
The **Authorization Code Flow + PKCE** is an OpenId Connect flow specifically designed to authenticate native or mobile application users.

Applications without the ability to store a client secret, such as native or single-page apps, employ this grant type  (SPA).

**Proof Key for Code Exchange, or PKCE** for short, is an abbreviation. Users are not required to submit a client secret in the PKCE route, which differs significantly from the conventional Authorization Code flow in this regard. Because embedded secrets are not required in source code, PKCE lowers security risks for native apps by limiting the potential for reverse engineering.  

### Why PKCE Authentication is Required? {#Why PKCE Authentication is Required?}   

Some additional security risks are raised when public clients (such as native and single-page programs) ask for access tokens that are not addressed by the Authorization Code Flow alone.  
This is because

#### **Native apps:**  
Cannot securely store a Client’s Secret. Decompiling the app will reveal the Client Secret, which is bound to the app and is the same for all users and devices.
May make use of a custom URL scheme to capture redirects (e.g., MyApp://) potentially allowing malicious applications to receive an Authorization Code from your Authorization Server.  

#### **Single-page apps:**  
Cannot securely store a Client Secret because their entire source is available to the browser.
OAuth 2.0 offers a variant of the Authorization Code Flow that uses a Proof Key for Code Exchange (PKCE) in light of these circumstances (defined in OAuth 2.0 RFC 7636).

The calling application creates a secret known as the Code Verifier that may be confirmed by the authorization server in the PKCE-enhanced Authorization Code Flow. In order to obtain an Authorization Code, the calling app also produces a transform value of the Code Verifier called the Code Challenge and delivers it over HTTPS. In this manner, a hostile attacker can only intercept the Authorization Code and cannot use the Code Verifier to swap it for a token.

### How does it work? {#How does it work?}
In place of the **client_secret**, the client app creates a unique string value, **code_verifier**, which it hashes and encodes as a **code_challenge**. When the client app initiates the first part of the Authorization Code flow, it sends a hashed **code_challenge**.  

Once the user authenticates and the authorization code is returned to the client app, it requests an **access_token** in exchange for the authorization code.  

In this step, the client app must include the original unique string value in the **code_verifier** parameter. If the codes match, the authentication is complete and an **access_token** is returned.


### PKCE Authentication Flow {#PKCE Authentication Flow}
The processes are quite similar to those of **Oauth** because the **PKCE-enhanced Authorization Code Flow** builds upon the conventional Authorization Code Flow.

![PKCE Authentication Flow](/blog/assets/2023/pkce-authentication-flow.webp)  

1. Within the application, the user selects **Login**.
2. The SDK for miniOrange constructs a cryptographically random code verifier and a code challenge from it.
3. The user is forwarded to the miniOrange Authorization Server (**/authorize endpoint**) via the miniOrange SDK along with the code challenge.
4. The user is forwarded to the login and authorization prompt by your **miniOrange Authorization Server**.
5. A consent page outlining the permissions miniOrange will provide to the application may be displayed after the user authenticates using one of the predefined login options.
6. As the user is redirected back to the application with an authorization code that is valid for one usage, your miniOrange Authorization Server records the code challenge.
7. This code is sent to the miniOrange Authorization Server (/oauth/token endpoint) via the miniOrange SDK together with the code verifier established in step 2.
8. The code challenge and code verifier are verified by your miniOrange Authorization Server.
9. A response from your miniOrange Authorization Server contains an access token and an ID token (and optionally, a refresh token).
10. The access token can be used by your application to contact an API and access user data.
11. The requested data is returned by the API.
 

### How to implement PKCE with miniOrange? {#How to implement PKCE with miniOrange?}
The easiest way to implement the Authorization Code Flow with PKCE is to follow our [Native Quickstarts](https://www.miniorange.com/integrations/). (These setup guides will help you with setup).  

&nbsp;  

Depending on your application type, you can also use our mobile or single-page app SDKs:  
[Download](https://miniorange.s3.amazonaws.com/public/plugins/idp/jwt-connector.zip%22) Mobile SDK’s.

&nbsp;  

&nbsp;  

#### **More Resources:**
- [What is OAuth? How does it work?](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-oauth-2/)
- [OAuth Server Service by miniOrange](https://www.miniorange.com/products/oauth2-server)
- [OAuth API Docs](https://developers.miniorange.com/docs/idp/api/oauth-api) 


 Learn how the Authorization Code flow with Proof Key for Code Exchange (PKCE) works and why you should use it for native and mobile apps.

Authorization Code Flow with Proof Key for Code Exchange (PKCE)


This month, we’re focusing on how Identity and Access Management (IAM) works and where it’s used. IAM is a critical part of cybersecurity, and it’s important to understand how it works and where it’s used in order to keep your online identity safe.

Identity and access management (IAM) is an emerging field that includes not only traditional role-based access models but also cloud-based, federated identity management. IAM also provides organizations with a secure and scalable foundation for managing their enterprise, on-premise, and/or cloud-based resources.

The idea behind IAM is that if you have multiple employees working on different projects at the same time, you don’t want them all having access to each other’s accounts. Instead, they should be assigned different accounts so they can’t accidentally share passwords or cause any damage by downloading files from each other’s computers. 

### How Identity and Access Management Works? {#How Identity and Access Management Works?}   

IAM is all about managing access to online resources. It’s used to authenticate and authorize users to access specific resources. IAM systems manage access to websites, applications, and data.  
There are many different types of IAM systems, but they all have one common goal: to protect your online identity by verifying it and making sure that you have the appropriate permissions to access the resources you’re trying to access.  

Some common features of IAM systems include:

- User account management: creating and managing user accounts, setting passwords, and managing user permissions
- Authentication: verifying the identity of users who are trying to access systems and data
- Authorization: granting or denying access to systems and data based on user permissions

### Where Identity and Access Management is Used? {#Where Identity and Access Management is Used?}

IAM systems are used in various industries, including healthcare, finance, government, and education. Each industry has its own unique requirements for IAM, but the overall goal is always the same to keep your online identity safe.  

The best way to protect your online identity is to use a strong IAM system. IAM systems are designed to keep your information safe and ensure that only the people with the appropriate permissions can access it.


### How can Single sign on and multi-factor authentication help you protect your online identity? {#How can Single sign on and multi-factor authentication help you protect your online identity?}

IAM systems can also help to improve the efficiency of an organization by reducing the need for multiple passwords and by providing a single sign-on solution for accessing multiple systems.  

IAM systems are an essential part of any organization’s security strategy, and they are critical for protecting data and ensuring that only authorized users have access to the resources they need.  

Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of safety to your accounts. With multi-factor authentication, you’re typically asked to provide a code that’s sent to your phone or email.
 

### Consider these few things if you're looking for an IAM system for your business {#Consider these few things if you're looking for an IAM system for your business}

- **You need to find an IAM system that meets your specific needs.**  
There are many different types of IAM systems, so it’s important to find one that’s right for your business.  

The most common types of IAM systems include Active Directory, IDP, Single sign-on, Multi-factor authentication, LDAP, and Kerberos. Each of these systems has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to understand what each one is good for before you choose which one to use.  

&nbsp;  

- **You need to make sure that your IAM system is properly implemented.**  
IAM systems are complex, and they need to be properly implemented in order to work properly.  

The key here is to make sure that all the users have access to the resources they need. A good practice is to create an account for each user and assign them a unique username and password. This way you can ensure that every user has their own account, which will allow them to access the data in any way they need.  

Another important thing is that all of these accounts must be protected by different passwords or keys, so no one can access another person’s data or resources without their knowledge. If you want to make it even more secure, you can use multi-factor authentication (MFA) where you will require two different passwords from each user.  

&nbsp;  

- **You need to make sure that your IAM system is always up to date.**  
IAM systems are constantly changing, and you need to make sure that your system is always up to date.  

The main disadvantage of not updating the IAM system is that it will not be able to provide the best security to your users. The reason for this is that the system is constantly changing, and if you don’t update, then your users will be at risk. Another reason why it’s important to keep your IAM system updated is that if you don’t update it, then hackers can hack into your system and gain access to all of your data. If this happens, then they will be able to steal passwords and other information from your users’ accounts.  

Another disadvantage of not updating your IAM system is that it can cause problems with user error. If a user forgets their password or doesn’t update their password when prompted by an automated email message, then this could result in someone breaking into their account and stealing their information.

&nbsp;  

miniOrange’s core identity product provides central and converts IAM solutions with bring together some of the most sorts after IAM features such as Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), Risk-Based Authentication, User Life Cycle Management which includes User Provisioning and De-Provisioning, Universal Directory and few more specific and segregated features to ensure that your entire Identity journey is a seamless handle from one central platform. We believe that security can be simple and with a high return on investment and we eliminate friction in the IAM journey of our users by complete end-to-end support for every single admin product interaction.  

IAM is a critical component of any cybersecurity program, and it’s important to understand how it works. IAM helps to prevent unauthorized access to resources, and it’s also important for compliance purposes.  

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect time to review your IAM strategy. If you’re not using SSO or MFA, now is the time to start. Contact miniOrange about how Single sign on and multi-factor authentication can help you protect your online identity.

&nbsp;  

#### **More Resources:**
- [Single Sign-On](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso)
- [Workforce Identity](https://www.miniorange.com/workforce-identity)
- [What is CIAM](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-ciam-customer-identity-and-access-management/) 


IAM is a critical part of cybersecurity, and Single Sign-On (SSO) & multi-factor authentication (MFA) can help you protect your online identity.

Do you have an IAM setup? Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Focuses on how and where IAM is used


## **DNN SAML SSO: Seamless User Verification with Single Sign-On** {#Seamless User Verification with SSO}   

Security and user experience are more critical than ever for online businesses these days. As an organization expands and incorporates more web applications for its operations, the need for a strong web content management system becomes paramount. DotNetNuke (DNN) stands out as a promising platform in this regard. Its integration capabilities, particularly through the SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) plugin, streamline user authentication across various applications, enhancing both security and user experience. 

Let’s look at what DNN SAML SSO is, its benefits, features, and more in detail.

### **What is DNN SAML SSO?** {#What is DNN SAML SSO?}

DNN SAML SSO is a security solution that simplifies user authentication by allowing users to log in once through a trusted [identity provider (IdP)](https://plugins.miniorange.com/dnn-saml-single-sign-on-sso-module) and gain seamless access to multiple applications or services, including their DNN site.This integration not only enhances security by centralizing authentication but also improves user experience by eliminating the hassle of remembering and managing multiple sets of credentials.

DNN SAML SSO allows websites to strengthen their defenses against unwanted access while also offering users with a streamlined and secure login experience. Embracing this technology not only aligns with web security best practices, but it also improves the overall usability and credibility of your website.


### **Benefits of DNN SAML SSO** {#Benefits of DNN SAML SSO}

**Enhanced Security**

SAML SSO reduces the risk of password fatigue and phishing attacks by centralizing authentication through a trusted identity provider (IdP) like [Azure](https://plugins.miniorange.com/saml-single-sign-on-sso-for-dotnetnuke-sites-using-azure-ad-as-idp) and [ADFS](https://plugins.miniorange.com/saml-single-sign-on-sso-for-dotnetnuke-sites-using-adfs-as-idp). This reduces the risk of password-related vulnerabilities and unauthorized access attempts. It also ensures that only verified users can gain access to the DNN site and other integrated services.


**Improved User Experience**

As users can access multiple applications with a single set of credentials, it reduces login friction and offers a seamless login experience. This further eliminates the need to remember multiple sets of credentials, enhancing convenience and usability.


**Streamlined Administration**  

Centralized user management enables system administrators to manage user access more effectively. Changes performed at the IdP level (such as user provisioning and role assignments) are quickly reflected across all applications, simplifying user administration duties.

### **Key Features of SAML SSO in DNN** {#Key Features of DNN SAML SSO}

**Compatibility**

SAML SSO extensively supports a wide range of identity and service providers. Users authenticate once with their identity provider (IdP) credentials and gain access to all applications and services connected via SAML, including DNN sites, without needing to log in multiple times.

**Scalability**

As businesses expand, SAML SSO in DNN can scale to accommodate additional users and apps while maintaining performance. This helps organizations to efficiently manage authentication for a growing number of users and applications without compromising performance or security. 


**Customizable User Attributes**

Administrators can choose which user attributes are exchanged throughout the SSO procedure to ensure seamless interaction with multiple apps. This also helps in aligning with specific security policies and user authentication requirements.


**Strong Security Protocols**

SAML SSO protects user identities and data with built-in security features like digital signatures, encryption, and secure tokens. By leveraging the SAML protocol, DNN SAML SSO reduces the risk of phishing and password-related vulnerabilities by eliminating the need for users to enter credentials directly into the DNN site.


