As I wrote last year in a column on identity, many people in (and out of) the security industry have been saying that the username/password mechanism is broken and insecure. techrepublic/article/2015-might-be-the-year-we-start-to-get-online-identity-right/ What currently looks most likely to replace it, albeit slowly, is multi-factor authentication and the use of existing trusted identities to log in to services. Anyone who has used Facebook, Google, or Twitter when they join a new app or service is already familiar with this metaphor for logging in without creating a new account. In 2015, its set to become even more well-known after the executive order focused upon improving the security of consumer financial transactions was issued by President Barack Obama in October 2014. In Section 3 of the order, on Securing Federal Transactions Online, the president directed the National Security Staff, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Office of Management and Budget to present a plan consistent with the guidance set forth in the 2011 National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace [NSTIC], to ensure that all agencies making personal data accessible to citizens through digital applications require the use of multiple factors of authentication and an effective identity proofing process, as appropriate. This plan was to outline a strategy for using multi-factor authentication to make government data available to citizens was due within 90 days of the order, which should mean that its already made it on the presidents desk in the Oval Office or its headed there shortly. If President Barack Obama signs off on it, technology will start coming online that will enable four federal agencies to move forward with providing meaningful digital government services this year, from passport renewal to personal health record access. techrepublic/article/2015-might-be-the-year-we-start-to-get-online-identity-right/
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 01:30:42 +0000
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