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WatchGuard reacts to SME authentication gap
SMEs have long thought of multi-factor authentication as beyond their means but the need for protection is increasing as Kaseya has found in some research
WatchGuard has rolled out a multi-factor authentication product specifically for SMEs to react to a gap it has identified in the market with Kaseya sharing findings that expose the struggles that customer base is facing keeping secure.
The security player has introduced AuthPoint and has shared findings from CITE Research that indicated that the majority (61%) of SMEs felt that the technology was only reserved for larger enterprises.
When quizzed on if they would go for a multi-factor (MFA) option 84% of respondents said it was appealing to use technology to ensure passwords are working.
“We know that a massive portion of data breaches involve lost credentials and since cyber criminals target organisations of any size, MFA is now a prerequisite for all businesses,” said Alex Cagnoni, director of Authentication at WatchGuard.
“In the absence of MFA, cyber criminals can utilise a variety of techniques to acquire usernames and passwords, such as spear phishing, social engineering and buying stolen credentials on the dark web, to gain network access and then steal valuable company and customer data," he added.
“With the launch of AuthPoint, WatchGuard has extended its product portfolio with a vital security offering that is often overlooked by SMBs and has done so in a way that is easy for the channel to sell, deploy and manage,” said Rebecca Fernyhough, account manager at UK channel partner Epic Network Support.
The WatchGuard release comes at a time when SMEs are struggling with keeping on top of security threats.
Kaseya revealed that a third of SMEs have experienced a breach in the last five years and only 11% of firms were adhering to GDPR regulations, when they were asked back in April.
“Technology today has leveled the playing field between SMBs and their enterprise counterparts to the point that the size of an organisation has lost much of its previous importance. Smaller IT organisations now have the capabilities to better compete with larger companies, but with that comes the realisation these organisations have the same challenges the enterprises face,” said Mike Puglia, chief strategy officer, Kaseya.