### **Best Practices to Implement DNN SAML SSO** {#Best practices to implement DNN SAML SSO}

**Regular Updates:**

Update and maintain your SAML SSO configuration regularly. This includes IdP configurations, software patches, and integration settings. Stay informed about security updates related to SAML and SSO technologies.


**Monitor Authentication Logs:**

Regularly review authentication logs to detect and respond to suspicious activities. Implement monitoring and auditing mechanisms to track SAML SSO user access patterns, authentication events, and potential security incidents. 


**Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):**

Enhance security of your DNN site by adding MFA for user authentication. This adds an extra layer of protection as it requires users to verify their identity through additional means (e.g., SMS code, authenticator app) beyond the normal username and password.

**User Training and Awareness:**

Educate users about the importance of secure authentication practices and how to use SSO effectively. Provide training and support to users and convey them the benefits of SSO, how to initiate sessions, and security best practices, such as recognizing phishing attempts.


### **The Best DNN SAML SSO Solutions** {#Best DNN SAML SSO solutions}

At miniOrange, we specialize in providing comprehensive SSO solutions tailored to meet the needs of your DNN environment. Our [SAML SSO solutions](https://plugins.miniorange.com/dnn-saml-single-sign-on-sso-module) ensure secure, scalable, and seamless authentication for your users. We support all popular IDPs available in the market like [Okta](https://plugins.miniorange.com/saml-single-sign-on-sso-for-dotnetnuke-dnn-using-okta-as-idp), [Office365](https://plugins.miniorange.com/dnn-saml-sso-using-office365-as-idp), [Shibboleth](https://plugins.miniorange.com/dnn-saml-sso-using-office365-as-idp), [ClassLink](https://plugins.miniorange.com/dnn-saml-sso-using-office365-as-idp), etc.


Whether you need help with [initial setup](https://plugins.miniorange.com/dnn-saml-sso-setup-guides), ongoing support, or advanced customization, our team of experts is here to assist you every step of the way.

## **Conclusion**

Integrating SAML SSO with DNN can significantly enhance security, streamline user access, and simplify administrative tasks. By following best practices and leveraging the key features of SAML SSO, businesses can provide a secure and seamless authentication experience for their users. 

&nbsp;  



### **More Resources** {#more resources}
- [What is SAML? How does it work?](https://www.miniorange.com/what-is-saml)
- [DNN OAuth Single Sign On (SSO)](https://plugins.miniorange.com/dotnet-nuke-dnn-oauth-single-sign-on)
- [DNN Two Factor Authentication (2FA)](https://plugins.miniorange.com/dnn-two-factor-authentication-2fa) 


Learn how DNN SAML SSO integration enhances website security and user experience. Streamline authentication across your DNN site and applications today!

 DNN SAML SSO Integration : Boost Website Security & User Experience


## How to secure Atlassian Cloud Applications ?

**“Arguing that you don’t care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say.”**
**– Edward Snowden**

Atlassian’s announcement that it would be shutting down its server instances had a significant impact on the customers. Confusion grew among people as some chose Atlassian’s Data Center while others chose Atlassian Cloud. Both Data Center and Cloud have their own set of benefits and drawbacks. Given that Atlassian itself faced a cyber attack, one of the most common questions was, “Is Atlassian Cloud secure in terms of cyber threats?”..

Products made by Atlassian are high quality, very secure, and reliable. But as they say, there is always scope for improvement. This article will mainly focus on how we can make Atlassian Cloud applications more secure, avoid cyber-attacks, and ensure vulnerability management.

When we talk about securing an application for thousands of users, adding an extra layer of authentication on top of the basic authentication can prove to be extremely helpful in ensuring security. With 2 layers of authentication, hacking into any system becomes more difficult. Hence, there is an increase in demand for authentication methods such as Single Sign-On (SSO), Two Factor Authentication (2FA), and Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) in the last couple of years.

Atlassian provides an additional level of security by allowing users to Single Sign-On. Single Sign-On (SSO) and Two Factor Authentication (2FA) go hand in hand so it won’t be an issue for customers who are using the in-built SSO solution for Atlassian Cloud.

Let’s understand what Single Sign-On (SSO), Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) or Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) are and how they are used to secure Atlassian cloud applications.

### Single Sign-On (SSO) {#single-sign-on}

Single Sign-On (SSO) is an authentication process in which a user is authenticated against the Identity Provider which is connected to the Atlassian Applications. These users authenticate using XML assertion in SSO. This reduces security threats and protects user data.

Atlassian has an inbuilt connector for Single Sign On (SSO) which works well for SAML Identity Providers and it is highly recommended to solve complex use-cases like login with multiple IDPs and managing user permissions.

With the miniOrange Atlassian SAML/OAuth Single Sign-On (SSO) plug-in, you can perform seamless login into your Atlassian applications.

### Two Factor Authentication (2FA) {#two-factor-authentication}

Two-factor authentication (2FA), sometimes referred to as two-step verification, is a security process in which users provide two different authentication factors to verify themselves on top of the username and password authentication. This process is done to better protect both the user’s credentials and the resources the user wants to access, which in our case is the respective Atlassian Cloud.

### Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) {#multi-factor-authentication}

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is an authentication process in which a user has to provide multiple factors of authentications in order to gain access to Atlassian cloud. Rather than just asking for a username and password, Multi-Factor authentication adds additional verification factors such as OTP, push notifications and biometrics that help in adding an extra layer of security to your Atlassian application.

The above explanation was fairly technical so let’s understand this with the help of an example.

Let’s consider an example where you want to make an online transaction. You use credentials to protect your account from unauthorized access. While making a payment, you have to verify the credentials. This acts as the first line of defence. But there is still room for a hacker to gain access to your banking details compromising your security. So, another layer of authentication is added in the form of an ATM pin or OTP over SMS or email. This serves as the second security measure. Only after both steps does your payment go through.

Similarly, here your Atlassian applications like JIRA, confluence and Bitbucket contain confidential information associated with your account and your organization. This content can be protected using our plugins. Not only will our plugin add an extra layer of security, but it will also ensure that the usability and login experience of the users is not compromised upon.

Since the cloud community is still growing, applications that support 2FA over Atlassian cloud are very few. miniOrange can help in fulfilling the needs of Single Sign-On (SSO) as well as Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). The Two-Factor Authentication solution provided by miniOrange over Atlassian cloud contains many authentication methods such as OTP over SMS, OTP Over Email, Hardware Token, Authenticator token, and many more. Our Plug-ins have the capacity to manage a huge number of users. With miniOrange, external and internal users can be managed in one place. It can easily be integrated with external AD/LDAP directories or other Identity Providers (IDPs) without any hassle. Your Atlassian users can use the same credentials and Two-Factor Authentication to access multiple applications.

We have a Two Factor Authentication (2FA) solution for Atlassian Server and Data Center as well. Give a quick read to this [Article](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Marketplace-Apps-Integrations/Best-way-to-Secure-Your-Atlassian-Data-Center-DC/ba-p/1687486#M4645).

For detailed information about our SSO and Two-Factor Authentication add-ons please refer to the [link](https://www.miniorange.com/atlassian). In case of any queries, please feel free to drop us a mail at [info@xecurify.com](mailto:info@xecurify.com)


Secure Atlassian cloud Apps like Jira & Confluence cloud using miniOrange SSO solution with additional security of Two-Factor Authentication(2FA /MFA)

Secure Atlassian Cloud with Single Sign-On (SSO) & 2FA/MFA

Identity services are a collection of tools for managing users and their accounts. They help to create, manage, and use digital identities.

An [identity federation service](https://blog.miniorange.com/identity-and-access-management-iam-market-after-economic-turndown/) is a centralized authentication solution that handles user identities and manages security policies, permitting access to resources based on the user’s identity. Such services can be used in multi-tenant environments by allowing different organizations or organizations within the same organization to interact with each other, even if they’re located on different servers or servers belonging to different companies.

### What is an identity federation service? {#what-is-an-identity-federation-service}

Identity Federation Service, or IFS as it is sometimes called, is a way of connecting multiple identity providers together to share data and control access to information. This can be used to share information across “multi-tenant” domains such as corporations and government agencies, or it can be used in conjunction with other tools to provide single sign-on for users within a single organization.

A federated identity service is a network of different identity management systems that work together to provide users with [single sign on (SSO)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso) and [multi-factor authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa). A federated identity system is built on top of existing public key infrastructure (PKI) and uses it as the basis for integrating different systems into a single, centralized database.

**The functions of identity services are**

- Provide a consistent, authoritative identity for users across applications.
- Protect the privacy and security of users’ personal information.
- Facilitate the conversion between different types of identity credentials issued by different organizations (e.g., a user’s SSN and their Google account).
- Enable two-factor authentication on all applications that support it (e.g., Google Apps).

### Components of a federated identity system {#components-of-a-federated-identity-system}

The Identity Provider (IdP) is an entity that provides users with their credentials and informs them about when they need to log into an online service. The IdP can be a standalone application or an integrated part of a larger organization such as your company’s HR department.

The Service Provider (SP) is an entity or organization that hosts applications for its users. You might use this term to refer to your company’s website, but it can also refer to third-party sites like social media platforms or banks that host their own applications on their servers.

**There are many ways to enable identity federation services, including single sign-on, SAML, and OpenID.**

**SAML**

SAML stands for **Security Assertion Markup Language**. It is an open XML standard that enables interoperability between services that use different security protocols. SAML enables users and systems to exchange assertions about themselves in order to prove who they are and what they have access to. This allows federated applications to work with any SAML-enabled service provider without having to worry about whether the service provider supports that particular protocol or not.

SAML based identity federation uses XML to describe how authentication works between two parties — the authentication service provider (ASP) and the service consumer (SC). The two parties create an XML document that defines the identity federation process between them. Once created, this document can be shared with other organizations so that they can also federate their users’ identities with one another. 

**OpenID**

OpenID Connect is a protocol that enables applications to obtain user credentials from other applications and services, without requiring users to re-enter their passwords on every site or service. OpenID Connect aims to enable seamless integration between different forms of identity – including social media sites, email providers, and even third-party directories – so that users can have one set of credentials that work across all those different platforms.

OpenID federation is an open standard that allows users to authenticate themselves through any website or application that supports OpenID technology. This means that anyone who supports OpenID can send you their ID token and you can use it to authenticate yourself with their site. 

Single sign-on (SSO) identity federation is a way for users to access multiple websites or applications that require different user IDs and passwords. SSO lets users log in once and get access to all of the online services they use, such as Google, Facebook, Netflix, and Twitter.

### Need for identity federation {#need-for-identity-federation}

Identity federation is a way to connect different systems to each other. It enables you to use the same identity across different systems, in order to access them. For example, if your bank has a single sign-on service, and you use that service to log onto your e-mail or web browser, then when you log into your bank’s website it will use the same credentials that were used when you logged into the website.

### Is miniOrange a federation service? {#is-miniOrange-a-federation-service}

miniOrange is a federation service. miniOrange provides secure access to resources on the web, such as websites, email addresses, and phone numbers. Since miniOrange doesn’t store any information about you or your organization, you can use it confidently.

The service includes a Single Sign On (SSO) and session management capabilities, as well as APIs for fetching public content data from other federated services.

### Further Reading {#further-reading}

- [Identity federation in AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/identity/federation/)
- [Workload identity federation](https://cloud.google.com/iam/docs/workload-identity-federation)
- [Online Identity and User Management Services](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/federated-identity)
- [Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS)](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-identity-as-a-service-idaas/)

Identity Federation Services makes use of industry standards such as SAML and OpenID Connect to create solutions that enable secure, frictionless mobile access to your cloud services.

What is Identity Federation Services? How To Secure Applications with SAML and OpenID Connect


In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, staying connected with your customers is essential to ensure a successful online business. One of the most effective ways to keep your customers engaged and informed about their orders is through [SMS and WhatsApp notifications](https://plugins.miniorange.com/shopify-order-and-sms-notifications) on your Shopify store. These instant messaging platforms offer unparalleled convenience and immediacy, enabling you to deliver timely updates and promotions directly to your customers’ fingertips. In this blog, we will explore the benefits of utilizing SMS and WhatsApp notifications and how to implement them seamlessly into your Shopify store.

### The Power of SMS and WhatsApp Notifications {#The-Power-of-SMS-and-WhatsApp-Notifications}

**Real-Time Order Updates**

In the age of instant gratification, customers appreciate knowing the status of their orders in real-time. SMS and WhatsApp notifications allow you to send automated alerts at various stages of the order process, from confirmation and processing to shipping and delivery. This transparency builds trust and fosters a positive customer experience.

**High Open Rates**

Unlike emails that can get lost in crowded inboxes, SMS and WhatsApp notifications have significantly higher open rates. The chances of your message being seen and read are much higher, leading to increased customer engagement and quicker responses.

