Multi-factor Authentication
Breaches, hacks and other attacks in the news are increasing in numbers - Cyber-crime is a reality that we hear about daily. AccountingSuite has implemented an optional multi-factor authentication protocol that gives your account additional safeguards to protect your valuable data. This article will explain what multi-factor authentication is and how to set it up on your account.
What is Multi-factor authentication (MFA)?
Authentication refers to the process that one completes to verify their identity when using a computer system. Historically this has consisted of a username and a password - what is known as single factor authentication. The id/password combination is the one factor in single factor authentication. Multi-factor authentication adds one or more additional factors to the process, which helps ensure that someone else cannot log into your account. The additional factors come in many forms - security questions (your mother's maiden name, etc), codes send to you via email or sms, or a number generated from a device called a token or an app like google authenticator.
How does multi-factor authentication (MFA) prevent others from gaining access to my account?
Multi-factor authentication adds additional layers to the process which are most likely not accessible by the third-party like your phone or your email account. By requiring this additional information, it becomes much less likely that someone can gain access to your account.
What kind of MFA has AccountingSuite set up?
We have implemented a one-time password (OTP) process. After you set it up, you will use Google Authenticator on your iPhone or Android device to get a 6 digit password that will need to be entered within 5 minutes. Once this password has been used, it expires. Each time you log in, this password will be different.
How do I set up MFA on my AccountingSuite account?
- Install the Google Authenticator app on your iPhone or Android phone.
- Log into your account normally.
- Click the profile link in the upper right hand corner of your dashboard.
- In the section labelled Multi-factor authentication, click Install and Setup.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to setup google authenticator. You will be using the app to scan a barcode and then enter a code generated by the app.
- You will be prompted to enter a recovery email address in case you lose access to the Google Authenticator app.
- To validate that the email account is really yours, a code will be send in an email to that account. You will need to enter that code to continue.
- Multi-factor authentication will be enabled for your account.
How do I log in once MFA is set up?
After you enter your login ID and password on the log in page and click login, a pop-up window will appear and ask for the six digit OTP. Open the Google Authenticator app, locate the AccountingSuite entry and enter the code that is displayed.
Note: If the code is red in Google Authenticator, wait until it changes to blue. The password changes often and if it is red, it means that it is just about to change.
What if I lose my phone? How do I log in?
in the MFA window that appears, you will have the choice to have the code sent to your email.
What if I forget my email password and I lose my phone at the same time?
Well, what if you won the lottery and were so rich that you didn't need to work anymore? The odds are about the same for both. But just know we got your back - please call us if you lose access to your phone and your email OR if you win the lottery. We'd be happy to help.
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