Overview

With the increased use of applications, employees find themselves juggling multiple passwords that are complex and require to be changed regularly. More often than not, employees forget their passwords and regularly contact the help desk to resolve the issues.

Prior to implementing the SafeNet iKey, a SafeNet customer determined that the average user required 3.5 to 4 password resets per year, costing between $10 and $37.50 for each reset. Implementing the iKey, whereby making the PIN easier to remember, resulted in a dramatic reduction of password related calls to the help desk.

In a study performed by SafeNet:

• 89% of respondents changed their passwords at least once a year
• 75% change their passwords at least three times a year
• 29% change their passwords more than seven times a year
• The more frequently passwords change, the more time IT departments spend managing username and password changes
• 64% of respondents admitted to writing down passwords at least once

The Single Sign On Solution:
By using one single sign on, a user may access all the applications that had previously required additional authentication, resulting in a decrease in password related calls to the helpdesk and becoming more user friendly.

Keep in mind that single sign on without additional authentication actually weakens an organization's security process. Why? Should hackers obtain a single sign on password, they can gain access to a wide range of applications and information.

To increase security and employee convenience, companies must use two factor authentication devices like the SafeNet iKey to provide a more secure process to access the single sign on solution.

How would it work with iKey?
At the normal login, users would be asked to insert their iKey into the USB port. They would then be prompted to enter their PIN. Once the PIN is confirmed, the single sign on solution would seamlessly allow users access to multiple applications for which they are authorized.