Balancing security with user convenience continues to be an ongoing challenge for businesses. With around 71% of cybersecurity incidents involving pretexting or phishing, passwords alone aren’t enough to protect accounts. Risk-based authentication offers a flexible approach by adapting security measures to the level of risk each login attempt presents.
Implementing RBA requires thoughtful integration into existing systems. When adopting it, security, compatibility, and user impact must be considered. When integrated correctly, RBA can reduce the number of times users are asked to authenticate while also making it much more difficult for cyberattacks to brute-force their way through.
Table of Contents
What Is Risk-Based Authentication (RBA)?
How Risk-Based Authentication Works
Risk Score: Comparing Low-Risk vs. High-Risk Activity
Manual Reviews Still Have a Role With RBA
The Pros and Cons of Risk-Based Authentication
Examples of How Businesses Can Use RBA
Considerations With Changing Your Authentication Strategy
Why Risk-Based Authentication Is Cost-Effective
Authentication Goes Hand-In-Hand With Compliance
Cybersecurity Training Is a Key Part of Any RBA Strategy
Partner With ITonDemand for Risk-Based Authentication
What Is Risk-Based Authentication (RBA)?
Risk-based authentication (RBA) adjusts the login requirements based on the potential security risk of each access attempt. This adaptive method looks for unusual activity to create a risk score, which decides if the user must take additional steps to validate their access. The higher the risk, the more proof is required to validate a login attempt.
How Risk-Based Authentication Works
When a user tries to log in, risk-based authentication examines several factors to determine its risk. Each login attempt is given a risk score; the higher the score, the more extra proof is required.
Login Risk Factors:
When creating a risk score for a login, RBA looks at a wide range of factors. Which ones are looked at depends on the system used and how it’s configured. Here are some examples of risk factors that many solutions may detect:
- Location: Checks if the user’s current location matches typical login areas.
- Unrealistic Travel: Looks at realistic travel times based on the last authentication attempt.
- Device Distance: Looks at the distance between the authentication device and what’s being accessed.
- Device Status: Identifies if the device is previously known or new to the system.
- Proxy Detection: Detects the use of anonymizing services that could mask user identity.
- Action Value: Examines the importance of the user action, such as sensitive data or a large transaction.
- Security History: Reviews any past security incidents involving the user.
- Behavioral Patterns: Monitors for any unusual behavior compared to the user’s regular activity.
- Session Details: Evaluates aspects like the access time or the number of concurrent sessions.
- Push Attacks: A pattern of failed authentication attempts against one or multiple users.
- User Marked: Suspicious notifications that are marked and reported by users.
A blend of multiple risk factors provides better protection and is more likely to detect unusual behavior. Finding the proper middle ground in typical user behavior is essential, which should help ensure people don’t get needlessly flagged for extra validation.
Additional Proof Required
If the risk level is high, the RBA will ask for more proof that the person trying to log in is really who they say they are. Here some additional types of verification that might be requested:
- SMS/Email OTP: A one-time password sent to the user’s phone or email.
- Authenticator App: A code generated on the user’s app that needs to be entered.
- Security Token: A physical device that generates a login code.
- Security Questions: Personal questions set up in advance by the user.
- Biometric Verification: Methods like fingerprint or facial recognition to confirm identity.
If a user completes these steps successfully, they gain access. If not, the system denies entry and flags the failed attempt. Too many failed attempts increase the risk score. That helps maintain security and keeps IT security teams aware of potential threats.
Risk Score: Comparing Low-Risk vs. High-Risk Activity
Risk-based authentication uses a risk score to help determine if a login attempt or other user activity is risky. The higher the number, the more likely it is to prompt the user for additional proof to validate their session.
Low-Risk Score:
If login activity is viewed as low risk, then little to no extra authenticationwill be required. For example, if someone starts work at 8:00 am each morning and logs into the same computer in the same place around that time every weekday, then it would be viewed as normal activity.
Medium-Risk Score:
To be viewed as a medium risk, there needs to be at least one factor that’s well out of the ordinary. For example, if someone logs into their laptop 50 miles away from their usual location, even if it’s the same time and device, there’s a chance it was stolen. As such, that would trigger at least one additional authentication method to prove who they are.
High-Risk Score:
Login attempts that have a higher risk score will trigger additional security measures. These don’t always happen just at the initial login, either. If someone is accessing highly valuable data or is making a large transaction with company funds, it may trigger risk-based authentication to approve the attempt.
Failure to provide proof will deny the person access and may temporarily lock the account for further review. The attempt may be blocked entirely if a connection is viewed as having an especially high-risk score. If that happens and it was a legitimate user attempt, they’ll have to contact their IT team to receive a bypass code.
Manual Reviews Still Have a Role With RBA
Risk-based authentication is designed to simplify logins for low-risk users. However, it still incorporates manual reviews for cases that automated systems can’t clearly resolve. In the manual review process, security experts examine each flagged case closely. They assess the context of the login attempt, including any unusual activity or discrepancies from normal user patterns.
From there, the team might request further verification from the user, such as answering security questions or providing a temporary verification code from an approved device. Manual reviews are rare and are only triggered when someone well exceeds safety expectations.
Cybersecurity Training Is a Key Part of Any RBA Strategy
Practical cybersecurity training is also key to making risk-based authentication work. It teaches users the importance of their actions in keeping data safe, especially when the system spots something unusual. Simple training helps everyone understand why they sometimes need extra steps to prove who they are. That reduces the chance of mistakes or people ignoring the signs of a cyberattack.
