How to Protect Legacy Technologies with Multi-Factor Authentication

Here are some examples of such technologies that do not typically benefit from Multi-Factor Authentication or integration with Single Sign-On (SSO):

  • secure shell (ssh)
  • remote desktop servers (RDP, Citrix, Windows Remote Desktop Services)
  • databases servers, (Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, etc.)
  • file sharing servers
  • custom web apps on web servers

Beyond the security concern, there is often a practical & logistical aspect creating further friction: removing access to an employee no longer needing access to such a resource often requires manual & specialized work.

Both of these issues represent security exposures that are easy to remedy with Twingate.

Multi-Factor Authentication with Twingate

Twingate allows you to layer on MFA to any legacy technology by applying a Security Policy.

Since Twingate also leverages your Identity Provider, you will be able to require users to authenticate with it before accessing those legacy resources which means much easier management when an employee leaves your organization: no more left over access requiring app-specific intervention every time.

Simply disable their SSO account and.. voila!

How It Works

Twingate monitors requests from any user device at network level: If the request is meant for a resource secured by Twingate, Twingate holds the request while checking and enforcing the associated Security Policy.

For example: if Twingate determines the user is authorized to access your Mainframe but the applicable Security Policy requires MFA, Twingate will prompt the user for MFA Authentication and only if authentication succeeds will Twingate allow the request through.

If a user doesn’t have authorization to access the resource, the request never leaves the device, rendering the requested app completely inaccessible (even if the user somehow obtained valid credentials for it).

Last updated 9 months ago