UX: Your Passport to Better Security
Imagine a bustling city. Each day, its citizens follow a rhythm: waking up, commuting to work, engaging in their tasks, and returning home. In macroeconomics, analyzing such behaviors helps predict broader economic trends. How are they commuting to work? What are most people spending their money on? Similarly, in cybersecurity, considering the user as a whole entity—both as an employee and in their daily routines—yields significant insights. What applications are they authenticating to? What are the risks associated with this authentication?
In the realm of cybersecurity, user experience (UX) plays a crucial role in ensuring effective security measures. Just as understanding daily behaviors in a city can lead to better urban planning, focusing on UX in cybersecurity can lead to more secure and user-friendly environments.
Onboarding and Offboarding
Traditionally, onboarding and offboarding are associated with the beginning and end of an employee's tenure. Much like the daily rhythm of a city, it's equally important to think about these processes daily. Just as an employee starts their day by logging into various systems and ends it by logging off, each session can be considered a micro-onboarding and offboarding event. This daily cycle is crucial for maintaining security without compromising user experience.
Now imagine Lee, an end user. He starts his day by logging into his computer and accessing various applications. Each login represents a potential security risk if not managed properly. Duo simplifies this process. By thinking of onboarding and offboarding as daily events, we can ensure that Lee's interactions with their work environment are both secure and efficient.
Duo Passport
Lee’s day improves significantly with Duo Passport. Without it, they would need to repeatedly log into different applications, a process that is not only time-consuming but also increases the risk of security lapses. Duo Passport simplifies application access and reduces logon fatigue by sharing remembered device sessions between applications, whether accessed from a browser or a desktop client. With Passport, Lee logs in once, and their authentication status is maintained across all applications, both in the browser and on the desktop. This seamless experience means that Lee can focus on their work without constant interruptions for re-authentication.
For more information on Duo Passport, and how it plays a larger role in Continuous Identity Security, check out this blog post.
How does it work?
Duo Passport leverages Duo Desktop, which shares trusted session information across browsers and desktop applications. This integration allows Lee to maintain their authenticated state, reducing the need to repeatedly enter credentials throughout the day.
For instance, when Lee logs into a web application and opts to remember their device during the authentication flow, that trust session extends to desktop applications as well. This seamless experience means that logging into one service can authenticate access to others, streamlining Lee's daily workflow without compromising security.
To truly appreciate the benefits of Duo Passport, let's walk through a typical day for Lee.
Morning: Let’s get this day started
Lee begins the day by logging into their Windows computer. They complete the Cisco Duo authentication process, selecting the option to remember the device. With Passport, this initial authentication carries over to other applications. As Lee opens their email client, they don't need to log in again. The trust session established during the Windows login extends to the email application, saving time and reducing frustration.
Midday: I’m on a roll
Throughout the day, Lee moves between various applications—project management tools, internal chat systems, and cloud-based storage solutions. With Passport, each transition is smooth. When Lee switches from the browser to a desktop application, the trusted session persists. Lee can access the resources needed without repeatedly entering credentials.
Afternoon: I need a change of scenery
As the day progresses, Lee decides to work from a different location. They move to a conference room for a meeting. Duo Passport adapts to this change. If the system detects a significant security event, such as an unusual login location, it prompts Lee to re-authenticate. This ensures that security remains robust even as the user environment changes.
Evening: Oops, I forgot to submit my timesheet!
At the end of the day, Lee logs off their computer. The trust session established by Passport remains in effect until it expires according to the configured policy. This means that if Lee logs back in later that evening to check on a project, they won't need to re-authenticate every application. The balance between convenience and security remains intact.
Think about an organization with hundreds of employees like Lee. If every employee saves just a few minutes each day by not having to log into applications repeatedly, the overall time savings are significant. More importantly, reducing the hassle associated with security protocols makes it more likely that employees will follow them, which strengthens the organization's security.
Conclusion
In cybersecurity, the importance of a seamless user experience is often underestimated. Yet, it’s crucial for the adoption and effectiveness of security products. Cisco Duo shows how focusing on user experience can boost security by increasing user adoption. Viewing onboarding and offboarding as daily events rather than just at the start and end of employment can create a more secure and efficient work environment.
By integrating Duo Passport, companies can provide their users with a smooth, secure, and efficient workday. This balance between user experience and security not only makes the workday easier for employees but also enhances overall productivity and security, highlighting the thoughtful design of Cisco Duo.
When you think about it, the parallels to macroeconomics are clear: just as an economy prospers when its citizens can go about their daily lives smoothly, an organization thrives when its employees can navigate their digital workspaces effortlessly. Cisco Duo, with its Passport feature, creates this seamless experience, proving that great user experience and strong security can work hand in hand to drive organizational success.
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