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What is Microsoft Outlook?
Outlook is a desktop email and calendar application developed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1987 as part of the Windows 3.1 operating system. Outlook has since been expanded to include task and contact management, social networking features, and a blog subsystem.
Microsoft Outlook ships with several built-in security features that protect against unauthorized access to your email, calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes. In this article, we’ll describe how to configure Outlook to protect your data using the built-in security features.
Outlook offers a variety of different types of accounts to accommodate the needs and preferences of different users. These accounts include personal, team, and shared accounts.
Personal Accounts
A personal account is the default account type in Outlook. This account is used to access Outlook’s email, calendar, contacts, and tasks features. A personal account can be associated with one or more email addresses. Team Accounts
A team account allows multiple users to share access to a single Outlook instance. This type of account is ideal for small businesses that need to share a single Outlook instance among several employees. A team account can also be helpful for sharing resources such as calendars and task lists among co-workers. Shared Accounts
A shared account is similar to a team account in that it allows multiple users to share access to a single Outlook instance. However, shared accounts are less flexible than team accounts because they do not allow users to share individual contacts or calendars. Shared accounts are best suited for organizations that need to centrally manage contact information and calendar events among multiple employees.
A common denominator in cybersecurity and user experience is the authentication method used during the login process. You want an authentication method that is both secure and offers a seamless user experience.
Authentication can be described as a process of identifying a user that is requesting access to a particular service or application. Until now, a username and password were good enough to protect yourself however, since the pandemic and a rise in cyber attacks, one authentication method is not enough. Microsoft Outlook 2FA is a strong authentication method that can be paired with additional authentication.
Different businesses have different industry requirements in terms of a multi-factor authentication method. User experience and satisfaction plays a big part when it comes to choosing which MFA solution for your business. The authentication method you choose to pair with your MFA solution needs to offer convenience while having the most security available.
In order to have safe and secure access to your organization’s private information, you want to make sure that you choose an authentication method that is tailored to your business’s unique needs.
Two-factor authentication as we know is authentication beyond a username and password and can be categorized into three categories: knowledge, possession, and inherence.
Top Authentication Methods for Safe and Secure Access
Biometric Authentication
Biometric authentication relies on the physical traits of a user in order to validate their identity. Biometrics is one of the most secure options when it comes to authentication. It is easy to use and creates less friction between users and the login process.
The most common forms of biometric authentication is facial and fingerprint recognition. Biometric authentication is difficult if not impossible to spoof as a hacker would need the unique biological trait of the user.
The login in process is pretty straightforward as a user will not have to memorize PINs and passwords. It also is less time consuming and is a more seamless process than other authentication methods.
QR Code
QR code authentication, while not popular, is still a secure method of authentication. It’s typically used for user authentication and transaction validation. When a user tries to login to their account, they are prompted to scan the QR code on the screen with their authenticator application.
Without the authenticator application, a hacker will not be able to access the user’s account. QR code authentication is a simple to use and easy to follow process. It is easily combined with other forms of authentication for increased security.
On the other hand, QR code authentication is not familiar to the general public as it is not commonly used which can result in poor user experience. Each user will also need a smartphone that has a correct QR code reader software capable of scanning the QR code which can be costly.
SMS One-time Passcode
SMS passcodes are the most common authentication method. Since many users already have their own smartphone, it is easy to register their phone number for authentication. This simple yet very effective authentication method is the process of sending an SMS message when the user prompts it, that contains a one time passcode to finalize the login process and authentication.
If there were to be suspicious activity to a user’s account, only the user who has the device in their possession can verify the login validity by entering the one-time passcode. The general public is very familiar with this type of authentication making it super easy and affordable for organizations.
There have been issues with SMS authentication in the sense that there may be delays in sending the message which results in a possible expiration in the code byt the time the user receives it. There is also the concern that if a user loses their device then a hacker can access their personal information.
At the end of the day, the authentication method used to secure your organization needs to be safe, secure, and provide a seamless user experience.
Tips for Preventing Outlook Attacks
Password strength
One of the most important ways to protect yourself from Outlook attacks is to make sure your passwords are strong and unique. Always use different passwords for each account, and never use the same password for more than one account. You can also create a password manager to make it easier to remember all of your passwords.
Don’t open unsolicited emails or attachments from unfamiliar sources
If you don’t know who sent you an email, don’t open it! Unsolicited email messages can contain malicious content that could harm your computer or even expose personal information about you or your company. If you need to receive emailed materials from outside sources, be sure to set up your email client so that it sends a warning before downloading any attachments.
Keep up-to-date on security updates for Outlook and other software packages used in your office
Outlook is constantly updated with new security features and bug fixes. Make sure you’re installing the latest updates so that you’re protected against potential threats. Also keep an eye out for security patches for other software in your office, such as Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat, which may improve the overall security of your system.
