2FA mandatory - Atera is keeping you safe!

In today’s dynamic IT threat landscape, MSPs are often in the spotlight. Last year, Chinese hackers were found to have intruded into MSP networks in search of intellectual property and other sensitive data, while soon after – ransomware attacks on MSPs resulted in as many as 2,000 users being locked out of their systems. Just last month, an attack was managed against 22 Texan entities through their MSP system.

It’s easy to see why MSPs are such a target for cyber-crime. After all, break into an MSPs network, and you’ve got multiple enterprises at once to steal from or hold to ransom, many of which could span different industries, countries, or size. It’s the motherlode for many attackers.

Supporting our MSPs with education as well as tools

As a software solutions business, we are in an interesting place. Some companies choose to offer their technology and expertise, and let each user decide what they would like to use, or ignore. After all, who knows their own business better than you do? On the other hand, as experts in the field, we are the best informed when it comes to the risks that are happening in our industry, and can’t simply sit by and do nothing while so many of our customers are under an immediate and real threat.

We see education and forward-thinking as part of our role, and so therefore made the difficult decision to make 2FA mandatory for all of our users, effective immediately.

As we’ve discussed before, our multi-factor authentication provides an added layer of security, simplifies education against cyber-threats for your staff, supports remote working, and provides a competitive edge against other MSPs. It’s the industry-wide best practice for keeping your systems safe, and an absolute win for any business that wants to best support its customers.

What should I expect?

If you’ve already activated 2FA for all your users, then that’s it – you’re done! If not, you will be logged out of your account automatically until you activate 2FA.  Simply go to https://app.atera.com/Login#/admin/security and follow the instructions there. It will only take a couple of minutes to get set up. If you have any problems, this step by step guide should help.

Once you’ve active 2FA, you will be able to continue to use Atera as usual, except more securely!

Patch Management and Remote Monitoring in the Age of 2FA

As Atera mandates two-factor authentication (2FA) for its platform, it’s a timely reminder of the importance of comprehensive cybersecurity strategies, including patch management and remote monitoring. Patch management ensures that software vulnerabilities are addressed swiftly, preventing exploitation by cyber threats. This is crucial as remote monitoring tools, like those provided by Atera, can oversee and manage IT systems from afar, detecting potential issues before they escalate. By integrating robust patch management with remote monitoring, businesses can not only maintain system integrity but also enhance their security posture. These measures, combined with 2FA, create a multi-layered defense, safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring compliance with cybersecurity standards. This comprehensive approach helps prevent unauthorized access and mitigates risks associated with outdated software, ensuring a secure and efficient IT environment.

We’re in this together

You’re not the only ones expected to make smart changes to keep everyone as secure as possible. In response to the added cyber-threat to MSPs, we at Atera are also looking to enhance our security policies, and will be rolling out new protective and defensive measures within the platform over the next few weeks. Watch this space, and we promise to keep you updated every step of the way!

Should you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected].