Action Identity Blog

Have you logged into your Gmail account lately? Have you noticed the banner that appears at the top of the screen warning you about your account security? This banner is Google’s way of touting its newest Gmail feature, “2-Step Verification.”

2-Step verification is essentially multi-factor or two-factor authentication. Adding multiple layers of security to your accounts is considered a best practice. Our team here at Action Identity has written several blogs about password management. We all agree; passwords are becoming increasingly more important to protect our online assets, namesake (Facebook/social media) and privacy. Google isn’t the first to implement multi-factor authentication and they won’t be the last.

Adding 2-step verification is smart but it is also not 100% feasible for every Gmail account holder. Google requires you to have access to your mobile phone anytime you want to read your Gmail. When you log into your account, Google wants to send you a text (or voice message) with a pin number. You take the pin and enter this on the next screen on the Gmail login. The idea behind this is that someone would need to steal your username and password and also have access to your mobile phone. Great! Lots of added security...but wait-- I have to have my phone present AT ALL TIMES? Yikes…this seems a bit crazy for an account that I use to e-mail my mother and friends from.

You get the point. This is really only a feature that appeals to users who have to protect sensitive data. This is also a feature that should be adopted by those using unsecured public (or your neighbor’s WIFI) networks. You can easily turn on and off this multi-factor authentication feature. Perfect for those road warriors!

Action Identity offers many password management solutions that do not require a user to have a cell phone within their grasp at all times. If you’re looking to secure access to your most sensitive data, give us a call. We have the solutions and know-how to help get the job done.

To learn more about Action Identity and what we can do for you, visit our website. To contact us directly, please click here. 

Read our other password management articles here:
73% of Users Reuse Passwords; the Importance of Password Management 
Enterprise Security and its Heavy Focus on the Perimeter 
What is IDM?
View all Password articles