James Chappell
Global Business Director, Horwath HTL
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Viewpoints from Crowe
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Viewpoints from Crowe
In recent years the understanding of what the most critical criteria of what makes a password most
secure has transitioned from complexity of the password to the length of the password, or pass phrases. However, weak passwords continue to be a target of attackers and common vulnerability in attacks.
The criticality of password security, specifically the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA), has become more of a focus as organizations have supported a more robust remote working capability during the pandemic. Additionally, insurance companies have started demanding organizations have MFA as a requirement of cybersecurity coverage. Most organizations focus on MFA though smartphone notifications or one-time passcodes (OTP).
Adoption of security controls is always more successful when the impact on users is minimized. Lower-friction authe ntication solutions help achieve this goal of increasing security without increasing complexity. Innovations in authentication security will continue to push the boundaries of secure authentication, further reducing friction without sacrificing security.
In addition, these innovations will help with the success of zero-trust infrastructures. Organizations leveraging behavioral biometrics report fewer breaches. Leveraging frictionless solutions will help seamlessly authenticate a user when accessing organizational resources, establishing trust at the time resources are being requested.
The frequency and impact of data security incidents will continue to grow until organizations adopt more advanced security controls. Innovation within authentication solutions will be imperative to support future security programs that are resilient in the face of ever-evolving threats.
National Head of Private Clients, Crowe UK
James Chappell
“Ironically, many of the aspects of remote working have already been embraced in the hospitality consulting world. So much time is spent travelling that you learn to be adept at working on your own in unusual places. Airports, planes, strange hotel rooms, the back of taxis, cafés – all of these will be well known to consultants. The challenge for hospitality consulting is that the work is typically unique and requires a much greater level of consideration before output is generated. We are by definition the solvers of complex problems, problems that typically have any number of potential solutions with often being no ‘correct’ answer, only a judgement call and choice to be made. As so much of the work is based on experience, learning is often on the job as opposed to tab A going into slot B. Paradoxically, many of the reports are pretty standardised, deliberately so, but the journey to that report is anything but. For this reason, consulting firms have been reluctant to move to a fully remote model as knowledge and expertise transfer is key and so hard to do remotely. Whereas the pandemic has forced remote learning, consulting is one industry that cannot wait to get back into the office. It’s no surprise to learn that communication is absolutely key and needs to be properly scheduled to compensate for proximity learning.”