**Personalized Customer Communication**

SMS and WhatsApp notifications give you the opportunity to customize your messages, addressing customers by name and tailoring content based on their preferences. Personalization enhances the customer experience and helps you build lasting relationships.

**Reduced Cart Abandonment**

By sending timely reminders about abandoned shopping carts via SMS or WhatsApp, you can encourage customers to complete their purchases. These gentle nudges can make a significant impact on your conversion rates.

**Instant Promotions and Offers**

When you have time-sensitive promotions or flash sales, SMS and WhatsApp notifications are the ideal channels to get the word out quickly. This enables your customers to take advantage of exclusive deals before they expire.

### Implement SMS and WhatsApp Notifications on Your Shopify Store {#Implement-SMS-and-WhatsApp-Notifications-on-Your-Shopify-Store}

![sms-notifications-blog-channels-art](/blog/assets/2023/sms-notifications-blog-channels-art.webp)

Now that we understand the benefits of using SMS and WhatsApp notifications, let’s explore how to set up these features on your Shopify store:

**Choose a Trusted Messaging Service Provider**

Begin by selecting a reliable SMS and WhatsApp messaging service provider that integrates seamlessly with Shopify. Look for features such as automation, personalization, and analytics to make the most of your notifications.

**Obtain Customer Consent**

Before sending SMS and WhatsApp notifications, ensure that you have explicit consent from your customers. Add an opt-in checkbox during the checkout process, clearly explaining the purpose and frequency of the messages.

**Craft Clear and Concise Messages**

Keep your notifications brief and to the point. Include essential information such as order status, tracking links, and delivery dates. Avoid overwhelming your customers with excessive messages.

**Segment Your Audience**

Leverage customer data to segment your audience and send targeted messages. For example, you can tailor promotions based on purchase history or location to increase relevance.

**Monitor and Optimize Performance**

Regularly track the performance of your SMS and WhatsApp notifications. Analyze open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates to identify areas for improvement.

![sms-notifications-blog-flowart](/blog/assets/2023/sms-notifications-blog-flowart.webp)

### Conclusion {#Conclusion}

Integrating SMS and WhatsApp notifications into your Shopify store can be a game-changer for customer engagement and retention. The real-time updates, personalized communication, and high open rates create a positive and dynamic shopping experience for your customers. Remember to follow best practices, obtain consent, and continually optimize your messaging strategy to maximize the benefits. By harnessing the power of these instant messaging platforms, you can elevate your Shopify store to new heights of success in the competitive e-commerce landscape.


Implement SMS &amp; WhatsApp notifications on Shopify. Real-time updates, high open rates &amp; personalized engagement.

Implement SMS and WhatsApp Notifications on Your Shopify Store


Nowadays, when everything is becoming online, companies are also growing and connecting through the web each day and due to the increase of portable tasks, the applications rise on mobile phones, and cyberattacks become more frequent. As with great power comes great responsibilities, organizations can’t bear to jeopardise their security at any costs whether inside or outside the office.

That is where our **Integration with Infosysta** comes to the rescue. 

Yes, you heard it right!

**INFOSYSTA**, the developers of [Mobile for Jira](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1214475/mobile-for-jira?tab=overview&hosting=cloud) and [JSmobile](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1219125/jsmobile-service-management-portal?hosting=cloud&tab=overview) are now integrating with **miniOrange’s [Single Sign On (SAML) plugin](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1215430/mo-jira-saml-sso-jira-sso-jira-single-sign-on-sso-saml-login?hosting=datacenter&tab=overview) for JIRA** in their solutions for smartphones.

&nbsp;&nbsp; 

**Why is Mobile Security a necessity?**

Innovation in Mobile Technology has progressed significantly in a short span of time. In under 30 years we’ve moved away from enormous, block-like phones and the start of the web to a universe of super-thin and amazing cell phones and tablets that can send and store information, just by simple tap. 

While these gadgets offer us expanded web availability and everyday comfort, they additionally come along with significant security threats. Cyberattacks on cell phones have become common. Security is now questioned as so many of these applications gather enormous amounts of information. Simply, this is not even a percent of the effects of how dangerous it can be to have less to no security on mobile phones. Needless to say, mobile security is the need of the hour.

### What is SSO? And How does it Function? {#single-sign-on}  

Remembering various usernames and passwords can be a burden. In case you’re attempting to run a business, you have so many applications and softwares that you work upon, there’s a great deal of usernames and passwords you need to recall. It’s hard to remain coordinated with this load of information, which is the reason you may be seeing a lot of talk about SSO of late. Single Sign On(SSO) is a vital part of Identity and Access Management. It is a software tool that helps users to get into their applications without any complexity of remembering their usernames and passwords. Single sign-on is of great importance for organizations. It reduces the number of cyberattacks by reducing login to only one set of credentials.

### Advantages with SSO: {#advantages-with-sso}

**Builds client efficiency:** Be it an employee or a client, they require various applications each day. They need to recollect every one of the credentials to each application every time they need to get to it. This turns into a lumbering exercise. With single sign-on, the clients just need to login once. At the point when their character is verified they can access every one of the applications they are approved to use without monotonous login measures, saving a ton of time.

**Advances better security processes:** With clients recollecting just one bunch of credentials, they will have great security. Noticing down passwords on a paper, making a rundown on dominion, or utilizing similar passwords across all applications are generally extremely helpless password conventions. A cyber hacker could undoubtedly exploit this and slip their direction into your organization. With the single sign-on assistance, the clients just need to recall one credential and safely utilize each application.

**Ready for Intelligent security:** The Single sign-on integrating with applications itself prepares for brilliant security choices. They give your authoritative security, the edge to know consistently of any unknown access requirements. These pointers could be utilized to move forward the confirmation or suspend their access from the application inside and out.

![Single Sign On solving issues](/blog/assets/2023/single-sign-on-solving-security-issues.webp)

**Our Collaboration!**

Keeping all these points in mind, miniOrange developed Single Sign On to achieve significant security. Whereas, **Infosysta** is all set with their mobile applications; **Mobile for Jira and JSmobile** to help users for efficient work portability. 

**These now come together to give you an amazing experience. You can now have security with your applications on your mobile phones.** 

**Infosysta** has now integrated **miniOrange’s Single Sign On** their Mobile for Jira and JSmobile applications, which are easy to install, configure and use. With ease of moving from desktop to your mobile phone plus advanced security with SSO comes together to give you a supportive system. 

&nbsp;&nbsp;  

Reach out to us at **support-atlassian@miniorange.atlassian.net** or raise a support ticket by [clicking here.](https://miniorange.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/2)

Infosysta has integrated miniOrange’s Single Sign On their Mobile for Jira and JSmobile applications, which is easy to install, configure and use. With ease of moving from desktop to your mobile phone plus advanced security with SSO comes together to give you a supportive system.

Integration of Single Sign-On (SSO) with INFOSYSTA Mobile Apps


## SSO into Jenkins while managing users in Atlassian Crowd

From cell phones to tablets to watches, clients are depending more on the comfort of the versatile innovation of mobile phones because of its easy portability. 

Lately we have seen a huge expansion in the universality of cell phones among people across the globe. These gadgets empower people to introduce a huge collection of tools, known as “applications,” These applications are the quintessence of cell phones, improving their usefulness and upgrading their regular day to day usage. **The application markets permit clients to play out a fast pursuit with establishment of new applications, and yet, they are also a wellspring of various types of malware.** These days, cell phones are dependent upon a wide scope of safety challenges and malevolent dangers.

While adapting to the issue, the objective of this collaboration is to bring you a tad bit nearer to safety and security on mobile phones.

**INFOSYSTA**, the developers of [Mobile for Jira](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1214475/mobile-for-jira?tab=overview&hosting=cloud) and [JSmobile](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1219125/jsmobile-service-management-portal?hosting=cloud&tab=overview) are now integrating with **miniOrange’s [Two factor Authentication (2FA)](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1221260/mo-two-factor-authentication-2fa-for-jira?hosting=datacenter&tab=overview) for JIRA** in their solutions for smartphones.

### Why is Mobile Security a Necessity? {#why-is-mobile-security-a-necessity}

Below are the points why you actually need Mobile Security:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - Your private data is always protected: It safeguards your data whether it relates to personal, private or public life and ensures that it is under your control everytime. No one can access it without your authorization.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - Your device is protected against malwares: It reduces the chances of viruses and malwares.

### What is 2FA? And How does it work? {#what-is-2fa-and-how-does-it-work}

As found in a lot of news stories about hacks and information leaks, an unprotected password can help cybercriminals access your ledger, charge cards, or gain information on individual sites. 

In any case, the fight isn’t lost. One approach to rapidly support the security of your online records is two-factor authentication — called 2FA — which adds an additional layer of safety to your information.

2FA is a subset of multi-factor authentication. The concept of 2FA is that you need more than just a username and password set to login into an application and if you don’t provide the key to both the factors, authentication fails.

This second factor could emerge out of one of the classifications:

- **Something you know:** This could be a personal identification number (PIN), a password, answers to “secret questions.”
- **Something you have:** Typically, a user would have something in their possession, like a credit card, a smartphone, or a small hardware token.
- **Something you are:** This category is a little more advanced, and might include a biometric pattern of a fingerprint, an iris scan, or a voice print.

It guarantees that regardless of whether your password is exposed to anybody, or on the other hand if it’s stolen through phishing, they will not have the option to get to your information without going through the subsequent factor.  

&nbsp;&nbsp;

**Let’s have a look at the benefits of 2FA:**

- Further developed security: By requiring a second layer of verification, 2FA reduces the chances of getting the data or access under attacks. Regardless of whether a fraudster has access to a password he will not have the subsequent component needed to validate.

- Increase of usefulness and adaptability: Enterprises are accepting 2FA as it adds to a higher level of security. With versatile 2FA methods(SMS/OTP/QR codes), workers can safely get to corporate applications, information, records, and administrative center frameworks from any device or area without putting the corporate organization and data in danger.

![Atlassian Crowd and Jenkins integration](/blog/assets/2023/two-factor-authentication-integration-with-infosysta.webp)

### Our Integration {#miniorange-integration}

Realising the threats of cyberattacks, miniOrange developed **Two factor Authentication** to give applications one additional layer of security over just a password. A security which can only be verified by the person who’s information like mobile number or security questions has been set up. In our add-on, there are multiple ways in which you can set up 2FA on mobile phones.

The methods are as follows:
- Mobile Authenticator
- Yubikey Hardware Token
- OTP over Email
- Security Question
- Backup Codes: As the name suggests this authentication method acts as a backup when the passcode/OTP of the primary method is lost.

And to add to that, **Infosysta** is all set with their mobile applications; **Mobile for Jira and JSmobile** to help users for efficient work portability. 

**Infosysta** has now integrated **miniOrange’s Two Factor Authentication** with their Mobile for Jira and JSmobile applications, which are easy to install, configure and use.

With ease of moving from PCs to your mobile phone plus advanced security with 2FA comes together to give you a supportive system. 

miniOrange provides improved security with 2FA for mobile apps such as Mobile for Jira and JSMobile in collaboration with Infosysta. Infosysta has now integrated miniOrange’s Two Factor Authentication with their Mobile for Jira and JSmobile applications, which are easy to install, configure and use. With ease of moving from PCs to your mobile phone plus advanced security with 2FA comes together to give you a supportive system. 

Integration of Two Factor Authentication (2FA) with INFOSYSTA Mobile Apps


### MFA for On-Premise Active Directory: What You Need to Know? {#mfa-for-on-premise-active-directory-what-you-need-to-know}

With so many options available for securing your on-premise Active Directory, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Many organizations have a natural inclination towards hybrid solutions that provide the most secure and user-friendly experience for everyone. However, some businesses prefer on-premise solutions because they give them more control over their data. 

That doesn’t mean on-premise Active Directory is redundant or outdated – far from it! As long as you don’t want to implement a cloud solution, on-premise AD is still one of the best ways to protect your network and user accounts while keeping things simple for employees. Why? Because it gives users the same password no matter where they log in, which means their security isn’t compromised if they use a different username and password combination at home or work and only an additional layer of security is added on top of it.

### Is MFA for Active Directory necessary? Why do you need it? {#is-mfa-for-active-directory-necessary-Why-do-you-need-it}

Single sign-on is one of the most important features of any identity management system. Essentially, it’s the ability to log in once and access every resource you own. This is especially important when it comes to on-premise Active Directory because you want to avoid requesting MFA codes every time you log in. On-premise AD is a closed system, and when you add MFA to your log-in, you’re essentially creating an additional layer of security for your network. However, if you don’t enable MFA for your AD, you’re taking an unnecessary security risk. That’s why it’s important to [add MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) to your log-in process – especially if your employees work remotely. It’s also important to note that you can add MFA to your on-premise AD log-in using any of the following methods: SMS verification, phone call verification, hardware token, software tokens, etc. Check out the different [MFA methods provided by miniOrange](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-methods) or else [read more about what is MFA](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa/).

