Hideez Blog | Identity Management News, Best practices & Tips

Modern law firms face mounting cybersecurity and compliance pressures, making specialized IT support a critical requirement — not a luxury. With nearly 30% of firms reporting data breaches, traditional password-based systems are no longer viable. The article outlines why law practices benefit from IT solutions tailored to legal workflows, including secure remote access, disaster recovery, and application-specific support. It contrasts in-house IT with managed service providers (MSPs), highlighting the MSP advantage in scalability, legal software expertise, and cost predictability. Cloud-based infrastructure further enhances resilience and supports hybrid work models with secure access and lower overhead. Core services like phishing-resistant MFA, legal software integration, and proactive maintenance are essential to mitigate risk and ensure uptime. Finally, the article introduces Hideez as a cost-effective, passwordless IAM solution purpose-built for law firms — offering phishing protection, secure PC login, and compliance readiness with minimal IT involvement.

Authenticator apps enhance security but can lock users out when they malfunction, often due to poor connectivity, outdated software, or misconfigured device settings. Common culprits include network issues, disabled notifications, battery optimization, and incorrect time settings, all of which can silently disrupt functionality. Basic fixes like checking internet access, restarting the device, and updating apps often resolve these issues. On both Android and iOS, system-level settings like encryption, work profiles, and permissions also play critical roles in authentication success. Biometric and passwordless authentication can fail due to unregistered devices or malware interference. When all troubleshooting fails, it may be time to consider alternatives like Hideez, which avoids traditional failure points through QR-based, biometric-secured login. Hideez offers a streamlined, phishing-resistant solution suitable for small teams and enterprises alike.

Choosing between Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 depends on how your team works, shares, and secures data. Google offers a more seamless experience in browser-based environments, especially Chrome, with strong real-time collaboration tools and streamlined cloud-first storage via Google Drive. Microsoft, on the other hand, excels in desktop-based productivity, offering advanced tools like Excel and Word, deeper system control, and stronger integration with Windows infrastructure. Both platforms offer strong security, but Microsoft users are reportedly more prone to phishing attacks, making MFA critical. While each platform has its pros and cons, both lack phishing-resistant authentication by default. That’s where Hideez comes in — offering passwordless, FIDO2-compliant access for Google and Microsoft environments, improving security, compliance, and user experience.

If your Microsoft Authenticator app stops working, you’re not alone — common issues include syncing failures, connectivity problems, or device misconfigurations. To resolve these, start with basic fixes like adjusting your device’s date/time settings, disabling VPNs, and turning off battery optimization on Android. 

Typosquatting is a cybercrime technique that exploits common typing errors to redirect users to malicious websites that mimic legitimate ones. These domains often trick users into revealing sensitive data by impersonating trusted brands like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, which were top targets in a 2024 study identifying over 10,000 malicious lookalike domains. Attackers use tactics such as misspelled domains, wrong top-level domains (e.g., .co instead of .com), and even subdomain tricks to deceive users. 

Traditional identity and access management methods are becoming obsolete as cyber threats rise and IT environments grow more complex. Identity as a Service (IDaaS) provides a cloud-based solution for managing identities securely and efficiently, offering Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and compliance features. Unlike on-premises IAM, IDaaS scales effortlessly, integrates with various applications, and eliminates password-related security risks. Hideez Enterprise Identity enhances security with passwordless authentication methods, including passkeys, mobile authentication, and FIDO-certified security keys. The Hideez Authenticator app simplifies secure logins via biometrics or QR code scanning, ensuring phishing-resistant access to web services, VPNs, and workstations. With increasing demand for scalable and flexible identity solutions, enterprises must adopt IDaaS to streamline access control, enhance security, and support remote work environments.

The revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2) modernizes EU payment rules to enhance security, consumer protection, and market innovation. It mandates Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) using two or more independent factors to reduce fraud in electronic payments. PSD2 also introduces Open Banking, requiring banks to provide secure API access to customer accounts for licensed third-party providers. The directive’s technical framework relies on standardized APIs and encryption protocols to ensure safe, efficient communication. Consumers gain greater control and transparency over their data, along with rights like immediate refunds for unauthorized transactions. For financial institutions, PSD2 is both a disruption and an opportunity—pushing them to embrace digital transformation or risk being commoditized. While implementation brought challenges, especially around SCA and API development, PSD2 has set the stage for a more connected, secure, and competitive European financial ecosystem.

Cyber hygiene refers to the ongoing practices individuals and organizations adopt to protect digital systems and data from threats. It involves routine actions like software updates, strong password management, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and regular backups. Human error remains a major risk, making employee training and awareness critical components. Poor password habits, outdated software, and lack of visibility into sensitive data are common cyber hygiene pitfalls. For organizations, cyber hygiene also includes network segmentation, incident response planning, and regular security audits. Email security plays a vital role, with technical safeguards like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC helping prevent phishing. Ultimately, cyber hygiene is not a one-time fix but a continuous effort that requires vigilance, collaboration, and adaptability to evolving cyber threats.

Windows 10 auto login allows users to bypass manual authentication and access their computers instantly, improving efficiency, especially for shared workstations or background processes. However, it presents security risks, as anyone with physical access can log in without credentials. Common setup methods include using Netplwiz or modifying the Windows Registry, though domain-connected computers require additional configuration. Security measures like full-disk encryption, physical access control, and proximity-based logout solutions help mitigate risks. Enterprises should transition to passwordless authentication, leveraging tools like Hideez Key 4 or Hideez Enterprise Identity, which offer proximity-based login/logout, mobile authentication, and FIDO-certified security keys. These solutions eliminate password vulnerabilities, ensuring seamless yet secure access across environments.

In today’s digital world, Identity as a Service (IDaaS) is essential for securing enterprise access while simplifying authentication. This guide explores the best IDaaS solutions, covering top vendors, implementation best practices, and key selection criteria. Discover how Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and passwordless authentication improve security and user experience. Learn how leading providers like Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, Hideez, and Ping Identity compare in features, scalability, security, and pricing. As businesses move toward passwordless authentication and FIDO standards, adopting the right IDaaS solution ensures future-proof security and compliance.

Bitwarden and 1Password are two leading password managers offering different approaches to security, usability, and pricing. This guide compares their encryption standards, authentication methods, cross-platform compatibility, and advanced features. Learn how each service handles password sharing, business deployment, and offline access. Discover which option best fits your needs based on pricing, family plans, and privacy policies. Whether you prioritize open-source transparency or premium functionality, this in-depth analysis will help you make an informed choice.