Why businesses use VPN and how they can secure their accounts. A virtual private network (VPN), like Fortigate, is a commonly used application by many organizations and individuals. Many benefits come with connecting a device to a virtual private network.
One of the most famous ones is that it allows users to have a secure internet connection while allowing them to stay private on online platforms. This advantage can decrease the chances of getting hacked and cyber-attacked by external sources, which could result in losing confidential data to the public.
Thus, securing a VPN account is essential, and even though most believe that having a username and a strong password will be enough, it won’t.
So, companies try to add additional layers of security to their VPN accounts; for instance, they add a Fortigate VPN 2FA – which asks an additional security question to verify identity. Others might use an open VPN protocol – which gives users the highest level of security, or internet network locks.
The importance of securing VPN accounts
As mentioned before, a VPN decreases the chances of losing data due to its advantage of allowing people to work privately on online platforms. This is because the company usernames will not be visible to outsiders, making hacking into an account difficult.
On the other hand, if a VPN account is not secured, users might click on phishing links that could lead them to unsecured websites, unintentionally causing viruses to enter their devices or allowing hackers to surf through their storage and access files.
Hence, to avoid facing these kinds of obstacles, companies should make it a priority to add additional layers of security to their VPN accounts.
Steps to keep a Fortigate VPN account secured using a Two Factor Authentication
As mentioned, one way to secure a VPN account is by adding a two-factor authentication (2FA) to it. Here are the steps you can follow to ensure a correct 2FA setup process.
1. Find a 2FA application suitable for your preferences
One of the most important steps when it comes to adding a two-factor authentication to an account is finding the most suitable application for your company.
There are many options available in the market that could make the decision-making process difficult, as some applications are more complex and others are user-friendly.
Therefore, to make sure that you are setting up the right application for your employees, create a list of applications that could be suitable, and dedicate some time to research and read reviews of past users. You can also test some of them with your employees and get their feedback, but this step may be time-consuming.
Another thing to consider is whether the application is trustworthy. This factor is important as you will give all of your information to the 2FA provider, and if the application is not secure, you might lose your data instead of securing it.
2. Create a domain account to control who gets access
After deciding which 2FA application is the best for an organization, a domain account needs to be created. Some applications might require users to submit an application form for the domain account; others might allow them to create it freely. However, those applications that require application might be considered more trustworthy.
The domain (admin) account is the most important account for a 2FA application as it has the power to grant or deny access to certain data to usernames. So, ensure a loyal manager controls it.
3. Connect the domain account with company accounts
The next step is to connect the domain account with the company accounts; you may provide access to the accounts to whom you want to apply two-factor authentication.
Each application has a distinct approach for completing this step; however, for Fortigate, you should input the login ID of the Fortigate account and begin the setup process.
4. Add an additional layer of security from the options offered in the application
In this step, each employee needs to set up their account by choosing the type of additional layer of security. Numerous options are available, but they differ from one application to another, like, a fingerprint scan, push notification, or a one-time code.
Conclusion
To conclude, a VPN account is important when securing internet connections, and securing them with different approaches should be a priority to keep network access safe.
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