### How and where can you enable MFA connections for Active Directory {#how-and-where-can-you-enable-mfa-connections-for-active-directory}

- **MFA on Windows Machines and Linux Machines:**
Enable MFA for AD domain-joined machines or standalone machines working on windows or Linux operating systems. Secure your [Windows logon with MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)-for-windows-login-and-rdp) and [MFA for Linux login](https://www.miniorange.com/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)-for-windows-login-and-rdp).

- **MFA for Windows Remote Desktop (Remote desktop services):**
Enable MFA for all remote desktop connections which include RDP, RD Gateway, RD Web Access, etc. for end-users remote access.

Check out [MFA for RDGateway](https://www.miniorange.com/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)-for-rd-gateway) and [RD Web access MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)-for-rd-web)

- **MFA over VPNs:**
Enable MFA for your VPN and other network devices in your organization like switches, routers, firewalls, etc. using the miniOrange Radius server. miniOrange supports all the VPNs and network devices available in the market. Learn more about [VPN MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/vpn-mfa-multi-factor-authentication).

- **MFA for Cloud and on-premise applications:**
Enable MFA for applications like [Microsoft Office 365](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/microsoft-365-sso), Google Workspaces, Zoom, Jira, Salesforce, etc. using the miniOrange Identity server. miniOrange has pre-integration with [5000+ applications](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/).

- **MFA for Legacy apps:**
Unique MFA solutions for legacy apps like Oracle E-business Suite (EBS), Adobe Suite of applications, SAP, etc. Cut down on the heavy costs of the traditional software and hardware requirements with miniOrange Identity server for [SSO & MFA for legacy apps](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/legacy-apps-sso-mfa).

- **MFA for Mobile apps:**
Enable MFA for mobile apps for all the modern applications and technologies like React, Angular, Ionic, etc. using protocols like SAML, JWT, Oauth, OpenID, etc. With the exponential increase in mobile apps in the world of the internet, securing not only your web apps but also your mobile applications is one of the utmost priorities. Check more details for [native mobile apps MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/native-mobile-apps-single-sign-on-sso).

### Which MFA methods over the Active Directory can you enable for your users? {#which-mfa-methods-over-the-active-directory-can-you-enable-for-your-users}

miniOrange supports the following 15+ MFA methods and the miniOrange admin has full privilege over the [two-factor authentication (2FA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)) options for end-users and the users can select any MFA method that they have been allowed to configure:

![MFA Methods](/blog/assets/2023/mfa-methods.webp)

### Looking for Something more Advanced? There is Adaptive authentication for you {#looking-for-Something-more-advanced-there-is-adaptive-authentication-for-you}

Adaptive authentication is an advanced MFA solution wherein you can set up custom policies for user access based on the organization’s business requirements. You can set up restrictions for users based on some additional attributes which will be risk-based. This is also called risk-based authentication. The user will be prompted for MFA based on its risk-based profile. The restriction policies can be based on the following four parameters:

**1. IP Restriction:** In the Adaptive MFA IP-based restriction method, the admin configures and enlists all IP addresses to allow or deny access.

**2. Device Restriction:** In the Device-based Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) method, the admin allows end-users to add a fixed number of trusted devices to their account (A device here refers to a Browser Session). Once a user’s device has been registered, that person will be able to log in without restriction.

**3. Location Restriction:** In Location-based Adaptive MFA restriction, the admin shortlist and configure a list of Geo-locations where they want to allow end-users to either login or deny based on the location set by the admin.

**4. Time Restriction:** One of the most significant components of Adaptive MFA configuration is a time restriction, which begins with the admin establishing a time zone with Start and End Time. Users are either permitted, refused, or challenged based on the timezone and policies defined.

Check more details on [Adaptive Authentication MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa)


### Additional Features and functionalities for MFA {#additional-features-and-functionalities-for-mfa}

Here are some additional features with miniOrange MFA that makes sure that adopting MFA for any organization becomes a very smooth and seamless process. These features make sure that the solution is highly maintainable, easy to use, and fits almost every business requirement of any organization. The details are as follows: 

- **Offline MFA:** The MFA can be prompted even if there is no active internet connection on your devices.

- **Deploy easily with AD:** miniOrange supports both cloud as well as on-premise identity server solutions. You can easily connect your on-premises Active directory to miniOrange using LDAP protocol and use it as an identity source. You can establish a connection with AD which is not publicly accessibly using the miniOrange Gateway module.

- **Easy MFA enrollment:** Users can be enrolled to enable MFA during the registration process. All users including remote can self-enroll themselves by providing a registration link to them. All users get access to a self-service console through which they can change the MFA method, change or reset passwords, etc.

- **Group and policies:** The Admin and create groups of users from the active directory. Based on the groups, multiple policies can be applied to have MFA rules based on groups, restriction specific application access to specific groups, enabling Adaptive authentication only for targeted groups, etc. This makes sure that your business models are matched and that you have the right set of restrictions for different types of users and groups.

### Can I enable MFA for the Active directory without Azure AD and M365? {#can-i-enable-MFA-for-the-active-directory-without-azure-ad-and-m365}

A big yes! There is absolutely no requirement to have an Azure or Microsoft 365 subscription to enable MFA for the on-premise Active directory. You can [connect the On-premise AD directly to miniOrange via LDAP protocol](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/configure-ad-as-user-store) and use it for [authentication purposes](https://www.miniorange.com/products/authentication). Although you get a basic MFA functionality with some higher plans of Azure, those are not much detail-oriented and flexible to meet any of the organization’s requirements. You can check out the comparison of [miniOrange vs Azure AD](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/why-miniorange/azure-ad-alternatives) for in-depth details regarding the same. So there is no requirement for an additional Azure Connect as well to keep a sync between your on-premise AD and AAD to enable MFA. Thus, saving you a lot of money! However, even if you have a hybrid environment already in place using on-premise Active directory and AAD, then also the process and steps to enable MFA remains the same without hampering the experience of end-users and using the same set of usernames and passwords for all the logins.


### Conclusion {#conclusion}
The on-premise AD with MFA is one of the most secure ways to protect your network. However, it’s important to note that if your network uses an on-premise AD server, Microsoft recommends that you use AD MFA instead of Azure AD MFA because it’s a more secure option. That said, on-premise AD does have limitations compared to its cloud equivalent. If you want modern features like integrated security, single sign-on, and identity governance, you should look into switching to Azure AD. Additionally, you can also choose to use a hybrid solution that offers the best of both worlds.

MFA for Active Directory allows you to secure access and log in to your VPN, RDP, windows login, and applications by verifying all Active directory accounts.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Active Directory (AD)


As we all know that the financial services industry is comparatively more at risk of cyber attacks than any other industry. Among all the cyber-attacks taking place all around the globe, 45% are related to the **banking cybersecurity** (recent PWC survey) & the major reason behind these attacks is money! For the finance sector or overall financial institutions, authentication plays a very important role since they are dealing with other people’s money and very sensitive personal information.

It greatly emerged during the lockdown period when bank branches closed and the digital channel became the only option for consumers to perform banking tasks or to connect with their banks. In the last two years more and more people were turning towards e-banking, online attacks are creating a threat to security for banking rapidly. Such growing cyber attacks motivate banks to go for stronger authentication methods, other than using only general usernames and passwords.

### Problems with Basic Authentication {#problems-with-basic-authentication} 

- The use of **single authentication** (username & password) is a huge problem today. Users put themselves at risk when they use weak or recycled passwords, or compromise their own data security with unsafe behavior, such as sharing passwords.
- In substance, different applications and systems authenticate in several ways, so there will be a higher risk because whilst **one system could also be very strong, another could also be weaker**.
- The problem finance sector face is that users **forget their passwords** all the time which makes it a major issue for security for banking. Suppose, each retail teller had access to about 12 different systems and each one had a different password, so this meant they often forgot one or more passwords and needed to call IT for help.


### How banking cybersecurity can be improved? {#how-banking-cybersecurity-can-be-improved} 

The act of conducting banking transactions through the internet is called e-banking. Prime Banks offers different online banking services to their users. They provide help to their customers to check his/her balance, make deposits, withdrawals, transactions, and even pay the bills from anywhere. This reduces physical visits to the bank, which enables serving more customers at a fraction of the cost and solves the issue of customer convenience. At such a situation security for banking services becomes necessary.**By strengthening the banking cybersecurity** and **protocols** of online banking by **verifying customer identities** with identity proofing and strong customer authentication, it would prevent unrestricted access to private information and further strengthen the relationship with customers and they can perform transactions with more reliability. 

Authentication methods that depend on more than one factor are called **multifactor authentication**. They are stronger, more reliable and harder to compromise method of authentication than single-factor authentication. The Banking Cybersecurity policy is what determines the structure of their identity and access management (IAM) strategy, and which bank multi-factor authentication methods and best practices need to be implemented.

Multifactor authentication includes **Security Q & A, SMS & email OTP, Hardware tokens, Software OTP, Push token, Smart card login, Biometric Authentication**, etc. The user must provide at least **two of the above** factors to gain access to the account with a multi-factor authentication measure. This enhances banking cybersecurity by prohibiting hackers from gaining access beyond the password or pin.

So nowadays, many institutes are turning to modern authentication protocols. This includes multi-factor authentication, and orchestration hubs in light of the onslaught of data breaches, identity theft, phishing scams, malware, and account takeover incidents.

Finally, a **good password policy** and consistent enforcement is key and **Single Sign-On** is even better to increase security for banking! 

### How miniOrange can help Financial Services? {#how-miniOrange-can-help-financial-services}

By enabling Strong Authentication, Fraud Prevention, and Single Sign-On solutions for Banking and Financial Services, miniOrange helps manage risks and comply with FFIEC regulations while providing comprehensive authentication solutions. Here are just a few examples:

**Strong Authentication:**

We help financial services solve various banking cybersecurity issues by leveraging its Strong Authentication solution and services. This will allow two or more components to authenticate a user or approve any online banking transaction – Authentication methods used could be **OTP, Software / Hardware token, Out of band authentication or even a push notification, Face detection or Biometrics**.

**Single Sign-On:**

miniOrange Single Sign-On solution allows Banks to very elegant One Customer view in a very seamless manner. After authenticating with miniOrange SSO, bank users can **easily access and navigate** within numerous applications, such as Banking, Credit Card, and Payment apps, as defined by the bank. miniOrange SSO Solution deploys in minutes and supports a variety of cloud-based applications, web applications, and legacy apps.


![SSO Workflow](/blog/assets/2023/sso-workflow.webp)

**Fraud Prevention:**

miniOrange Fraud Prevention product uses a **behavioral risk** based approach to minimize the risk of improper data access or loss of information. miniOrange Fraud Prevention applies the **real-time analysis** of incoming user requests for corporate information and prevents frauds with its dynamic risk engine in conjunction with enterprise-specific banking cybersecurity policy.

![Fraud Prevention](/blog/assets/2023/fraud-prevention.webp)


### To Summarize {#to-summarize} 

In reality, the threat to financial services from fraudsters was, is and always will be a major complication. Therefore, the financial service industry and strong banking cybersecurity must go together so as to provide a safe environment for the users. They must use updated tools according to the current environment so that security for banking & customer experience can be fulfilled.

### Additional Resources {#additional-resources} 

- [Single Sign-On](https://www.miniorange.com/products/single-sign-on-sso)
- [Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa)



Finance industry is comparatively more at risk of cyberattacks than any other industry. Strong banking cybersecurity has become important in todays growing digital society.

The necessity of Banking Cybersecurity


## **nopCommerce Store Login with SAML SSO: Boost Security and Convenience** {#nopComemrce store login with saml sso}

Managing multiple usernames and passwords across various platforms can be a daunting task. Each day, countless users struggle with remembering different usernames and passwords for various applications they use. This not only hampers productivity but also raises security concerns like the use of less complex credentials that are easy to hack.


Imagine if you only needed to remember one set of highly secure credentials to access all your essential applications and resources. This becomes possible with nopCommerce SAML Single Sign-On (SSO). 

Let’s dive into the details of nopCommerce SAML SSO, its benefits, and how it can improve your user experience and save you time.


