Update to 2-Step authentication

When 2-Step Authentication was introduced, administrators could enable this feature for their users, however what they were not able to do was to enforce this policy. It was up to the user if they wanted to turn it on or not. Now this much requested feature enhancement has been added so that Google Domain administrators can force their users to use 2-Step Authentication.

As a much requested option, this has now been added to Google Apps™ for Business. In the past you were only able to turn on 2-Step authentication for the users in your Domain but not enforce use, leaving users to choose if they use it or not.

From a security point of view this is a great feature as it gives an additional layer of security on top of the normal username and password. When turned on, a user will be prompted to enter an additional code which is sent to their mobile phone as a text message.

What this means is that if some one gets your username and password and logs on from Nigeria, it is unlikely that they will have your mobile phone in their back pocket so will not be able to log into your account.

This is a long time coming and a much welcome feature addition that should have been there from day one.

More details in the product update blog

By Chris Barrow

Aragorn Consulting - Google Apps™ Authorized Reseller