🛡️ Why Use Hardware Security Keys?
1. Layered Defence (MFA++):
Passwords alone are fragile, reused, guessed, phished. Security keys introduce something you physically own, making attacks far harder.
2. Phishing Resistance:
Unlike SMS or app-based codes, hardware keys don’t rely on typing in a code. They perform cryptographic checks with the site you’re logging into, meaning fake sites won’t trick them.
3. Unique Per Login Attempt:
Each authentication is one-time and site-specific. Even if someone intercepts data, it’s useless elsewhere.
4. Stops Credential Stuffing:
If attackers try breached passwords on different accounts, the key stops them cold. No key = no access.
5. Works Offline & On-The-Go:
No signal? No app? No problem. Keys like YubiKey work plug-and-play, even in low-connectivity setups.
✅ Best Practices for SMBs Using Security Keys
Pick Keys with Broad Compatibility:
USB-A/C, NFC, or Bluetooth, match what your team’s devices support.
Use with Critical Accounts First:
Admin panels, cloud platforms, email, protect your crown jewels first.
Enroll Multiple Keys per User:
One for daily use, one as backup. Lost keys shouldn’t mean locked-out accounts.
Document & Train
Keep a simple internal guide. If it feels too techie, make it punk “Tap the Key, Stay Free.”
Combine with Other MFA for Flexibility:
Let staff fall back to TOTP apps if they forget their key, just not as default.