According to Gartner's recent predictions, cloud usage continues to grow, and cloud services spending is expected to exceed $480 billion in 2022. However, cloud computing (and, by extension, cloud-based applications) comes with its share of concerns and challenges, and one of the most urgent issues is security.
It all boils down to this single inescapable fact. When you take standard IT operations out of a closed, in-house environment and put it “out there” on remote servers, you’re opening a new avenue of vulnerability.
However, the benefits of cloud-based technology (servers, storage, apps) are so profound that it's worth the additional risk. The trick is to mitigate the risks to such a degree that your cloud operations are just as secure as any given in-house operations.
And that's where authentication comes in. Let's take a closer look at two-factor and multi-factor authentication and why it's such a critical part of cloud applications. We begin our journey by explaining what we mean by multi-factor authentication.
What is Multi-Factor Authentication?
It’s all about establishing identity and keeping out potential intruders.
“Authentication” is defined as the means of verifying the identity of a process, device, or user, done as a prerequisite to gaining access to information system resources. However, authentication comes in many types.
For instance, when you check your email, you enter your username and a password. That's an example of single-factor authentication, also known as primary authentication, which is the simplest and most common form of authentication. But, unfortunately, it's also the most vulnerable.
Two-factor authentication adds yet another layer of security to the authentication press. Here are some common examples of two-factor authentication:
- An ATM bank card and a Personal Identification Number (PIN).
- A username/password login, followed by an authorization code sent to your mobile phone.
- Finally, a username/PIN combination, with fingerprint identification, added.
Then there's multi-factor authentication for the very security-minded. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) piles on layers of authentication, using types such as the username/password combination, a verification email, and perhaps biometrics (fingerprint, retina scan) and even a behavior-based challenge, such as a keystroke or swipe pattern.
The Challenge of Security
The cloud is great, but it has its weaknesses like anything else.
The more layers of authentication, the more security the app enjoys. However, excessive layers can also irritate users who are less concerned about hackers breaking into their app than accessing the app with minimal fuss and bother. We've all been there before, in a hurry, maybe even in a situation where you just need to ace ss the app quickly and easily, and you keep having to answer challenge questions or swiping your index finger in just the right way.
Of course, it's helpful to remember that those inherently frustrating activities are precisely the thing meant to irritate would-be hackers, who, rather than trying to wade through, might instead give up and look for an account that's easier to hack.
And when it comes to cloud apps, you run the risk of having strangers access data that they shouldn’t, so you need authentication. For example, let’s say you installed a copy of Microsoft Office 365 on your system. Assuming you’re not also doing work online, there is zero chance that someone can hack into your application and access sensitive data. But on the other hand, if you’re working with a cloud-based version of Office, the situation changes, and suddenly security is an issue.
Why Your Cloud Apps Need Multi-Factor Authentication
Forget “less is more;” when we’re dealing with app security, more is better!
According to this infographic, in 2020, the average smartphone user had 40 apps installed on their mobile device. Furthermore, the infographic points out that 95% of mobile apps have minor security vulnerabilities, 45% have high-risk security issues, and 35% have security problems that are classified as “critical.”
The same source of the statistics mentioned above also includes this interesting and possibly troubling statistic: 70% of app users will ditch an application if it takes too long to load. Granted, there’s a difference between a slowly loading app, and one where users must jump through multiple hoops to authenticate their identity. However, you could make a good case that both situations still boil down to one common, inescapable fact: people want to access their apps quickly and with minimal angst.
So, if you’re designing an app, you’re faced with the dilemma of balancing the customer’s ease of use with sufficient security authentication. You will lose customers if your app takes too long to get started (due to loading issues or excessive authentication protocols). However, if your app makes the news because hackers found vulnerabilities, your product (and possibly your overall reputation) will take a bad hit. It’s a balancing act.
The problem with single-factor authentication is that it’s simple, and simplicity brings vulnerability with it. The username/password authentication, also known as Password Authentication Protocol (PAP), is a simple, routine log-on that doesn’t even benefit from encryption. Experienced hackers can figure out and bypass a PAP if they have sufficient information about the user.
As a side note, that’s why you should never respond to those social media posts that ask about things like your favorite band, the name of your most beloved pet, etc. Every answer you give is potential ammunition for a would-be hacker to help figure out your passwords.
That’s why you need multi-factor authentication. Humans are fallible creatures, and we all inevitably let our guard down at some point. Multi-factor authentication increases the layers of security and helps mitigate the human factor.
For instance, someone could leave their smartphone on a table and dash off to the restroom, rationalizing that they will “only be gone for a moment.” Unfortunately, a lot can happen in that moment, and if an unscrupulous individual walks by and starts messing with the apps, things could turn dire. Multi-factor authentication reduces the window of opportunity that a casual thief would potentially have to cause harm and fraud. So as you can see, a suitable multi-authentication protocol can handle many different scenarios and protect against a variety of threats.
Of course, the question becomes, “How many authentication layers does your app need?” After all, there’s no way you can have protocols in place that address every possible issue. A lot of that depends on how much of your personal and financial information winds up residing on the app. If you have a Free Jelly-of-the-Month Club app that only requires your name, address, and favorite jelly flavor, you don’t need authentication like retina scans, fingerprints, verification email, and a special swipe pattern on your screen! Conversely, an app requiring information like birthdates, credit card or bank account information, or Social Security numbers must include multiple authentication layers. E-commerce needs authentication because authentication creates consumer confidence.
It all comes down to knowing the appropriate amount of authentication for your cloud-based app. Unfortunately, this task can become an exercise in trial-and-error unless you have access to some experienced voices to help you navigate the process.
And unfortunately, the harsh reality of today's online world shows us that security will remain a critical issue for the foreseeable future. According to Cybercrime Magazine, cybercrime is predicted to cost the world $10.5 trillion a year by 2025. Cybercrime is big business, and business is booming! And no company or organization is safe, regardless of size, so every business that uses, develops, or markets cloud apps must incorporate a sound authentication strategy.
And as if the stakes weren’t high enough already, bear in mind that, thanks to the new pandemic reality, almost half of the labor force in the United States is working from home, which means more people generating, accessing, and sharing data via cloud apps.
Additionally, with more people leaving their jobs than ever, there is an increased risk that departing employees may still have security credentials that allow them to keep accessing their company’s cloud resources. That's why companies need to incorporate authentication into their cloud-based apps and ensure that it keeps updated with any personnel changes.
When you consider all the above issues, it becomes clear why authentication is such a vital aspect of today’s cloud-based apps.
Making Sense of Authentication
An experienced guide can guide you through the intricacies of security.
If you don't have in-house access to experienced cloud security professionals, outsourcing that critical task to qualified consultants is your best bet. For example, cloud experts such as Remote Cloud Consulting can advise you on the appropriate authentication levels for your application.
Cloud app security is too important to rely on guesswork. Overload your app with needless excessive protocols, and customers will go elsewhere. Don’t incorporate enough authentication, and your cloud-based apps will get hacked, and you run the risk of ruining your company’s reputation.
Cloud consultants are a wise, long-term investment. The right consultant will have the kind of experience you can leverage to ensure your cloud-based apps are done right the first time. And that’s the kind of thing that will put you ahead of the competition!