BIO-key Blog

 

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is an important topic of discussion where security is of concern. Too many data breaches have occurred over the last 10 years purely because of lackadaisical security requirements. Many of these events would have been avoided with a proper Two-Factor Authentication system in place.  Security: personal, private, corporate – the list goes on and on. Each entry a...

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Tags: 2FA, #2FASolutions, contextual authentication, #contextualauthentication, #passwordmanagement, #security, security questions, #securityandusability, #selfservice, usability, User Experience, #2FA, #2ndfactor, Access Control, Access Management, account management, Password Synchronization, secure authentication, two-factor, Two-Factor Authentication, security trends, geolocation, layer of security, mobile authentication, mobile authenticator, Benefits of 2FA, one click, when you don't need 2FA

Email scams are nothing new. We’ve all heard of someone’s grandmother sending money overseas to a grandchild in trouble, while the grandchild is in the next town over and clearly not in trouble. Or the Foreign Prince who has a confidential and top-secret request of wanting your money. Most of these scams have red flags such as misspellings, improper English, bad grammar, and usually end up...

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Tags: 2FA, authentication management, Authentication Security, #bestpractices, #cyberattacks, #cybersecurity, email, expiration, login security, Multi-Factor Authentication, Password, password strength, #passwordmanagement, security questions, #strongerauthentication, #breachnews, #ConsiderThis, data breach, #One-time password, password alternatives, password best practices, password complexity, Password Management, password manager, password quality, Password Security, stronger authentication, stronger security, #strongpassword, Two-Factor Authentication, #twofactor, #YubiKey, password spraying, increase security, security trends, PortalGuard Authentication Provider, Google Authenticator, SMS Text Message Gateway, Duo Push Security, OTP Methods, stolen passwords, hackers, scams, password policies, password length, CyberScout, passphrase, update your passwords, password patterns, password generator

Strengthening password policies is a major topic of debate these days.  Various sources for best practices have peaked out from every corner, each spouting something new.  While having options is a great thing in many cases, paralyzing users and admins with which ‘best practice’ is really best is another issue entirely.  Instead, I will take a look at the facts behind strengthening password...

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Tags: 2FA, #2FASolutions, authentication security, #balance, best practices, #cybersecurity, MFA, Multi-Factor Authentication, #passwordmanagement, strong password, usability, password complexity, password manager, Self-Service Password Reset, Two-Factor Authentication, PortalGuard Authentication Provider, empower users, stolen passwords, university, community college, password policies, password length

In today’s classrooms, teacher advocates are faced with a unique position of altering their daily schedule to meet the needs and expectations of their students and school districts.  As tablets and Chromebooks are introduced to daily lesson plans, teachers are now faced with the extra responsibility of storing and cataloging student’s usernames and passwords, which impacts valuable educational...

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Tags: K-12, #passwordmanagement, PortalGuard, #securityandusability, password alternatives, Password Management, password manager, Password Security, #passwordrecovery, PortalGuard for Education, selfservicepasswordreset, Single-Factor Authentication, Single Sign-On (SSO), QR Code Login, Lanyard Login, teachers, Chrome Books, K-5, Special Education, Para Professionals, Students, Single Sign-On Options, iPads

 

 

Let’s face it, complicated, alphanumeric passwords are one of the worst parts about being online. With the plethora of websites and online applications requiring us to create accounts and passwords, the advice of password security experts is easy to ignore.

As the computing power available for password cracking continues to grow, poor password hygiene has led businesses and organizations...

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Tags: #bestpractices, #cybersecurity, Industry Updates, NIST Updates, #passwordmanagement, #passwords, PortalGuard, Cyber Security, data security, Password Management, Password Security

 

Back in 2002 would it have surprised you to know that in only a short amount of time almost everyone would have a cell phone? Let alone a cell phone that would have access to the internet? It sure would have taken me by surprise and that brings us to the reality of today’s world in 2017. Almost everybody has their own smart device, albeit an iPhone, a laptop, a tablet, you name it! This is a...

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Tags: Authentication, Authentication Methods, #bestpractices, BYOD Security Guidelines, #cybersecurity, Guest Blog, IT Security, #passwordmanagement, PortalGuard, SSO, User Experience, #2FA, Active Directory, Cyber Security, Self-Service Password Reset, Single Sign-On, Single Sign-On (SSO), stronger authentication, Two-Factor Authentication, User Authentication

Over the past year, there has been an increase in phishing and hacking attacks throughout Higher Education nationwide. Hackers are targeting these higher education institutions for a variety of different reasons. Some of the reasons are access to sensitive data such as date of births, social security numbers, research findings, enrollment status and more. Also, a large amount of IT systems in...

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Tags: Authentication, #bestpractices, #ITSecurity, #passwordmanagement, #passwords, PortalGuard, SSO, Uncategorized, User Experience, #2FA, Password Security, PortalGuard for Education, Self-Service Password Reset, Single Sign-On, Single Sign-On (SSO), SSPR, Two-Factor Authentication

PistolStar is committed to keeping PortalGuard up to the standards of the industry and the people who use it. Back in March, we asked our loyal customers what they would like to see upgraded or added to PortalGuard. Straight from our customers feedback we made the following changes. Take a look!

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Tags: Authentication, Authentication Methods, Authentication Security, authentication security, identity management, Industry Updates, #infosec, #ITSecurity, Password, #passwordmanagement, #passwords, PortalGuard, Product Updates, SSO, Uncategorized, #2FA, cloud computing, data security, News & Press, Password Management, Password Security, SAML, Self-Service Password Recovery, Self-Service Password Reset, Single Sign-On, Single Sign-On (SSO), stronger authentication, Two-Factor Authentication, User Authentication

 

As a former student, PortalGuard is an intriguing product. During my stay at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), there were a few different logins I needed to know for day to day life as a student. One would be for accessing my student account, where class schedules, grades, financial aid, and other necessary information is kept. Another account was needed to access blackboard which...

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Tags: #bestpractices, Education Portals, Guest Blog, #passwordmanagement, PortalGuard, SSO, Uncategorized, PortalGuard for Education, Single Sign-On, Single Sign-On (SSO), Two-Factor Authentication, User Authentication

     

Did you know that PortalGuard for Education,  an all in one authentication package, is the leading solution for the K-12 and Higher Education institutions?

Since PortalGuard for Education came into existence, we have worked with increasingly numerous educational institutions throughout the country seeking solutions for SSO, 2FA, SSPR and Contextual Authentication. Currently, these such...

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Tags: Authentication, best practices, identity management, Industry Updates, #passwordmanagement, #passwords, PortalGuard, SSO, Uncategorized, #2FA, Password Management, Password Security, PortalGuard for Education, Self-Service Password Recovery, Self-Service Password Reset, Single Sign-On, Single Sign-On (SSO), Two-Factor Authentication, User Authentication