Moreover, regular training updates ensure that users stay sharp and aware of new security threats and practices. Well-informed users are more likely to follow the rules, report suspicious activity, and support the system’s goals. This collaborative approach helps keep the organization secure in an easy-to-manage way.
The Pros and Cons of Risk-Based Authentication
As organizations consider risk-based authentication to enhance security and user convenience, it’s important to understand its pros and cons.
Pros:
- Enhanced Security: RBA responds to potential threats in real-time, increasing security measures for high-risk behaviors and reducing them for low-risk ones. This dynamic approach helps prevent unauthorized access more effectively.
- Improved User Experience: By easing verification requirements for low-risk users, RBA speeds up the login process and reduces frustration. Users experience fewer disruptions, which can lead to higher satisfaction and productivity.
- Adaptability: Real-time data usage allows it to quickly adapt to emerging threats and changing user behaviors. This responsiveness helps organizations stay secure without constant manual updates.
- Cost Efficiency: RBA reduces the need for manual monitoring. Automated risk assessments streamline processes and save resources, making security more budget-friendly.
Cons:
- Potential for Errors: RBA can mistakenly block legitimate users or allow unauthorized ones, known as false positives and false negatives. These errors can disrupt user access and require manual support.
- Compliance Challenges: Managing compliance with RBA involves adhering to strict privacy regulations, which vary greatly by industry. Ensuring compliance requires careful setup and management.
- Dependence on Accurate Data: RBA’s effectiveness relies on the data quality it processes. Incomplete data can lead to incorrect risk assessments, making it easier for potential threats to bypass or for legitimate users to get blocked.
Examples of How Businesses Can Use RBA
Risk-based authentication is already reshaping how businesses approach security across many industries. Here are three examples of how RBA can be used in a business setting:
Example 1: Remote Work Access Control
For companies with remote or hybrid employees, risk-based authentication is crucial for maintaining secure access to company data. This was shown during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, where a shift to remote work led to a 15% increase in MFA adoption. Those numbers have steadily risen since.
If an employee logs in from a new device or a location different from their usual one, RBA can require extra steps, like a push notification on a phone. This helps prevent unauthorized access from stolen credentials or external attacks while still allowing easy access for routine logins from recognized environments.
Example 2: In-Office Network Access
In a traditional office setting, RBA streamlines daily access to networks and systems. Employees logging in from familiar devices at regular times and locations pass through quickly with minimal checks. That can save a lot of time and frustration without compromising security.
However, if someone attempts to access the system from a device outside the office or at unusual times, RBA recognizes the increased risk and asks for more proof of identity. This targeted approach ensures security measures don’t disrupt normal operations, yet unusual activities are still modestly addressed.
Example 3: E-Commerce Transaction Verification
In e-commerce, RBA helps secure transactions by introducing checks when unusual patterns are detected. For example, if a customer tries to make a large purchase or order from a new location, the system might ask for additional confirmation, such as entering a code sent via SMS or email.
This extra step verifies that the person making the purchase is the true account holder, thereby preventing fraud. The process stays quick and simple for regular customers making typical purchases, ensuring a smooth shopping experience.
Considerations With Changing Your Authentication Strategy
When updating your authentication strategy, ensuring that the new system fits your IT infrastructure and workflow is crucial. Check for compatibility issues, data migration needs, and new staff device requirements. It’s also important to be forward-thinking, ensuring you’re ready for future trends and changes.
Equally important is managing the impact on users. Smoothly transition to the new system by providing clear communication, training, and support. Part of that is setting realistic risk thresholds. Considering wrong passwords account for 8.4% of login failures, it’s important to consider that people will occasionally make mistakes. Monitoring user access during the initial rollout helps ensure it is secure while not delaying or blocking legitimate access.
Why Risk-Based Authentication Is Cost-Effective
Risk-based authentication is cost-effective because it smartly uses security resources. Instead of applying the same strict security checks to everyone, it focuses on situations where the risk is highest. That means everyday user activities require less intense security checks, which reduces the overall cost.
By saving on resources in low-risk situations and focusing efforts where there are actual threats, businesses can maintain strong security without overspending. This approach makes managing security budgets more efficient and lowers the burden on employees.
Authentication Goes Hand-In-Hand With Compliance
When implementing risk-based authentication, organizations must ensure they align with specific compliance standards such as HIPAA, NIST-800, SOC-2, CMMC, PCI DSS, and general GRC frameworks. Each of these regulations sets guidelines for protecting sensitive data, making RBA crucial for dynamically adjusting authentication to secure access effectively.
For instance, healthcare organizations can use RBA to meet HIPAA requirements by applying stricter authentication controls when accessing patient data. Similarly, following NIST-800 guidelines, companies can enhance their security systems with RBA to manage risks more effectively. Security can be tailored based on the sensitivity of the data accessed or the risk environment.
Regular security reviews and transparent data handling practices help maintain compliance and ensure that RBA secures sensitive information and supports organizational compliance with relevant standards. When in doubt, partner with an MSP to support IT compliance.
Partner With ITonDemand for Risk-Based Authentication
Risk-based authentication can effectively secure accounts and sensitive data while enhancing user access, ensuring security matches the level of risk. Yet, not all businesses actively use authentication or have it configured correctly, as low MFA usage continues to be a concern. While RBA is a strong choice for any organization, having any type of authentication is much better than using none.
If you’re considering strengthening your account security, ITonDemand offers expertise in implementing MFA like Duo. It can dynamically adjust authentication based on real-time risk assessments, providing tailored security that prevents high-risk threats. Get in touch to discover how integrating risk-based authentication can elevate your account security while simplifying user logins.