### **What is nopCommerce SAML Single Sign-On (SSO)?** {#What is nopCommerce SAML SSO}

[nopCommerce SAML Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://plugins.miniorange.com/nopcommerce-saml-single-sign-on-sso) is a cloud security solution that provides a secure and efficient way to authenticate users on your nopCommerce application. By leveraging [SAML-compliant identity providers](https://plugins.miniorange.com/nopcommerce-saml-sso-setup-guides) such as Azure AD, ADFS, Office365, Okta, Google Apps, and Salesforce, this SSO solution ensures that your users can access multiple applications and websites with a single login. 


With SAML SSO for nopCommerce, you can enhance user experience, save time, boost productivity, and strengthen security across your organization. Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, the SSO solution can make user authentication simpler and more secure than ever before. 

For organizations having multi-stores, the nopCommerce SSO solution lets you centralize user authentication, helping store admins to manage user more easily. SSO for nopCommerce Multi-Stores integrates with existing authentication systems, ensuring secure and efficient access management


### **Key Features that Make a Difference** {#Key Features}
   
**Single Sign-On**

Experience easy and seamless access to all your resources with nopCommerce SSO via any existing SAML 2.0 Identity Provider (IdP). No more juggling multiple logins—one credential set is all you need.


**Auto-Registration**

Automatically register new customers in your nopCommerce store following SSO login. No more manual updates and registrations, subsequently saving you time.


**Single Logout**  

Simplify session management with Single Logout. This feature allows users to log out from all server sessions established via SAML SSO by initiating a single log-out.

**Role Mapping**

Enhance security and resource management by mapping your Identity Provider roles to your nopCommerce application. Restrict access to specific roles, ensuring that only authorized users can access certain resources.

**Custom Certificate**
Increase security with the ability to add your own custom X.509 Certificate for sending signed requests and verifying signed responses.

**Federation Support**
Leverage Federation Support to enable users to Single Sign-On via their institution affiliated with InCommon Federation, enhancing collaboration and access management.


### **Use Case: Streamlined SSO for Multiple nopCommerce Stores** {#Use Cases}

One of the standout features of the **nopCommerce SAML Single Sign-On (SSO)** module is its ability to facilitate SSO across multiple nopCommerce stores, even when using different identity providers (IdPs) or multiple tenants. This capability is particularly beneficial for businesses that operate several online stores targeting different markets or customer segments.


**Scenario 1: Single Sign-On Across Multiple Stores with Different IDPs**

Consider a company that operates three distinct nopCommerce stores, each serving a different region—North America, Europe, and Asia. Each store uses a different identity provider for user authentication: Azure AD for the North American store, Office365 for the European store, and Google Apps for the Asian store. With our SSO module, users can seamlessly log into any of these stores using their region-specific credentials.

This setup not only simplifies the login process for users but also enhances security by ensuring that each store adheres to the identity management standards of its respective region. Employees and customers alike benefit from a streamlined experience, logging in once and gaining access to the resources they need, regardless of which store they are accessing.


**Scenario 2: Single Sign-On for Multiple Tenants**

Another powerful use case is SSO for multiple tenants within a single nopCommerce store. Imagine a university that uses nopCommerce to manage its online bookstore. The university comprises several colleges, each with its own set of users and identity providers. For instance, the College of Science uses Okta, while the College of Arts uses Salesforce.

With the nopCommerce SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) module, the university can configure the bookstore to accept SSO from both Okta and Salesforce. Students and faculty from either college can log into the bookstore with their respective credentials, gaining seamless access to the resources they need. This approach simplifies the user experience and ensures that each tenant's security requirements are met.


### **Ultimate SSO Solution for Your Business** {#Ultimate SSO solution for business}

[miniOrange SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) for nopCommerce](https://www.nopcommerce.com/en/saml-single-sign-on-sso-miniorange) integrates effortlessly with a variety of identity providers such as Azure AD, ADFS, Office365, Okta, Google Apps, and Salesforce. This integration extends beyond nopCommerce, enabling SSO into ASP.NET, DNN, Umbraco, ASP.NET Core, and more. With our module, users can securely authenticate across multiple platforms using a single set of credentials.


Don’t let complex authentication processes slow you down. Implement the miniOrange nopCommerce SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) solution and experience a seamless, secure, and efficient authentication process. Simplify access, enhance security, and improve user experience across all your platforms.

Contact us at [nopcommercesupport@xecurify.com](nopcommercesupport@xecurify.com) to learn more and get started with nopCommerce SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) today. Unlock the power of single sign-on and take your business to the next level!



## **Conclusion**

Integrating SAML SSO with nopCommerce can significantly enhance security, streamline user access, and simplify administrative tasks. By following best practices and leveraging the key features of SAML SSO, businesses can provide a secure and seamless authentication experience for their users. 


&nbsp;  



### **More Resources** {#more resources}
- [What is SAML? How does it work?](https://www.miniorange.com/what-is-saml)
- [nopCommerce OAuth Single Sign On (SSO)](https://plugins.miniorange.com/nopcommerce-oauth-single-sign-on-sso)
- [nopCommerce Two Factor Authentication (2FA)](https://plugins.miniorange.com/nopcommerce-two-factor-authentication-2fa) 
- [nopCommerce Workflow Automation](https://plugins.miniorange.com/nopcommerce-workflow-automation)


 Learn how to simplify user authentication with nopCommerce SAML SSO. Access all apps with one set of credentials, boosting productivity and security.

Simplify nopCommerce Access with SAML Single Sign-On (SSO)


Microsoft in their breach investigation report stated that **[“Over 75% of network intrusions originated from exploited weak or stolen credentials”](https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2020/01/22/microsoft-security-shocker-as-250-million-customer-records-exposed-online/?sh=aeb7edc4d1b3)**. So, how can organizations / individual users who are using Office 365 apps as a daily routine can protect themselves against threats from cyber-attackers? What if sensitive data is suddenly lost? To sum up these questions you’ll be thinking that your Microsoft Office 365 account is secured with Username – Password based login. But do you think this security measure is enough to secure your sensitive data around Microsoft 365 Apps? Indeed No.

You would possibly not be aware of the fact that attackers nowadays do not believe in “Hacking” to carry out data breaches. They use the e-mail address, passwords present on the dark web and easily log in by exploiting weak, stolen, or compromised credentials and gain access to the company’s most crucial network infrastructure and sensitive data. Here companies need to secure their data using something more than just Username and Password authentication.

**Wondering what should be the simplest choice to do so?**

**Microsoft 365 MFA** becomes one of the savior solutions to beat this example and provide secure access to your organizational users and protect your mission-critical apps and company data. 

So before proceeding with an [MFA](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa/) solution for the Microsoft 365 platform you ought to be clear about few basic aspects —

- What is **Office 365 MFA**?
- Need of MFA in a Microsoft Office 365 account
- How does **MFA for Microsoft 365 Work**?
- Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication in Microsoft Office 365
- **Why miniOrange MFA over Microsoft Azure MFA**?

### What is Microsoft Office 365 MFA ? {#what-is-microsoft-office-365-mfa}

**Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for office 365** is an authentication method during which users/employees are required to enter two or more sets of credentials to safely login into their accounts. Contrary to using just the username and password, MFA demands additional verification within the sort of (OTP, Phone call, Push Notifications, Authenticator code, Yubikey, etc). Users/ Employees will get access to their Office 365 account and its related data only after passing multi-factor authentication methods prompted during the authentication process. Here you need to convince the Office 365 account and respective system that you are the legitimate user of the Microsoft Office 365 account and have the right to get the info-data services that you’re privileged to. minOrange supports 15+ Multi-Factor Authentication methods to provide security to safely login to Office 365 such as **OTP over SMS, Email, Push notification, Google authenticator, Microsoft authenticator, Yubikey, Authentication Phone, etc**.

### Why do we need Multi-factor Authentication in a Microsoft Office 365 account? {#why-do-we-need-multi-factor-authentication-in-a-microsoft-office-365-account}

Office 365 allows many organizations to make their first venture into the cloud, and it’s here that they have to place in addition to the routine username and password for authentication purposes. Because in today’s fast-paced modern world, relying solely on the username-password authentication system puts them at risk considering the intensity of cyber attackers to breach and obtain sensitive data of a private account. No matter how complex your password is, it just takes one simple phishing email or database breach and your password is out in the World.

Companies also need to ensure that their employees, customers, and partners across the web, who are all in the systems, are monitored continuously. The internal policies,  accessed data (from private or public cloud services), from any device or location about the company’s resources, needs necessary [data security](https://www.cloudcodes.com/blog/enterprise-data-security-sanctioned-unsanctioned-apps.html) measures

Other than that while moving to Office 365, your sensitive documents like budgets, finance, and roadmaps are all exposed, and you now trust the cloud for security. The information, which was securely behind **the corporate firewalls like documents, files, spreadsheets, and PowerPoint, have all moved beyond your control to the cloud**. Though Microsoft Office 365 offers the two-step authentication feature, it’s not enough for organizations with an outsized volume of customer data and when the info is usually on the move to and from the cloud. Then it becomes imperative that the organizations take the service of the providers who would offer data security tools for IAM solutions.

Office 365 MFA helps you to add another needed level of authentication to a routine account login. With this, the users will need to meet at least two or three types of credential checks before they can gain access to the required company data. These all factors sum up the queries on why you need to have an **MFA** as your daily asset to your **Office 365 account**.

### How does MFA for Microsoft Office 365 Work? {#how-does-mfa-for-microsoft-office-365-work}

Microsoft Office 365 MFA – Multi-Factor Authentication works in a way like,  firstly the user attempts to gain access to his Microsoft 365 account, the System asks the user to enter his username-password. On successful authentication of the first factor, the user is prompted for another factor of authentication. This second factor depends on the choices provided by the miniOrange and the option that the user feels is the best for him. This could be an OTP over Email, OTP over SMS, Microsoft Authenticator, or a Hardware Token. Once authenticated with the 2nd factor, the user gains access to his Microsoft 365 account.

![Multifactor Authentication Methods](/blog/assets/2023/multifactor-authentication-methods.webp)

The Office 365 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) process is as follows:

1. The user navigates to the Office 365 login page. 
2. Users enter a dedicated username and password for their Office 365 account. This is often called the primary factor of authentication. When a user submits the login credentials it’s checked whether the user exists within the database.
3. If the login credentials match with the user, the second factor of authentication is shown to the user. E.g Pop up asking for OTP sent over SMS /Email
4. When the user enters the second factor like OTP or Push notification, it’s checked against the database system if the second factor is correct.
5. After successfully completing the second factor, the user is granted access to the Office 365  system.
6. In the same manner, if you’ve got more MFA methods lined up, it’ll invite authentication for all of them and final permission is going to be granted.

When it involves **MFA methods**, miniOrange provides organizations with a wealth of choices. But organizations should realize that there’s no “one-fits-all” approach. Instead, they ought to select the best alternative aligned with their use cases and represent a rock bottom friction experience for users to assure broad adoption.

### Set up Multi-Factor Authentication to your Office 365 account {#set-up-multi-factor-authentication-to-your-office-365-account}

- Create an account and set up branding
- Add your OnPremise AD as a User Store. Enable sync and send attribute ObjectGUID
- Create Office 365  SAML App
- Go to metadata and download and run federate domain script
- MFA for Office 365 will be enabled for your end-users.

