Password managers must balance security and convenience. They must bolster existing security frameworks while offering users easy, seamless login experiences.
As the time required to crack even complex passwords dwindles, relying solely on traditional methods puts organizations at risk. The best password management solutions offer features like secure storage and multi-factor authentication to combat this.
This comparison of 1Password and Authy will help you find the best tool for your needs by reading this article.
Biometrics
While cybersecurity insiders have long advocated the end of passwords, they remain an important part of many security systems. However, they are vulnerable to cyberattacks and often cause user friction due to cumbersome password reset processes. This pushes IT professionals towards more secure, password less authentication techniques like facial recognition and biometrics.
Unlike passwords, which are easy to crack by brute force or dictionary attacks, fingerprints and facial recognition are almost impossible to hack. A digital hash of a person’s unique physical and biological characteristics is stored in a database for future reference. A system will only give access to a specific database or device to someone whose biometric characteristics match the ones saved in its database.
Biometrics are also not prone to typos or other human errors that can lead to security breaches, and they offer greater convenience than typing passwords or PINs into a mobile phone or computer. Furthermore, people can show their face or fingerprint to a system at any time without remembering or recording passwords, pins or smart cards.
Before deploying a biometrics authentication system, it is crucial to carefully assess your business's specific needs. Consider security requirements, user convenience, privacy regulations, and compatibility with existing systems. It is also important to test the reliability of a biometrics system in real-world environments. For example, manufacturers publish tests under optimal conditions that may not accurately represent the performance of a biometric scanner in everyday use.
Passkeys
Passwords have never been particularly effective against cyber-attacks, as hackers employ various software tools and hardware exploits to circumvent them. Password managers and reputable password apps like 1Password, Dashlane, and Keeper Security have helped reduce this problem by encrypting and storing passwords securely and providing user-friendly ways to manage credentials across multiple devices. But even if you set strong passwords and use a password manager, airtight protection is not guaranteed. As we’ve seen over the last few years, many major companies have been hacked, including the Colonial Pipeline, TikTok, and Verkada, with sensitive data being leaked online and potentially exposed to hackers.
Hackers are always trying to find new and innovative ways to break into systems, but cybersecurity leaders also have an onus to be vigilant about securing user credentials as best they can. That’s why a password manager with zero-knowledge architecture is so important, as it ensures that service providers don’t have access to your passwords.
Passkeys, developed by the FIDO Alliance, are an authentication technology that could eliminate the need for users to enter a password into different login fields for websites and apps. Instead, you can simply sign in using your device's password manager or biometrics (fingerprint, facial recognition, or PIN). Passkeys use public key cryptography and proof that you own the credential to make signing in secure and easy for users. However, passkeys still have a few drawbacks to address before they’re ready for prime time. For example, they require specific support from website and app developers, and they can’t be shared as easily between devices as passwords or password managers.
Learn about the key features of EasyDMARC and how they can protect your domain in this article.
Zero-Knowledge Architecture
After the string of high-profile data breaches, it’s clear that password management needs a makeover. Zero-knowledge architecture, in particular, offers significant promise. This security model ensures that your password manager can’t access or decrypt your data, protecting your passwords and other sensitive information from hacking and phishing attacks. Additionally, zero-knowledge encryption makes it difficult for attackers to leverage your passwords to access other accounts or devices.
Zero knowledge architecture relies on end-to-end encryption to protect data in transit and at rest. This means that your passwords are encrypted before they leave your device and are only decrypted when you access them in a client. This also applies to data stored on the cloud and ensures that your passwords aren’t accessed by unauthorized parties.
While some vendors claim to be zero knowledge, they often use a flawed architecture that allows them to access your data. For example, many browser-based password managers only encrypt data within their client, meaning your data is only protected on that specific platform.
If you’re considering switching password management providers, conduct thorough vendor due diligence and an IT risk assessment to assess the impact on your organization’s security posture and IT strategy. Once you’ve carefully considered all the factors, you can find a password management solution that meets your organization’s unique security and usability needs.
Multi-Factor Authentication
While passwords provide some level of security, they are insufficient for verifying user identity. This is why multi-factor authentication (MFA) has become so popular, with most operating systems, service providers and account-based platforms incorporating MFA into their settings.
MFA requires a combination of at least two verifiable credentials to prove a user’s identity before granting access to an online service or application. It combines “something you know,” such as a password, PIN or answer to a security question with “something you have,” like a smartphone, USB key or biometric sensor. Alternatively, some MFA systems combine multiple factors into the one-time passcode sent to a user’s mobile device or email address. However, these require extra time to use and are still susceptible to hackers’ attack techniques.
Additionally, MFA is often integrated with single sign-on (SSO) technologies, which allow users to log in to multiple sites and applications using a unique username and password. This allows a system to authenticate the original login at the outset, and then apply an MFA-like process for all subsequent authentication attempts. This approach prevents hackers from gaining one factor, such as a password, and then impersonating the user to gain access to their account. It also protects against phishing and other social engineering attacks that attempt to harvest a user’s credentials by tricking them into visiting a bogus website or clicking on an infected link.
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