if your device is not connected to the internet or has a poor connection.
Twilio Authy is a popular application with smaller enterprises. According to customers, Authy is convenient and easy to use, as it also prevents any information breaches.
3- SecureAuth Identity Platform
SecureAuth’s Identity Platform provides a secure, flexible, and easy-to-use Identity Management Platform for Enterprises. SecureAuth offers organizations a range of Identity Management Benefits, including Single Sign-On, Adaptive Authentication Risk Checks, and Multi-Factor Authentication. The SecureAuth Identity Platform supports various deployment options, like On-Premise, Cloud-Based and Hybrid models.
SecureAuth’s Adaptive Authentication provides Multi-Factor Risk-Based Authentication for all employees. SecureAuth uses Intelligent Authentication policies, Analyzing devices, IP Addresses, Locations, and Behavior, which determines every login attempt’s legitimacy. When something is wrong, SecureAuth authenticates users using user identities. This feature helps saves time, as only suspicious log-in attempts need some extra verification step. SecureAuth states that they have processed over 620 Million Log-In attempts last year, and with the help of Adaptive Risk checks, 90% didn’t need any additional Multi-Factor Authentication steps.
Customers compliment the SecureAuth Identity Platform for it being a secure Authentication Platform that supports Multiple Applications in Multiple Environments, including On-Premise, Cloud, and Hybrid Configurations.
4- Identity And Access Management (IAM)
IAM Advanced MFA and Access Management provide detailed reporting that secures and monitors crucial enterprise data across all business levels.
HID Global is one of the leading cybersecurity vendors offering user-friendly identity verification and enterprise-grade solutions. HIDs Advanced MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) is a part of their Identity and Access Management (IAM) suite. IAM also includes identity and risk-based management applications. The IAM suite enables administrators to secure and manage access to both Physical and Logical assets.
IAM Advanced MFA enables secure access to networks, VPNs, and cloud applications such as Office 365, DropBox, and more. Additionally, the Centralized Management Console features strong reporting capabilities, which administrators use to gains information about account usages and access areas within the enterprise network.
HID Global’s Advanced MFA solution is centered around a zero-trust converged credential ecosystem. This ecosystem enables secure access to physical corporate assets, like buildings, and logical assets such as Networks. IAM supports authentication via PKI-based Smart Card, Hardware and Software Tokens, Mobile Push Notifications, Digitally-Signed Certificates, and Biometrics. These Authentication methods support various digital protocols like OATH and FIDO. Additionally, HID’s Smart Cards enables secure access to company websites.
HID Advanced Multi-Factor Authentication also supports SSO (Single Sign-on) so that employees don’t have to remember multiple passwords. HID SSO also saves Administrators from dealing with password reset queries. HID IAM’s Admin console also features analytical and reporting tools, which helps sophisticated AI provide insights about which employee is accessing which part of the network and enables enterprises to ensure security compliance.
Advanced MFA can be deployed as a cloud application or on-premise. It makes it easy to set up, highly scalable, and flexible. Because of this, Advanced MFA is a robust solution for organizations with growth plans, like organizations with remote or hybrid-remote environments and those with various office sites. HID Global’s MFA solution is top-rated among finance and government industries due to its high-security and robust management features. We recommend IAM Advanced MFA as a powerful solution for any medium-sized organization or any enterprise looking to secure and verify employee access to corporate assets across multiple business levels.
5- Ping Identity MFA
Ping Identity is an Identity Management Suite that offers several various Identity Management Features. It includes Multi-Factor Authentication, Single Sign-On, and Directory. Ping is administered via the cloud, providing an identity-as-a-service model as well as a software-based solution. Ping focuses on delivering easy integrations for enterprise customers, allowing administrators to use APIs, SDKs, and integration kits to streamline implementation with exiting infrastructure.
Ping uses contextual-based adaptive authentication that provides a better user experience and more effective security controls without impacting business productivity. It means that users can choose authentication methods, and admins can be sure a user is who they are, with factors checked like IP Address, Geolocation, and time since the last authentication. With Ping, users can choose to leave passwords behind entirely, with more robust authentication methods like mobile push authentication, QR codes, and other complaint authentication methods.
6- OKTA Adaptive MFA
OKTA’s Multi-Factor Authentication solution secures access for all your enterprise accounts by authenticating all of your employees, partners, and customer’s identities, OKTA’s service is designed to be secure, simple, and intelligent. They have focused on creating an easy-to-use admin portal that enforces MFA across the organization, with policies that enforce contextual-based login challenges.
In effect, it means that employees are prompted to verify their accounts based on contextual factors like you may be prompted to authenticate your identity when you log in at a unique IP Address, a new location, or a new device. OKTA also supports a vast variety of different authentication methods, including One-Time Passcodes sent via SMS, Voice, and Email, a Mobile App, Security Questions, and Biometrics.
