SSO and MFA Optimization Through OneLogin

Quickly gaining traction as a world-class provider of business-level cybersecurity solutions, OneLogin is a mediation platform that works together with back-end managers to design websites and apps with a plethora of security options that protect not only the company and its staff but also the clientele themselves. Their handiwork can be found in common social media apps such as Facebook, Tumblr and Snapchat; these systems often require multifactor authentication (MFA) for users to gain access the first time through with a new device, after which they can log in automatically thanks to the single sign on (SSO) system that recognizes continuing patterns of the legitimate user.

It’s more important than ever that clients and businesses alike look to dedicated security firms to secure their data, and the weekly headlines about breaches aren’t helping the peace of mind with any transaction that involves a credit or debit card. While there are many new payment methods now available — Android, Apple and Samsung all have their own wallet and payment systems — these aren’t perfect in their own right. The term “cybersecurity” has almost become a contradiction in itself because the Internet as a whole has more and more transformed into a playground where the bad guys always have the edge.

Every time a manufacturer database is breached, there are at least six figures in damages to cure, and the extent of it can often reach well into the millions or higher. Clients depend on these businesses to take their credit card information among other credentials and protect them from theft, and once a breach occurs, it’s difficult to trust those brands anymore. As a consequence, it’s become a focal point for businesses to secure their assets with the services of security firms such as OneLogin. Because they’re not simply an in-house team of code engineers, they know tricks that other IT managers won’t.

How It Works

OneLogin’s system uses a combination of cutting-edge multifactor authentication (MFA) to seal off intrusion attempts while single sign on (SSO) works to ensure a streamlined access experience is available to the legitimate users who are trying to step across the threshold between cold distrust and a warm welcome. The multiple factors of authentication are expansive, and OneLogin’s seasoned team of IT pros are able to work with manufacturers in the creation of their web-based services with the following points to verify users:

• Login credentials to identify oneself up front while attempting to gain access
• One-time passwords (OTPs) that are sent via text message to the phone number on file
• Code generators that are used on the website or through a third-party service
• Biometric information such as fingerprints or facial recognition
• Security questions that only the legitimate user would know
• Certificates that are installed on the user’s hardware
• Location information of the user

While it’s usually not necessary to pace first-time logins through all of these steps, manufacturers have the option of imposing some or all of them as needed on their platforms. Once the user has made it past the multifactor authentication, the single sign on steps in and makes it so they never have to log in again provided they meet a certain number of conditions at the time of gaining access. This ensures that the bad guys remain locked out while the good guys waste no time gaining a foothold on the information in their accounts.