Complete MFA Guide

In a world where 95% of data breaches result from human error (source: Verizon), cybersecurity is no longer optional — it’s an absolute necessity.

With cyberattacks on the rise, remote work becoming standard, and compliance requirements tightening, businesses must rethink their security strategies. A modern approach relies on a powerful duo: security monitoring and multi-factor authentication (MFA). Together, they form a solid barrier against unauthorized access — without compromising the user experience.

Why combine security monitoring and MFA?

A smart response to a threat-filled environment

Threats are multiplying and becoming more sophisticated:

• Targeted ransomware: crippling critical systems
• Advanced phishing: stealing credentials through social engineering
• DDoS attacks: causing service outages
• Zero-day vulnerabilities: unknown and unpatched flaws

Internal risks and human error are still major issues, worsened by hybrid, multi-cloud environments.

 Direct consequences:

• $4.45M: average cost of a data breach (source: IBM)
• 277 days: average time to detect and contain
• GDPR fines of up to 4% of global revenue
• Long-lasting reputational damage

Security monitoring – a pillar of modern cyber defense

From monitoring to intelligence

Security monitoring goes far beyond just reading logs. It involves continuous, intelligent analysis of signals from all layers (network, applications, user behavior, devices…).

It enables organizations to:

• Correlate events in real-time
• Detect behavioral anomalies
• Cut down on false positives
• Uncover threats before damage is done

Operational benefits

• Full visibility into IT infrastructure
• Up to 80% faster threat detection
• 70% fewer false positives thanks to AI
• Automated compliance reports

MFA – A powerful weapon against identity theft

The 3 authentication factors

1. Knowledge – password, PIN
2. Possession – smartphone, USB token, smart card
3. Inherence – fingerprint, facial or voice recognition

Example: A user logs in…

1. Enters credentials
2. Receives push notification (e.g., Microsoft Authenticator)
3. Confirms with fingerprint
4. Access is granted

Dramatic results

• 99.9% protection against attacks (Microsoft)
• 98% of phishing attempts blocked
• 100% of bots stopped by MFA layer

A compliance asset

MFA is a key compliance driver:

• GDPR: protects access to sensitive data
• ISO 27001: enforces access control
• PCI-DSS, NIS2, ANSSI: all require strong authentication

Challenges and best practices for successful MFA rollout

Common pitfalls

• User resistance: perceived complexity
• Technical issues: recovery, compatibility, integration
• Ongoing management: expired tokens, adaptive MFA

Strategic recommendations

• Use authentication apps over SMS
• Offer reliable backup options
• Adapt factors to context and risk level
• Onboard users with proper guidance

Ekara – best-in-class user-centric MFA monitoring

A platform built for real user journey supervision

Ekara doesn’t just monitor metrics — it simulates real user journeys, including sensitive MFA steps, across all types of devices.

Key differentiators:

• 100% European hosting, GDPR compliant
• Real mobile tests (iOS/Android)
• UI and content recognition
• AI-powered alert prioritization

Core features for MFA monitoring

• 24/7 MFA journey monitoring
• Automated login, MFA code, push, logout testing
• Detection of delays, errors, inconsistencies
• Real-time alerts before user impact

Dedicated security dashboards

• MFA success rates
• Average validation time
• Root causes of failures
• Compliance and UX indicators

Customer Case – a retail bank boosts security & reliability of its mobile app with ekara

The context

A leading European retail bank wanted to strengthen security of its mobile app while maintaining a frictionless user experience. It selected Ekara to monitor a critical journey: money transfers via the mobile app.