To get a detailed Office 365 MFA setup guide **[Click Here](https://www.miniorange.com/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)-for-office-365)** and if you have any doubts regarding setup drop mail idpsupport@xecurify.com

### Why miniOrange MFA over Microsoft Office 365 Azure MFA? {#why-miniOrange-mfa-over-microsoft-office-365-azure-mfa}

When talk is around Office 365 MFA, then Azure MFA directly comes into the frame being an inbound MFA solution. Given below is a comparison between Microsoft Azure MFA and miniOrange MFA services.

| Features                  | Microsoft Azure MFA service           | miniOrange MFA service                                                                                                                             |
|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Authentication methods                     | Azure MFA supports limited MFA methods: OTP over SMS, OTP over phone, Microsoft Authenticator, and Hardware token that too in Enterprise plans. | miniOrange supports 15+ Office 365 MFA methods in the form of OTP over SMS/Email/call, Out of Band SMS/Email, Push Notifications, QR Code, Security Questions, Yubikey hardware along with third-party MFA provider applications like Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Authy etc. |
| MFA for on-premises applications           | Microsoft Office 365 MFA supports only the Cloud Platform.           | miniOrange supports both On-Premise and Cloud platforms extending Office 365 MFA capabilities.                                                 |
| Adaptive Authentication                   | Microsoft Azure MFA has conditional access support in premium plans. MFA is prompted only when required, based on time, location, and device of the user. | Along with Conditional support, miniOrange Microsoft 365 Multi-Factor Authentication also supports a feature that allows setting device limits and keeping track of any unusual activity. |
| Admin control over verification methods     | With Azure MFA services, admin privileges get restricted unless they pay for one of the premium plans for Microsoft Azure MFA. | miniOrange allows admins to change the MFA method for a particular user or a user group. Admin can easily enable/enforce MFA methods according to different users. |
| Remember MFA for trusted devices / IPs     | This function is available in one of the most expensive Azure AD Premium P1 or P2 plans. | miniOrange MFA solution has provision to remember trusted devices/IP’s in a regular integrated plan. |
| User self-enrollment & self-management     | Users can enroll themselves & manage their account                      | Users can enroll themselves & manage their account                                   |
| Offline MFA                               | There is no such provision for Offline MFA                           | Provides full Microsoft MFA security even in Offline mode.                          |
| User Directory Integration                 | In Azure MFA, Azure AD is limited and doesn’t support any other directories | With miniOrange MFA Users can authenticate via any user directory like AD/LDAP, any external database like HRMS system, AWS Cognito, etc. |
| User Provisioning                         | Considering Office 365 basic MFA capabilities, once you enable MFA it automatically gets applied to all users. It is an ‘all or nothing setup. | You can create groups and enable/disable MFA methods accordingly for different sets of groups. Create, Manage, & Delete information about users on multiple systems at once |
| Cost-Effectiveness                        | Most of the Office 365 MFA features discussed above are restricted to the premium plans of Azure MFA where you need to pay highly for different sets of features. | Here there is no such basic-premium plan policy. miniOrange follows an “All-in-one Plan” which includes all of the functionalities at bare minimum cost. |
| Customization Support                      | The Azure Office 365 MFA solution builds on a single solution that is used by overall customers. No such option for customization and pricing adjustments. | With miniOrange you can customize the MFA solution which suits your organization’s needs and requirements. |
| Advanced Blocking                         | Block users through parameters like IP, Country etc                     | With miniOrange you can register IP’s, devices and countries and directly block or deny access to the resources based on users and user groups. |
| Active Support                            | The Microsoft MFA support team mostly operates on weekdays only.     | miniOrange Provide 24*7 dedicated support for every query with quick response.           |

### Conclusion {#conclusion}

Being in a vast high-tech digital world, it’s an important need for organizations to adopt top-notch security for their daily-used official application suite like Microsoft Office 365. Though it becomes difficult for organizations to spend time on advanced security aspects with the regular work module, it’s necessary to adopt the MFA solution considering cyber-attacks and phishing activities going over the Digital world. So opting for a better security-as-a-service provider which gives top-notch security services in a confidential manner, with the simplest technical support at a budgeted price becomes one of the main tasks for the Organizations. Accordingly,  miniOrange MFA services here fit in best considering features, experience in the domain, service, and cost. You can schedule a free demo and trial to ascertain how Office 365 MFA works and how you can implement it in your organization in the best way possible.

### Further Reading {#further-reading}

- [What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa/)
- [What are different Multi-Factor Authentication methods supported?](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/content-library/admin-docs/configure-mfa-methods-for-admins)

Microsoft Office 365 MFA solution enables users to add an extra level of protection to login into their Office 365 account.

Office 365 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)


### Q1. What is the miniOrange Oracle EBS SSO & MFA Solution? {# Q1}

**A.** miniOrange has a comprehensive SSO & MFA Solution for the world’s favorite ERP Software – Oracle E-Business Suite. Using miniOrange’s Single Sign-On and Multi Factor-Authentication, you can implement a high quality Identity and Access Management strategy for all your legacy applications.  

miniOrange’s Oracle EBS SSO & MFA Solution connects to your Oracle E-Business Suite instance and establishes trust with your existing identity source such as Microsoft Active Directory, Azure AD, Microsoft ADFS, Oracle DB, Okta or miniOrange IDP. Having this seamless configuration in place, your users can easily access their Oracle E-Business Suite accounts without having to enter their credentials, as miniOrange picks the relevant attributes from their existing Identity Provider session, to authenticate against the FND_USER table in your Oracle EBS Database.


### Q2.What are the different deployment options for this solution? {# Q2}

**A.** miniOrange’s Oracle EBS SSO & MFA Solution is available in two different deployment methods:

1. Cloud-Hybrid Model
2. On-Premise Model
3. Both of these deployment options include the complete suite of miniOrange’s features. The following table summarizes a few key offerings :

|Sr. No	| Cloud-Hybrid Model | On-Premise Model |
|-------|--------------------|------------------|
|1      | Supports miniOrange’s effortless “Pay-as-you-go” licensing method. | Supports miniOrange’s Yearly as well as Perpetual licensing methods.|
|2      | Lightweight connector installation, cloud is entirely managed by miniOrange. | Compliance friendly On-premises installation, zero cloud components involved.|
|3      | miniOrange’s Cloud is Load Balanced by default. | High Availability Setup is Supported free of charge.|
|4      | Supports Seamless Sign-On using miniOrange’s Integrated Windows Authentication module. | Supports Seamless Sign-On using miniOrange’s Integrated Windows Authentication module.|
|5      | Can be extended to support any number of Oracle/other applications. | Can be extended to support any number of Oracle/other applications.|
 

All-in-all, both deployment models come with their own set of convincing advantages. Contact us at idpsupport@xecurify.com to help you choose the right deployment model for your organization.  

### Q3. What does the solution architecture look like for both these deployment options? {# Q3}

**A.** miniOrange’s Oracle EBS SSO & MFA Solution can either be directly installed on the Apps Tier of your Oracle EBS instance, or on its own separate server with miniOrange’s Identity Server. Here’s an architecture diagram for both our deployment options –

#### **1. miniOrange Oracle EBS SSO & MFA – Cloud Hybrid Architecture 1**

![miniOrange Oracle EBS SSO Cloud Hybrid Architecture 1](/blog/assets/2023/cloud-hybrid-architecture-1.webp)  

#### **2. miniOrange Oracle EBS SSO & MFA – Cloud Hybrid Architecture 2**

![miniOrange Oracle EBS SSO Cloud Hybrid Architecture 2](/blog/assets/2023/cloud-hybrid-architecture-2.webp)  

#### **3. miniOrange Oracle EBS SSO & MFA – On-Premise Architecture**

![miniOrange Oracle EBS SSO On-premise Architecture](/blog/assets/2023/on-premise-architecture.webp)  

**Setup steps for miniOrange’s Oracle EBS SSO & MFA Solution : [Link](https://www.miniorange.com/oracle-ebs-single-sign-on-(sso))**

### Q4. Why should I choose miniOrange’s solution for Oracle EBS? {# Q4}

**A.** miniOrange has been recognized as an Oracle Partner under Oracle’s Global Modernized Oracle Partner Network (OPN) program. You can view our partner status in real time [here](https://partner-finder.oracle.com/catalog/Partner/SCPP-KMJAKXYX#profile-solutions).

miniOrange has also been recognized as a Microsoft Partner under the Microsoft Marketplace Partner program. This professional relationship with Oracle and Microsoft makes miniOrange one of the most sought SSO & MFA products, especially for SSO and MFA into Oracle Applications having users stored in Microsoft Active Directory or Azure Active Directory. This seamless integration on both ends makes miniOrange the undisputed market leader.

Oracle has also shown recognition for miniOrange by accepting the miniOrange Oracle EBS SSO & MFA Solution on their Cloud Marketplace. You can view this solution by visiting Oracle’s Cloud Marketplace [here](https://cloudmarketplace.oracle.com/marketplace/en_US/listing/111839538). 

miniOrange is the only Oracle EBS SSO Solution that has ever been accepted on Oracle Cloud Marketplace.

 

### Q5. What will my end user authentication flow look like? {# Q5}

**A.** Here is the end user authentication flow for SSO into Oracle Applications –

- Users will navigate to their bookmarked Oracle application URL (or a custom URL for the authentication method, depending on the application).
- The Oracle application will check if the user is authenticated (or not).
- If the user is authenticated, they will be granted access to the application. If not, they will be redirected to the login screen for your enterprise Identity Management solution; this will be handled by the miniOrange Oracle EBS SSO & MFA Solution, which communicates with your IdP (Identity Provider) via SAML/OpenID Connect/other SSO protocols.
- Users will enter their credentials at the Identity Provider login screen; the credentials for authentication can be decided by you, depending on which authentication system you’re using (Microsoft Active Directory, Azure AD, ADFS, any other Identity Provider, a third-party application/database like Oracle DB).
- Once they’ve been authenticated, the user will be redirected to the resource that they were initially trying to access.
- Once a user has already authenticated with your Identity Provider for one Oracle application, they won’t need to enter their credentials again for accessing another Oracle application, or any other application which can pick up the existing session of the user in the chosen identity source.###

&nbsp;  

&nbsp;

#### **More Resources:**  

1. [miniOrange’s Complete Suite of Oracle Solutions](https://www.miniorange.com/integrations/oracle-single-sign-on-sso)
2. [Steps to setup SSO into Oracle EBS](https://www.miniorange.com/oracle-ebs-single-sign-on-(sso))
3. [Oracle EBS – miniOrange – Azure AD SSO Blog](https://blog.miniorange.com/oracle-ebs-sso-integration-with-azure-ad/)

Setup SSO into Oracle EBS using miniOrange’s Oracle EBS SSO solution using any Identity Provider of your choice.

Cloud Hybrid & On-Premise Deployment Options for miniOrange’s Oracle EBS SSO & MFA Solution


## Salesforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Requirement

![Salesforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)](/blog/assets/2023/salesforce-mfa.webp)

### Enable Salesforce MFA/2FA before 1st February 2022 {#enable-salesforce-mfa-or-2fa-before-1st-february-2022}

Worldwide organizations require greater security of their data, assets, applications, and frameworks making it more clear for the representatives to work from any machine or region. While this has been a comfort of convenience, it additionally makes new opportunities for hackers. This has come up to a greater extent of the attack and it’s a dire need to focus on upgrading login security.

This rationale gives Salesforce, the worldwide CRM pioneer, a reason to empower Multi-Factor authentication (MFA) for clients and administrations at no additional costs.

Thinking of what the Salesforce MFA solution might be, we have you all backed up!

### MFA is Essential {#mfa-is-essential}

[Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa) is a basic verification process that gives an extra layer of security to your applications. It is applied when an end-user tries to attempt to get access to assets or applications.

Multi-Factor Authentication (Salesforce MFA) can be bifurcated into two:

1. Users enter their credentials (typically username and password). This can be from an identity source such as AD, database, any Identity provider, local credentials, etc.
2. On successful authentication of the user’s credential, the user is prompted for the configured Salesforce MFA method (Soft token, OTP over SMS/mail, etc.) where the user of a website or an application is asked to provide an additional layer of credentials to gain access to the resources they are visiting for. It helps in guaranteeing that the user is exactly who they say they are, and ensures to stay away from a substantial deal of identity and security hamperings.

Instead of only asking for a username and password, Salesforce MFA (Multi-Factor authentication) adds additional verification factors (OTP, push notifications, fingerprint, etc.) which indirectly halts cyberattack activities like phishing, Malware, etc providing a high level of assurance and security. In simpler terms, you need to convince the system or online service of your identity more than once, so the system can detect if you have the right to obtain the data services that you’re trying to retrieve.

### Requirements to be done before Feb 1 2022 {#requirements-to-be-done-before-feb-1-2022}

Do your Salesforce products as of now have SSO configured through any vendor? Are your users already utilizing Salesforce MFA? Provided that it’s true and you meet the necessity of an MFA, you don’t need to worry!

For Instance, if you don’t have Salesforce MFA configured and you require stabilized security for your users, you have two options:

**Configure MFA through Salesforce :** If your clients sign indirectly through the Salesforce UI, configure MFA inside Salesforce. There is no cost to configure Salesforce MFA or to avail the free authenticator application provided by Salesforce. You can now choose to use MFA for Salesforce products already.

**Configure MFA through your SSO vendor :** Assuming your Salesforce products are already enabled with SSO with an identity provider, such as miniOrange then you ought to avail Salesforce MFA through the provider itself. Admins who log into the dashboard directly, need to have MFA enabled.

### miniOrange to the rescue! {#miniorange-to-the-rescue}

The step taken by Salesforce towards making the CRM secure for its users is extensively crucial and would make sure that all the data and assets are accessed by genuine identity.

[miniOrange MFA](<https://www.miniorange.com/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)>) takes security to the next level along with a smooth experience for the users.

-   Reduce login issues and admin overhead.
-   Add any new application easily to your existing setup and enable SSO + MFA quickly for the same.

### Further Reading {#further-reading}

-   [Setup Salesforce Two Factor Authentication (2FA/MFA)](https://www.miniorange.com/salesforce-2fa-mfa-two-factor-authentication-setup)
-   [Configure Salesforce Single Sign-On (SSO)](<https://www.miniorange.com/salesforce-single-sign-on-(sso)>)


Configure Salesforce Multi-factor authentication (MFA). Setup MFA for all your web & SaaS Apps including Salesforce for authorized network users.

