Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • Cloud
    • Cybersecurity

    Microsoft Locks Down the Cloud With Multifactor Authentication

    By
    Pedro Hernandez
    -
    June 14, 2013
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Businesses that offer employees, partners and customers access to their Windows Azure Active Directory (AD) managed apps can now add another layer of security to data that’s stored on Microsoft’s cloud.

      Microsoft announced Active Authentication, a new multifactor authentication offering based on the company’s PhoneFactor acquisition. The software giant bought the firm in October 2011 to add two-factor, mobile phone-based secure access capabilities to its growing cloud application portfolio. Following the deal, Bharat Shah, corporate vice president for the Server and Tools Division at Microsoft, said in a statement that the buy would “bring effective and easy-to-use multifactor authentication to our cloud services and on-premise applications.”

      “In addition, PhoneFactor’s solutions will help Microsoft customers, partners and developers enhance the security of almost any authentication scenario,” added Shah. Windows Azure director, Sarah Fender, announced in a June 12 blog post that the company is making good on some of its promises.

      “Starting today, companies can enable multi-factor authentication for Windows Azure Active Directory identities to help secure access to Office 365, Windows Azure, Windows Intune, Dynamics CRM Online and many other apps that are integrated with Windows Azure AD,” she wrote.

      Active Authentication is also available for developers who are creating Azure-based apps, informed Fender. “Developers can also use the Active Authentication SDK to build multi-factor authentication into their custom applications and directories.”

      Typical of multifactor authentication schemes, Active Authentication secures Azure apps and data by “adding an extra step to the sign in process.” In this case, a user is granted access by supplying a login ID and password and authenticating via the Active Authentication mobile app, an automated phone call or text message.

      Alex Simons, director of Program Management for Active Directory, noted in an Active Directory Team Blog post that despite the extra precautions, users have some say in how they interact with the system.

      “Of course, the app is my personal favorite but you might like receiving a phone call better and most of the folks on our team prefer the SMS messaging option. The great thing about the service is that your users can choose the method they like best and switch between methods without any additional configuration on your part,” wrote Simons.

      Microsoft is offering two pricing models. Organizations can opt for per-user, per-month plans or a per-authentication option that is based on the total number of authentications that are performed each month. Before Active Authentication is officially made generally available, the company is offering the service at the discounted price $1.00 per user per month or $1.00 for every 10 authentications.

      Active Authentication for Windows Azure arrives just as big tech companies are rushing to deploy two-factor and multifactor authentication systems to protect their users.

      In May, Twitter rolled out two-factor authentication to improve security after a spate of high-profile breaches that compromised the accounts of media organizations, including the Financial Times and BBC, and Twitter itself. Google got an early start by offering two-factor authentication for Google Apps in 2010.

      Pedro Hernandez
      Pedro Hernandez is a contributor to eWEEK and the IT Business Edge Network, the network for technology professionals. Previously, he served as a managing editor for the Internet.com network of IT-related websites and as the Green IT curator for GigaOM Pro.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×