What is a shared workstation?

How does Yubikey help to secure your shared workstation from

cyber attacks !!!

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What is a shared workstation?
A shared workstation is a computer that is used by multiple people. This is common in environments such as call centers, retail stores, and healthcare facilities. Shared workstations can be a security risk because they are more likely to be compromised by malware or unauthorized access.

Point-of-sale terminals in retail and grab-and-go devices for healthcare personnel, as well as call centre kiosks and shared PCs on industrial shop floors, are all examples of shared workstation settings that are widespread in many different industries. While sharing among employees can result in cost savings and an increase in productivity, it can also constitute a serious security risk to firms if strong security measures are not implemented to ensure that only authorized individuals can log in.

Risks at shared workstations

The frequent rotation of staff, such as seasonal employees and high staff turnover, can lead to insecure shared workspace practices. These practices include sharing login credentials or writing passwords on sticky notes, which are easy targets for cybercriminals. In fact, most of data breaches are caused by stolen or weak passwords, which shows that static credentials are not secure.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a simple way to add an extra layer of security to shared workstations. However, not all MFA solutions are created equal. Mobile-based MFA tools, such as SMS, OTP codes, and push notifications, are vulnerable to cyberattacks.

These tools are susceptible to phishing attacks, brute force attacks, Man-in-the-Middle (MiTM) attacks, malware, and SIM swapping. Additionally, there is no guarantee that a private key will end up on a secure element on the mobile device. OTP codes and private keys could also be intercepted, and it is impossible to ensure proof of possession.

Mobile MFA also has other challenges. Mobile devices may run out of battery, and their use may be prohibited in some environments, such as customer-facing roles or high-security areas.

Replacing legacy MFA with phishing-resistant MFA solutions, such as hardware security keys like the YubiKey, is a cost-effective solution that offers increased protection from increasingly sophisticated attacks like phishing. Hardware security keys are more secure than mobile-based MFA tools because they are not susceptible to phishing attacks and cannot be intercepted or cloned. They are also easy to use and can be implemented in any shared workstation environment.

Key things to keep in mind when securing shared workstation environments from cyber attacks

When choosing an authentication solution for shared workstation environments, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind. These include efficiency, reliability, cost, and external factors that can affect performance, such as mobile signal and battery life.

If your business uses shared devices, it’s important to ask yourself the following questions to assess your current security posture and identify areas for improvement:

  • How do you verify that a user logging into a device is legitimate?
  • How do you ensure that a user can seamlessly authenticate into multiple devices?
  • How do you ensure consistent authentication that always works, even in challenging environments with varying degrees of connectivity?
  • How do you reduce the number of authentication-related support tickets?

The answers to these questions will help you to choose the right authentication solution for your needs

Solution

How does Yubikey help to secure shared workstation from Cyber Attacks!!

YubiKey is a hardware security key that can be used to secure shared workstations. YubiKeys are small, USB-based devices that generate one-time passwords (OTPs) or challenge-response authentication codes. When a user logs in to a shared workstation, they must insert their YubiKey and enter the OTP or challenge-response code. This two-factor authentication (2FA) method helps to protect shared workstations from unauthorized access.

Here are some of the benefits of using YubiKey to secure shared workstations:

  • Increased security: YubiKey provides strong 2FA protection that helps to prevent unauthorized access to shared workstations.
  • Ease of use: YubiKeys are easy to use and can be quickly implemented in shared workstation environments.
  • Scalability: YubiKeys can be used to secure an unlimited number of shared workstations.

Here are some of the steps involved in securing shared workstations with YubiKey:

  1. Purchase YubiKeys for all users who will be accessing shared workstations.
  2. Configure the YubiKeys to work with the authentication system that is used for shared workstations.
  3. Train users on how to use YubiKeys to authenticate to shared workstations.

By following these steps, you can help to secure your shared workstations from cyber attacks.

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