Last updated: July 26, 2018
2 minutes read
WatchGuard is targeting the SMB sector with cloud-based multi-factor authentication (MFA) as a way to meet demand for less password-heavy systems.
“We know that a massive portion of data breaches involve lost credentials and since cyber criminals target organisations of any size, MFA is now a prerequisite for all businesses,” said Alex Cagnoni, director of Authentication at WatchGuard. “In the absence of MFA, cyber criminals can utilise a variety of techniques to acquire usernames and passwords, such as spear phishing, social engineering and buying stolen credentials on the dark web, to gain network access and then steal valuable company and customer data. With AuthPoint, we’re breaking down longstanding barriers between SMBs and MFA adoption with a solution that is affordable, easy to deploy and vastly scalable – all of which is made possible by WatchGuard’s cloud-based approach to authentication.”
MFA has not always been seen as right for SMBs due to cost, complexity and management issues. A study of IT managers and professionals conducted by independent market research firm CITE Research shows that 61% of respondents from companies with under 1,000 employees believe MFA services are reserved for large enterprises. In addition, 84% of surveyed IT managers would prefer technology solutions in place to enforce password best practices, rather than relying on password policies and training.
WatchGuard says its AuthPoint addresses these authentication concerns by eliminating the complex integration processes, considerable up-front expenses and burdensome, on-premises management requirements. It is a cloud service that can be deployed and managed from any location without the need for hardware components, using WatchGuard’s AuthPoint app to facilitate user authentication.