Salesforce Multi-factor Authentication | Salesforce MFA


### What is a Session? {#What-is-a-Session}

Let’s first understand how a web application or website like [Shopify Store handles user access](https://plugins.miniorange.com/session-management-for-shopify). Generally, there are three layers of security mechanisms:

- Authentication
- Session management
- Access control

Using these mechanisms the Store makes the user communicate with the server so that the communication is secured and no attacker can trap the communication. When a user/customer signs in to a store, the server does not know who the person behind the system is. To solve this problem the server creates a session for that user and that session is used across several web pages. The server also creates sessions to keep track of anonymous users after their very first request.

### Session management in Shopify {#Session-management-in-Shopify}

In Shopify, once the session has been established a session id is generated and is sent to the user browser. To maintain the authenticated state and to keep track of the user’s progress, Shopify provides users with a unique session identifier during the creation of the session and is shared between the users and application until the session is terminated. An attacker or hacker can attempt to launch an attack on the active session and hijack them, so it is mandatory to set expiration timeouts for every session. **The shorter the session interval is, the lesser the time an attacker has to use the valid session ID.**

If the user logs out from the Store or doesn’t use the Store for some desired time then the session will be dead. A common scenario when the user state changes from authenticated to unauthenticated include password change, permission changes, etc. if that happens then the old session id must be terminated, and a new session id will be used for all further requests made to the Store application.

**If you are logged in to your Store admin on a device, sessions from that device aren’t counted as online store sessions.**

### Why do we need Adaptive Authentication? {#Why-do-we-need-Adaptive-Authentication}

When session management and user authentication are not configured correctly, attackers may be able to gain access to users’ accounts by compromising passwords and assuming their identities. Many development frameworks offer tools for secure implementation of session management, but there are weaknesses in any of these solutions. By implementing adaptive authentication we can remove this hassle. Adaptive authentication provides an additional layer of multi-factor authentication security based on risk and access provided by security administrators.

### What is Adaptive Authentication? {#What-is-Adaptive-Authentication}

Adaptive authentication is a type of multi-factor authentication that is a process of selecting the right authentication factors depending on a user’s risk profile defined and tends to adapt the type of authorization factors.

Adaptive MFA authentication prompts for Multi-Authentication counting on the behavior, device IP, Geo-Location of the user which directly improves security level to the very best.

### Adaptive Authentication in Shopify {#Adaptive-Authentication-in-Shopify}

When a user decides to sign in to a store, the security component is increased by activating an authentication step or by creating real-time Multi-Factor Authentication automatically when improper authentication is found or by detecting fraud. The authentication risk is checked without users being aware of it and multi-factor authentication (MFA) is applied only if the associated risk is high.

![adaptive-authentication](/blog/assets/2023/adaptive-authentication.webp)

Adaptive authentication adapts to the risk level and presents an appropriate level of authentication regardless of your corporate risk levels. Adaptive Authentication solutions can strengthen the authentication methods based on a wide variety of factors including:

- Source IP address
- Time of day
- Geo-location (physical location)
- Entity type (device type)
- Content-Based

Each time a user tries to Sign in to the Store, the request is evaluated and assigned a risk score. Depending on the risk score, the user may be required to provide additional authentication factors to prove the identity. For example, if a user tries to access Store via multiple devices, they may be asked to sign out from other devices. If the user tries to log in from a geographical location other than their office, they may have to verify their identity by answering a security question.

### Session Management and Adaptive Authentication Use Cases {#Session-Management-and-Adaptive-Authentication}

**Terminate user session and restrict Customer to one login at a time**

You are using Shopify to sell streaming videos that can only be accessed after purchasing the subscription. Suppose a shopper login to the store using his username and password and purchase products from the store. Consider a scenario where the user shares his account credentials with their friends so that they can access the store. Being a store owner you would like to discourage people from sharing their login credentials and prevent multiple people from using the same login credential at the same time to access the same account. You would like to restrict customer account to only being able to log in from one device at a time.

Assume the customer is already logged in from one device. When some other user tries to log in using the same credentials from another device then you would like to do one of the following:

- Either the App will prompt to log out from the first device and the app will not allow login from the second device until the user successfully logs out from the first device.

- The app will terminate the session on the first device without indicating anything to the user and will log the user in from the second device by creating a new session

You can use the miniOrange app on the Shopify store for restricting the number of users that are allowed to access the store using the same account credentials and at the same time.

In practice it will look like this: When ‘Device A’ login to the store, a session is established, and if ‘Device B’ calls the login function and log in using the same credentials as that of ‘Device A’ then this will revoke all sessions and invalidate ‘Device A’ and will log the user in from ‘Device B’ with a different session.

&nbsp;

**App that locks down the account to one location at a time**

You are an owner of a Shopify store where you sell car accessories.

Customers from all over the world are ordering the products from your store but you are able to ship the products only to some countries. You don’t want customers from other countries to access your Shopify store as you can’t deliver over there.

![location-restriction](/blog/assets/2023/location-restriction.webp)

You can use location-based adaptive restriction, then the admin will select the list of countries from where they don’t want the end-users to login. during the login process the user’s geolocation, IP address, latitude, longitude will be checked against the list of locations selected by the administrator, and based on that the access can be granted or denied.

&nbsp;

**App that restricts access to several devices for a single account**

Suppose you own a Shopify store where you provide a streaming service that offers a wide variety of TV shows, movies, anime, documentaries, etc. to the end-users on a subscription basis. A user logs in to the store and purchases a plan and shares his account credentials with some of his friends so that they can access the store without purchasing any plan. However, you have to take action against that customer asking them not to share their login info with friends, which is a challenging customer service task.

In this scenario, you would like to restrict the customer account to be able to log in from one device, or several devices depending upon the plan he has purchased. You want to discourage customers from sharing their accounts by preventing multiple people from accessing the content from the same account at the same time.

![device-restriction](/blog/assets/2023/device-restriction.webp)

The administrator can ask the end-user to add a fixed number of trusted devices from where they can access their account. If the end-user tries to log in to the store from the trusted/registered device then access will be provided to them but if they try to login using the unregistered device then access won’t be provided to them.

&nbsp;

**Limit Number of Sessions / Purchases for Single Customer or household**

Consider a scenario where you own a Shopify store to sell branded products such as T-shirts, pants, caps, etc. to any user residing in any country. You are offering to free delivery on the first purchase. But the customers are ordering the product in a single household from multiple accounts so that they don’t have to pay for the delivery cost.

Suppose a customer uses 3 different accounts and 3 different sessions to order the product so that he/she doesn’t have to pay delivery costs. If the customer is connected to the same network then the IP address will be the same for every device on that network. You can use our app that will allow you to limit the connections to the store by using IP- restriction. The admin can restrict the user from accessing the store by adding that IP address to the list of blocked IPs.

![ip-restriction](/blog/assets/2023/ip-restriction.webp)

Any attempt to connect to your store will be blocked without being allowed to even present a username and password unless the connection was initiated from the new IP address. You can purchase our additional feature “Block access from VPN” to restrict the customer if they are using a VPN to disguise their IP address and login into their account.


Shopify Case studies for User session management and adaptive authentication. Restrict Multiple Login by terminating existing session of users in Store.

Shopify User Session Management


## SSO into Jenkins while managing users in Atlassian Crowd

![Atlassian Crowd and Jenkins integration](/blog/assets/2023/atlassian-crowd-and-jenkins-integration.webp)

Jenkins manages and controls software delivery processes throughout the entire lifecycle, including build, document, test, package, stage, deployment, static code analysis, and much more. To make Jenkins application access easier and provide better security we have an [SSO module](https://plugins.miniorange.com/jenkins-saml-single-sign-on-sso) that can be integrated with Jenkins easily and deployed on Jenkins platforms with some of the most important features like **Just-In-Time User & Group Provisioning**, **Auto Redirect to IdP**, **Signing & Encryption**, **Custom User Attribute Mapping**, **Single Logout**, **Manual Group & Role Mapping** and many more. 

Atlassian Crowd is a powerful tool that enables users to create sessions for multiple Atlassian products like Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket. The Crowd is a centralised identity for access management application that manages the users from various directories like Active Directory, LDAP, Open LDAP, Microsoft Azure Active Directory for connected applications. These capabilities can now be applied to Jenkins as Crowd connector for Jenkins.

Now, enterprises are looking to delegate user authentication for the applications from Crowd to central IAM (Identity & Access Management) applications for better security. But Crowd is still required to manage users and permissions. This use-case is possible with the help of connectors we have developed for these Atlassian applications like [Jira](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1220053/mo-sso-connector-for-crowd-and-jira?hosting=datacenter&tab=overview), [Confluence](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1220055/mo-sso-connector-for-crowd-and-confluence?hosting=datacenter&tab=overview), and [Bitbucket](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1220057/mo-sso-connector-for-crowd-and-bitbucket?hosting=datacenter&tab=overview). Jenkins, however, is a non-Atlassian application, thus integrating this flow with Jenkins is difficult. 

![Atlassian apps and Jenkins integration](/blog/assets/2023/atlassian-apps-and-jenkins-integration.webp)

### How does the miniOrange plugin handle this use case? {#miniorage-plugin-solution}

miniOrange haS developed a [Jenkins Crowd SSO Connector](https://miniorange.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/2) capable of creating user sessions by reading the Crowd session. Like any other Atlassian application like Jira, Confluence and Bitbucket, you can manage groups and permissions from the Crowd. You can authenticate to the Crowd via SAML SSO using the [Crowd SAML SSO](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1218304) plugin. With the help of Jenkins Crowd SSO connector, you can invoke SSO from Jenkins itself. You do not need to login into Crowd explicitly.

### How does it work? {#how-does-it-work}

Crowd SAML SSO Plugin acts as a SAML Service Provider and is used to enable trust between Jenkins and the central IAM applications. Crowd SAML SSO plugin takes care of the SAML Request, SAML response, and user session management at the Crowd end. Once the Crowd session is created, Jenkins reads this session and the user is logged in to Jenkins. Users can invoke SSO from Jenkins itself.

Here, IAM will perform the user authentication. The crowd will be used to manage users and their groups (permissions) for all the connected applications.

Also, with this flow, end-users will experience a seamless login and won’t notice that the SSO request and response passes through the Crowd Server.

**Let’s understand the Workflow!**

1. The user tries to access the Jenkins application.
2. For authentication, the users would get forwarded to the IAM application’s login page.
    1. The Jenkins Crowd SSO Connector will redirect users to the Crowd SAML plugin.
    2. The Crowd SAML plugin will forward the user to the IAM application for authentication.
3. Once the authentication is successful, the user will be redirected back to the Jenkins application and logged in.
    1. IAM sends a response back to the Crowd SAML plugin.
    2. Crowd SAML plugin validates the user creating the user session, and redirects the user to the respective application form where the SSO was invoked.
    3. Users will be granted access to Jenkins based on their groups and applications configured on Crowd.

![Atlassian apps and Jenkins integration](/blog/assets/2023/jenkins-crowd-connector-workflow.webp)

### What are the Key Benefits? {#what-are-key-benefits}

1. There is only one set of SAML configurations for all the Atlassian & Non-Atlassian applications.
2. User authentication moved to central IAM without losing any of the existing user permissions.
3. Users will be able to access all the connected applications using their IAM credentials.
4. This method makes it simple to add an extra security layer, such as MFA, on top of the SSO, which was not available while utilizing Crowd for SSO.

What do you think of this solution? Do you think this would be helpful in centralizing authentication for your users? Drop us a mail at [info@xecurify.com](mailto:info@xecurify.com) or [raise a ticket here](https://miniorange.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/2) to talk to us.

miniOrange Jenkins Crowd SSO Connector is capable of creating user sessions by reading the Crowd session.

SSO into Jenkins while managing users in Atlassian Crowd


With the news that ‘RSA Access Manager’ (and previously known as ClearTrust), would reach end-of-life (EOL) status in June 2021, RSA Access Manager customers are looking to migrate to another Identity and Access Management (IAM) platform.

Migrations are most successful when handled with the best methods and planned approach. miniOrange is taking all these issues like cost, MFA methods & **providing support to all organizations for easy and free migration from RSA Access Manager**. miniOrange Identity platform ensures that organizations benefit from the use of its solution by ensuring their RSA tokens can coexist with their miniOrange Identity Platform deployment until all users are fully migrated.

