Why safety is essential!
2FA in public administrations: In a digitally networked world, the handling of data is of great importance. It is precious and must be carefully protected, especially in public administrations, where confidential information forms the foundation of our life together. Responsible protection of this data plays a key role here. To effectively increase the security of this valuable information, two-factor authentication (2FA) is the most effective method.
Advantages of two-factor authentication or authentication in public administrations
Increased security: Two-factor authentication ensures that a user not only knows a password, but is also in possession of a physical device. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access or identity theft.
Protection against password theft: Since simply knowing a password is not enough to gain access, two-factor authentication offers additional protection against password theft or phishing attacks. Even if a password is compromised, the attacker will not be able to access the account without the second factor.
Ease of use: Although two-factor authentication provides an additional layer of security, it can still be made user-friendly. Modern implementations allow the use of smartphone apps (insecure) or 2FA hardware authenticators such as the REINER SCT Authenticator (highest security level).
Compliance with data protection regulations: Public administrations and municipalities are often required by law to protect personal data. Using two-factor authentication can help to comply with data protection requirements and avoid potential fines or legal consequences.
Reducing the risk of internal threats: Insider threats pose a real danger to public administrations and municipalities. Two-factor authentication makes it difficult for internal employees to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or systems, minimizing the risk of misuse or industrial espionage
Explanation of 2FA: What is 2-factor authentication or authentication?
To ensure the security of data in public administrations, the implementation of 2-factor authentication is essential. But what exactly does this term mean? 2FA is an additional security procedure for authenticating users.
In contrast to conventional password authentication, a second factor is required to access the system. This can be a TOTP code, for example, which is stored on physical hardware (REINER SCT Authenticator). This additional factor significantly increases security and makes password theft more difficult. This security procedure also offers many advantages for public administrations and should therefore definitely be considered.
Why is 2FA indispensable in public administrations?
In public administrations, a large amount of sensitive data is processed every day, making data security a key issue. The implementation of additional security through 2FA (two-factor authentication) is therefore essential.
By adding a second factor for authentication, security is increased and password theft is prevented. 2FA can also strengthen access control in public administrations by ensuring that only authenticated users can access data.
Overall, the implementation of 2FA in public administrations offers a higher level of security for companies and citizens and should therefore not be neglected.
Digitization as a huge task for small municipalities!
As holistic IT service providers, system houses offer a comprehensive solution to the challenge of digitizing small municipalities. Their integrated approach, which provides hardware, software and security consulting from a single source, enables municipalities to efficiently optimize their IT structure and strengthen digital security. System houses specialize in meeting the specific requirements of each municipality and thus offer tailored protection against cyber attacks.
Furthermore, system houses are focusing on the implementation of security strategies such as two-factor authentication, which is recommended by security experts as one of the most effective ways to ensure the highest security standards.
Working with a system house not only provides a high-quality security infrastructure, but also strategic support that facilitates the digital transformation of municipalities and at the same time effectively addresses the increasing requirements in terms of cyber security.
The advantages of hardware-based 2FA in public administrations
Firstly, a hardware authenticator is usually immune to attacks such as phishing or man-in-the-middle attacks. Since the authentication code is generated directly on the device, it cannot be tapped by fraudulent websites or malicious software. This significantly increases security, as attackers would need to have physical access to the authenticator to steal the codes.
Secondly, the use of a hardware authenticator in public administrations makes sense as it is a dedicated, specialized security mechanism. In comparison, cell phones are multifunctional devices used for different purposes and can therefore be more vulnerable to security risks. A hardware authenticator is designed to be used exclusively for authentication, which reduces the likelihood of security breaches.
To summarize, implementing 2FA in public administrations as a hardware solution is the best protection as it provides a robust security solution that is immune to various attack vectors and is specifically designed for authentication. 2FA in public administrations should prefer a hardware authenticator to the use of cell phones to ensure the security and reliability of the authentication process.
IT administrators also choose bad passwords
A study has shown that “admin” is the most frequently used password. The list of the most popular passwords among administrators suggests that preset passwords are often not changed.
A well-known security provider has analyzed over 1.8 million passwords from administrator accounts. The result shows that administrators are just as predictable as consumers when choosing their passwords. They accept preset passwords and do not change them.
At the top of the list is the password “admin”, which is often assigned by the factory, with around 40,000 entries. The other places also suggest that at least some administrators are not aware of the importance of secure passwords. In second place is “123456”, followed by “123454678” and “1234”.
The analysis revealed that “password” is the fifth most common password. The remaining places in the top ten are variations of the first five places, such as “admin123”. Outpost24 reported:
“While our top 20 results are limited to known and predictable passwords, the fact that they were associated with administrator portals shows us that malicious actors are well equipped to target users.”
Case studies of data leaks and their impact on public administrations
Data leaks in public administrations can have devastating consequences. One example of this is the case of the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), where hackers gained access to the sensitive data of over 21 million government employees and their family members in 2015. The stolen information included names, social security numbers and background checks, among other things, which led to a major loss of trust in the agency.
Another example is the hacker attack on the German Federal Chancellery in 2018, in which unknown persons attempted to gain access through a vulnerability in an app. This clearly shows that more than just a password is needed to ensure data protection. An additional authentication layer such as two-factor authentication (2FA) can help protect both users and companies from such attacks.
Conclusion: Why you should not do without the implementation of 2FA in public administrations!
The implementation of 2FA in public administrations is essential to protect citizens’ data. This is because, as already discussed in the previous sections, a simple password may not be sufficient to protect against hacker attacks or data theft. The additional 2-factor authentication ensures a higher level of security.
Public administrations should therefore not forego the implementation of 2FA and address the issue in order to ensure greater data security.
REINER SCT Authenticator
The ultimate protection for your online accounts. Secure platforms such as Microsoft (Office 365), Google, Amazon, PayPal, Etsy, GMX, 1&1, X, Facebook and many more.
