With cyber threats and security breaches continuing to threaten online data, constantly creating new defense attacks or techniques may seem nearly impossible. However, e-signature technology by SignNow makes virtually all devices secure. With SignNow’s internal support features, data handling and partner integrations, powerful applications and simple workflows, your data protection and security is our first priority.
SignNow’s e-signature service features a multi-factor authentication embedded in its technology. This authentication acts as an operating system so that your personalized configuration is needed. Multi-factor authentication is, by definition, a security measure that requires multiple levels of identification and ensures that the user is who they say they are. Essentially, multi-factor authentication uses more than two forms of authentication to get the trusted users in and the wrong users out.
Why isn’t one form of authentication enough?
Did you know that 55% of account users have the same password for multiple accounts at a time? If cyber criminals get ahold of these credentials, they can easily use your information to login on other sites. So… why is this so dangerous to your security? The fewer authentications users have, the less secure their sensitive documents and personal information will be. Whereas, multi-factor authentication usually combines a username and password, account number, and personal information, with either an SMS code, mobile phone number, or Voicemail code.
Is multi-factor authentication the standard in the workplace?
For a growing number of companies, two-factor or multi-factor authentication has become the standard. Awareness training and reporting tools combined with periodic password reset options help reduce the chances of a cyber attack from occurring. Although two-factor authentication is an excellent measure of data security, multi-factor authentication adds an advanced layer of defense by confirming who you really are.
Multi-factor authentication is escalating in the workplace, with about 44% of enterprises using mobile devices for multi-factor authentication. Specifically, in the healthcare industry, multi-factor authentication is oftentimes used to protect patient’s medical records and billing information.
What are the most popular forms of multi-factor authentication that SignNow uses?
- Email authentication: The username and password are both sent over email
- Security question: Sometimes companies share security questions and supply a one-time only question and code.
- SMS authentication: Many companies require an SMS code sent via text message or voicemail.
- Social security number or date of birth: More advanced security measures are providing your social security number, date of birth, or other personal identity verifications.
The future of multi-factor authentication
As security advances improve throughout companies, use of fingerprints or retinal scans may become an additional measure of identification and account protection, as well as an alternative to text messages or email confirmations. More advanced security measures may provide extra validation by verifying that the person logging into an account from their mobile device is the actual trusted person, and not a cyber criminal or someone who has stolen their phone.