Customers praise OKTA for its intuitive user interface. Customers state that it’s simple to sign in quickly, with different verification options meaning that you can log into your account even if you do not have a phone on you. OKTA is a good option for all types of Enterprises, requiring multiple authentication options and policies without compromising user experience.
7- RSA SecureID Access
RSA is an enterprise-focused MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) and Access Management Solution that allows administrators to enforce Risk-Driven Authentication policies across their Organizations. It provides a wide range of Authentication methods, including Biometrics, SMS messages, One-Time Passwords, and Hardware and Software Tokens to ensure the highest security for corporate accounts. However, RSA is focusing on convenience for end-users.
While supporting Legacy Software and Hardware Tokens, RSA makes it easier for organizations to move their employees to new Authentication Options, such as Mobile Authentication. It makes it easier for employees, meaning that they can use their cell phones to authenticate access to on-premise and cloud applications. RSA also allows admins to enforce policy-driven MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) and Single Sign-On across all of their Third-Party Applications, as well as supporting more than 500 cloud and on-premise applications.
RSA is built for enterprises with granular authentication, policies, and features. Customers like to choose that users have between using token-based authentication or using the mobile app. RSA Authentication is not as streamlined as some of the other Authenticator Applications on this list. Still, it provides high-level security, which gives customers peace of mind, especially when dealing with sensitive data.
8- Silverfort Multi-Factor Authentication
SIlverfort Multi-Factor Authentication is a corporate-level Authenticator that provides Identity And Access Management, Delivers Authentication, and Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication across its systems. It’s a fully agentless platform, without any installers or complicated set-up guidelines needed. Silverfort protects an enormous variety of corporate devices; it can enforce multi-factor authentication across applications, IoT devices, Critical IT Infrastructure, Health care systems, Dynamic IaaD Environments, and Databases.
The Silverfort platform employs Adaptive Authentication to improve security while minimizing disruptions. Silverfort uses an AI-Driven “Risk Engine,” which profiles and analyzes employee’s behaviors to apply accurate MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) and apply global policies to users. Silverfort’s Authentication can also be integrated like Duo’s Authentication with external threat indicators, including Palo Alto Networks, Microsoft, and Check Point, to ensure that Silverfort double-checks any suspicious users before they can access any accounts.
Silver for provides an agentless multi-factor authentication solution; it makes it easy to deploy without any agents. Customers always praise the platform’s easy-to-use feature, with most of them arguing that ease of use is a massive strength. Administrators also like the ability to add MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) to any Authentication request made by any user from any device. It is a viable option for Adaptive Authentication that large enterprise customers and smaller businesses use.
9- ESET Secure Authentication
ESET provides a highly secure method for businesses to implement MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) across all business systems such as Remote Desktops, VPNs, Office 365, and other corporate applications. ESET MFA supports Cloud-Based Applications and On-Premise Applications. ESET also supports multiple methods for users to authenticate their identity like Hardware Tokens, SMS Messages, One-time Passcode, and more.
ESET is primarily targeted at larger teams and enterprises. It offers multiple corporate features, like Active Directory Integration, Management Console, and Full support for SDK and API included.
ESET customers praise ESET MFA for being an easy authentication method with convenient push notifications. ESET’s range of Business features and user-friendly GUI makes a good option for Larger Enterprises looking for Multi-Factor Authentication.
10- Symantec VIP Access Monitor
Symantec VIP is an enterprise-level Identity Management Solution for protecting user’s access to Applications, Data Files, Networks, and Web Accounts. Symantec offers a fully cloud-based experience, robust authentication capabilities, and a focus on providing easy usability for users. Symantec VIP is a full suite of Identity Management Capabilities, with MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication), Risk-Based Authentication, Single Sign-On, Reporting Capabilities, and more.
The Multi-Factor Authentication on offer from Symantec is complete. Symantec supports a wide variety of authentication methods, which helps organizations to choose between the most convenient or the most secure authentication methods for their employees. Symantec provides a Desktop and a Mobile App, which supports push notifications and one-time login passwords. Symantec also supports FaceID authentication, Biometric Authentication, Security Cards, Security Tokens, and FIDO Security Keys. Symantec also offers Risk-Based Adaptive Authentication, which profiles user’s behavior so that legitimate users can continue to use their accounts as usual without any identity verification.
Symantec is one of the best options for a corporate organization with a large number of employees. It’s a boundless service with many features that are suitable for more prominent organizations. Features like CloudSOC integration, Actionable Identity Insights, and a user self-service portal help admins save time in managing multiple users. More extensive customers have praised Symantec for its easy-to-use GUI. Although for non-tech-savvy guys installing up the service can be a bit time-consuming.