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Office 365 Authentication Methods and how to make them Completely Unphishable
Office 365 authentication methods are one of the most important security measures for your company.
You need to make sure that the login process is secure and reliable. But, with so many options, it can be difficult to choose the right one.
This article will tell you all about Office 365 authentication methods and how to make them completely unphishable.
What are most common Office 365 authentication methods?
The use of Office 365 is becoming more and more popular among companies, but the question of how to make it unphishable remains.
Office 365 is a suite of office productivity tools and services that are offered by Microsoft. These services are available to both personal and business users.
When you sign up for Office 365, you will be asked to provide your email address and password. This is the most basic form of authentication method for Office 365.
The email address and password combination is used to verify your identity with Microsoft’s servers, which in turn provides you with access to all the features of Office 365. There are other more advanced ways of authenticating yourself with Office 365, such as multifactor authentication (MFA) or two-step verification (2SV).
1) Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – MFA is a security measure that provides protection against cyberattacks by using two or more factors when authenticating access to an account. Some of the factors can include a physical token, a phone call, or an SMS message with a code. This type of authentication is one way to make sure your account is protected from hackers.
2) Two-Step Verification (2SV) – 2SV is another method for securing your account by requiring two steps in order to complete authentication . It involves entering a verification code that is sent to your phone number or email address. This is also one way to make sure your account doesn’t get hacked.
3) Multi-Factor Authentication and 2SV – This method requires the use of two factors when authenticating, but it also has the benefit of using 2SV to secure your account.
In short: why Authentication is a must have
Office 365 authentication methods are important when it comes to making sure that only the right people can access your data. This will make it more difficult for hackers and phishers to gain access to your account.
It’s not a secret that in the current cybersecurity world most compromises occur due to the user clicking on the link – and worst off – trying to phish a user for a current set of credentials, namely a user password.
Once the attacker gains that, they have hit a jackpot!!! Just imagine, even two-factor aside, if you have a current user’s password you can social engineer an attack to circumvent a 2FA (two-factor authorization) prompt and … voila, we are in!
Azure-cloud based Certificate Authentication: no password needed?
Not so fast, as per Microsoft, with the latest Azure-cloud based authentication feature known as Certificate Authentication. Users simply will not need to enter their password or it can be removed altogether.
Imagine your Office 365 login prompt looking like this:
X.509 to reduce costs
Certificate-based authentication, when combined with Microsoft Conditional Access Policies, 2FA authentication and removal of legacy authentication will allow for a completely secure and unphishable Azure/365 authentication.
Additionally, it will support user X.509 authentication into all web browser-based applications. Best of all, it is free, works with ANY edition of Azure AD and will help companies to reduce costs and minimize on-premise footprint.
More information is available directly from Microsoft.
It’s still in Preview technically but should be going mainstream soon.
Authentication FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers about authentication methods
What are the different authentication methods you can use with Office 365?
There are four different authentication methods you can use with Office 365.
1) Password-based authentication: With this method, the user enters their password to authenticate themselves. Password-based authentication is the most common type of authentication used by Office 365 users because it is the simplest type of authentication and has the least amount of risk associated with it.
2) Multi-factor authentication: This type of authentication uses two or more pieces of information to verify that a person is who they say they are. Multi-factor authentication can be used as a second factor for password-based authentication or as an additional form of verification for other types of accounts or applications that do not use passwords.
3) Microsoft Authenticator App: The Microsoft Authenticator app is a mobile app that allows you to use a one-time-password (OTP) sent via text message or phone call as a second factor of authentication.
4) Microsoft Account Verification Code: With the Microsoft Account verification code, users are provided with an authentication code that they enter on their account instead of providing a password.
What are the benefits of using a two factor authentication?
2FA or two-factor authentication is a security process in which an individual must provide two pieces of evidence to authenticate their identity. This is done by requiring a user to enter the username and password and then input the randomly generated code that is sent as a text message.
The benefits of using 2FA are as follows:
– It reduces the risk of account takeover,
– It requires only one device to be compromised instead of two,
– It reduces the risk of phishing attacks,
– It can be used with other authentication factors such as biometrics.
How can I enable two factor authentication on my account?
Two-factor authentication is an added layer of security for your account. Enabling two-factor authentication will require you to enter a code that is generated by an app on your phone or sent to your email address, in addition to your password. This code should be entered every time you log in to make sure that the person logging in is the owner of the account.
To enable two-factor authentication, go to Settings and click on Security. Click on “Two-Factor Authentication” and follow the instructions on screen.
How do I choose an authentication method for Office 365?
Choosing the right authentication method for your Office 365 account is important. There are many factors to consider and you should weigh them carefully before making a decision.
The most popular authentication method for Office 365 accounts is password-based authentication. This is the default setting when you sign up for an Office 365 account, but it’s not the only option available to you. You can also choose from PIN-based or multi-factor authentication methods if you want more security and control over your data.