### miniOrange IAM with advanced Data Model {#miniorange-iam-with-advanced-data-model}

miniOrange provides a solution to the migration path for RSA customers providing with smooth workflow process and a good user interface. Authentication is the most crucial and identity security solution to avoid much brute force, phishing attacks, credentials stuffing and secure access to the data for all workspace and customer authorizations.

miniOrange **[Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/two-factor-authentication-(2fa))** helps you in authenticating users by verifying two different factors and ensuring the right set of authentication to your sensitive information and protect user identities on both cloud and on-premise.

With the increase of security risks across global organizations miniOrange updated the features with 15+ authentication methods includes a soft token, Hard tokens, Google, Microsoft, and miniOrange authenticators with various population integrations with OpenVPN, Fortnite, Windows, Sharepoint, Office 365, and many more. 

In this era of Telecommuting, the MFA method of authentication features allows employees to safely access data from any device or location without putting sensitive data at risk. Having a second form of identification greatly decreases the chance of a hacker gaining access to corporate devices or other sensitive information. It makes less suspicious activity helps in managing cost on security than the other security factors to be considered.

### What if Secure tokens are theft or Lost! {#what-if -secure-tokens-are-theft-or-lost}

MFA is a driven process in current security practices compared to adaptive MFA.  MFA follows a set design and has certain rules to be followed, concerning versatile validation, the end-client is a necessary part of the security cycle.

[Adaptive MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa) is a technique that MFA  can be built and exploited in a way that the system will choose the validating multiple verifications based on a user’s profile which is considered as part of a boarding process for authentication, alternatively of applying risk assessment during the authentication process.

miniOrange knowledgeable adaptive authentication Identity provider system supports many broad set of modern mechanisms like Device Profile management, Geo-Location recognition, IP Network Context-based and more which therefore reducing the prospect of account blocking for your employees more than just the use of OTP tokens like RSA Secure ID, Symantec VIP.

miniOrange IAM, the best access manager rights to the corporate IT systems and Platforms. Moving behind user name and passwords miniOrange provides these types of authentications based on clients, devices, and locations, and a set of updated factors to verify any user.

Adding new apps and clients is simple, offering quick and ideal opportunities on migrating from the existing cloud and on-premise MFA outcomes. With seamless single sign-on and identity governance the board, miniOrange makes it simple to make sure about clients, devices, and applications.

### RSA Access Manager vs miniOrange {#rsa-access-manager-vs-miniorange}

| Features                     | RSA Access Manager                                 | miniOrange                                     |
|------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| Infrastructure               | Hardware, Software Infra                           | Enterprise Level                              |
| Support                      | Reliability & Support Issues                       | 24*7 Active Support                            |
| Update/Upgrades              | EOL Announced                                     | Continuously Update/Upgrades, Future Proof    |
| Price                        | Costly                                            | Best in the Market                            |
| Cloud Environment             | No viable cloud strategy                          | Robust & best user experience                 |
| MFA Methods – Hardware Token | Through RSA tokens with per token cost            | 15+ MFA methods                               |


### Further Reading {#further-reading}

- [What is Multifactor Authentication (MFA)?](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa/)
- [Two Factor Authentication – 2FA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/two-factor-authentication-(2fa))
- [Adaptive Multifactor Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa)

Migrating from RSA’s Access Manager? Get easy and free support for your organizations to tackle issues like cost, MFA methods, etc.

Migrating from RSA Access Manager to miniOrange Identity Platform


**Out Of Band Authentication (OOBA)** is a type of two-factor authentication (2FA) that demands a secondary verification method delivered over a different communication channel (call or text) in addition to the typical user ID and password. The possibility of compromising the transaction/account decreases by splitting the process into two channels, employing both the user’s internet and mobile wireless connection. An attacker is unlikely to be able to compromise both channels in the short amount of time required for an online transaction to take place.

Financial firms and other companies with high-security requirements employ out-of-band (OOB) authentication to prevent unwanted access. OOBA improves cybersecurity by making it more difficult to hack an account because it requires two different and unrelated authentication channels to be compromised at the same time for an attacker to get access.

### How Does Out-of-Band Authentication (OOBA) Work? {# How Does Out-of-Band Authentication (OOBA) Work?}

The channel used to authenticate a customer in an out-of-band authentication (OOBA) system is completely independent of the channel used by the customer to log in or make a transaction. Out-of-band authentication, as opposed to multi-factor authentication, is a sort of 2FA (something you know, like a password, and something you have, like your mobile device).  

Let’s imagine a customer wishes to do a banking transaction on their computer. They use their username and password to access the online banking system. The system then sends a one-time password (OTP) to their mobile device by text message or push notification. The user’s internet and wireless network are both involved in this scenario.  

Malicious actors may have access to compromised credentials and use a laptop to make a transaction, but they rarely have access to the user’s smartphone to obtain the one-time password required for authorization unless additional means like call forwarding, cloning, phone theft, or other ways are used. The transaction cannot be completed without the OTP. Other Out-of-Band Authentication techniques, such as a fingerprint scan or QR code, could be used instead of an OTP by the company.

![Out Of Band Authentication Working](/blog/assets/2023/how-ooba-works.webp)  

### How is OOBA more beneficial than other authentication methods? {#How is OOBA more beneficial than other authentication methods?}

Using [Two-factor authentication (2FA)](https://www.miniorange.com/products/two-factor-authentication-(2fa)) for Out-of-Band Authentication may appear to be a hassle to you; as you have to go through an extra step to log on to your accounts and access resources. Traditional authentication does not work in this fast-paced digital environment when cyber criminals are seeking critical consumer data. You might be leaving yourself open to thieves who want to steal your data and personal information if you don’t use 2FA Security.  

Out-of-band authentication is critical in [identity and access management](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-iam-identity-and-access-management-system/) because it significantly minimizes the risk of a “man-in-the-middle” attack. Hackers can intercept data transferring channels by taking over the communication channel between the sender and the recipient in an MITM attack.  

In access management, using two different channels to authenticate lowers the risk of MITM attacks and keeps the transmitted information safe.

### Key benefits of using Out Of Band Authentication (OOBA) {#Key benefits of using Out Of Band Authentication (OOBA)}

#### **Fraud Prevention**
Before allowing you to proceed, [Multi-Factor Authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) confirms that you are who you say you are. It adds another degree of protection to your website, preventing unwanted access. 

#### **Improved Customer Trust**
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security to your business and your customers’ accounts. It safeguards customer information against identity theft.  

#### **Enhanced Security**
MFA reduces the likelihood that an attacker will be able to impersonate a user and obtain access to the system. The miniOrange MFA solution allows users to log in using only their Username and OTP, eliminating the need for a password.  

#### **Adaptability for different use cases**
When dealing with sensitive data, more caution is necessary. The adaptive MFA evaluates risk based on factors including geo location, IP address, and time since the previous login.  

&nbsp;  

As a result, out-of-band authentication (OOBA) is utilized to secure your devices, accounts, and data from security breaches, phishing, and brute-force password attempts. Knowing the password alone isn’t enough for cyber attackers to pass the security check if you’ve set 2FA protection.  


### How can miniOrange help you? {#How can miniOrange help you?}

miniOrange Authentication Service verifies that you are who you claim to be before letting you move forward. We ensure that however varied your user base may be, we have the right authentication method for each one of them.  

&nbsp;  

**OOBA**: OTP/Link over SMS/EmailOTP over text/call using SMS/Email: miniOrange offers OTP via SMS/Email via the default gateway, which users can access. The templates for sending OTP to your users by SMS and email are entirely customizable as well.  

&nbsp;  

**Link over SMS/Email**: When this option is enabled, you will receive an SMS/email containing an Accept Link and a Deny Link at the moment of verification. If you click the Accept button, your transaction will be completed; otherwise, it will not.  

&nbsp;  

**OOBA Push NotificationPush notifications**: When the push notification mechanism is enabled, you will receive a push notification from miniOrange on your Authenticator App, which you either accept or deny. You can successfully finish the second-factor challenge after clicking Accept.  

&nbsp;  

**Authenticator apps**: Receive a time-based OTP token (TOTP) by an external authenticator app such as Google/Microsoft authenticator for secure login.  

&nbsp;  

**Hardware Token**: Use of a physical USB token in your computer, which generates the required information to gain access.  

&nbsp;  

For any firm or organization trying to increase security, using multiple authentication methods is a clear choice. It secures client information and protects against security breaches. It benefits everyone: customers are less likely to have their data stolen, and organizations are less likely to suffer a significant data breach.  

&nbsp;  

&nbsp;  

#### **Further Reading:**
1. [Multi-Factor Authentication](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa/)
2. [The necessity of Banking Cybersecurity](https://blog.miniorange.com/necessity-of-banking-cybersecurity/)
3. [What is Risk-Based Authentication?](https://blog.miniorange.com/what-is-risk-based-authentication/)

Out Of Band Authentication (OOBA) is a type of 2FA that uses a secondary verification method delivered over a different communication channel.

What is Out-Of-Band Authentication (OOBA)?


## 5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs Multifactor Authentication

![Need of MFA](/blog/assets/2023/need-of-mfa.webp)

In today’s technological age, along with keeping up with the latest trends in technology, businesses need to make sure that their cybersecurity and data protection measures are up to par. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced companies to adopt remote working practices and utilize cloud-based platforms, reinforcing the need for better cybersecurity measures.

By the end of the 3rd quarter of 2020, around 36 billion records were exposed because of data breaches with information such as email addresses, names, passwords, SSNs, and credit card information as part of the data types lost in these breaches from various industries including healthcare, information, finance and insurance, and public administration. Research has shown that around $5.2 trillion is globally at risk from 2019 to 2023 from direct and indirect cyberattacks, but a means to avoid this number from increasing is by nipping these attacks from the bud and utilize better defense systems to protect data or access services.

### What is Multi-Factor Authentication ? {#what-is-multi-factor-authentication}

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a verification process where a user provides additional credentials to access sites, applications, or other resources. This can be seen as an added security layer to verify a user’s identity with additional verification factors such as fingerprints, one-time pins, and push notifications to convince a system of your identity to prevent the wrong parties from accessing data or services. MFA can be used along with [passwordless authentication](https://blog.miniorange.com/passwordless-authentication/) or single sign-on solutions as an added barrier to breach in case a factor has been stolen or compromised before gaining access to a device or service.

### Why should your business use MFA ? {#why-your-business-should-use-mfa}

#### Prevents identity theft

In 2020, losses from identity theft cases were estimated to cost around $712.4 billion and are seen to increase to $721.3 billion by the end of this year. Anyone can be a victim of identity theft attacks since attackers can use a variety of means to gather personal information. For instance, phishing emails are a means to extract sensitive information through email or keylogging where keystrokes on a keyboard are recorded to get information. MFA helps ensure your personal information remains secure, protecting individuals and the company or organization they may be affiliated with.

#### An extra level of security for critical information

MFA serves as an additional level of security to aid firewalls, antivirus software, and encryption technology so breaching barriers for targeted devices or apps is harder. Besides stealing data, cybercriminals can also alter data, transmit spam, or publish malicious content that can disrupt the services and operations of even big-name companies.

In the last year, over 65% of companies worldwide had at least one instance of a cyber attack. These attacks not only result in information leaks where data can be sold to other parties or on the dark web but can cause companies financial losses as well. MFA makes sure only the right people with the right credentials have access to key information, preventing breaches, security risks, and other disruptions in an organization’s operations.

#### Secures devices

More people are working from remote locations and have access to multiple devices which they could switch for either work or personal use. MFA makes it not only easy but secure to access business applications from outside the office environment. Adaptive authentication, an advanced form of MFA, can evaluate the risk a user can face when accessing certain services and selects the right authentication factors based on device IP, user behavior, or a user’s geo-location.

#### Ensures compliance

Stricter legislation with more severe consequences concerning data protection has been passed in various regions around the world. Businesses and organizations need to set the right permissions on data and keep classification up to standard to comply with various data privacy regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), ISO 27000, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and NIST guidelines, among others.

#### Keeps productivity high

Remembering multiple passwords can be a burden to some employees, and forgetting them may come at the cost of not being able to access the tools or resources needed to perform business-related tasks. Businesses can enforce stronger password policies but also allow employees to sign in through a means that suits them better with MFA. Besides being a more secure and convenient means of signing in to services, having MFA enabled guarantees employees secure remote access to a company’s network allowing employees to get tasks done as soon as needed.

Businesses are adopting more modern technology from [corporate cards](https://tryjeeves.com/), machine learning, and AI-focused initiatives, but businesses should also make sure that the systems in place to protect the information and resources around these are efficient and effective. As cyber attackers device more complex and clever ways of getting into systems, businesses should also strengthen their defense against these attacks to protect not only the enterprise but their employees as well. MFA is not complex and can be rolled out without going out of budget ensuring simple and effective protection to users and the business as well.


5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs Multifactor Authentication - Learn what is multifactor authentication and why should your business use MFA?