Two Factors Authentication for Team Users
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Ian Tam
I am a Team user as my business is small. However, I don't feel that my data is less important than those users in Pro and Enterprise. My suppliers, customers and our own internal information is very important to me and my business. However, being a Team user, I do not have the same data protection as those in Pro and Enterprise, yet the risks are the same as them if not higher. Security is security. Shouldn't the basic standard of security be applied to all users regardless of class of users? To be honest, I have not come across too many applications that does not apply the same authentication standard across the board of their accounts (including Microsoft 360 and Google accounts).
If it is a question of cost, I think most small businesses or users would be happy to pay a little bit more (eg 10%) to get this safety feature included. Obviously, to ask us to pay 150% more from $10 to $25 per month to upgrade our accounts to Pro just to gain access to this feature is not really fair to smaller users.
I really hope Smartsuite could find a solution to this problem because Smartsuite is a really good product and I would really like to see them thrive forward not just in the space of workflow features improvement but also in the safety aspect for all users. I want to make sure everyone understands that I am not angry. Smartsuite has been more than fair to their customers throughout my experience in the last 18 months. I am very grateful. However, without two factors authentication, I am worried about the safety of my data as I have responsibilities to my customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
Jon Darbyshire
Hey Ian Tam, thanks for your feedback! I have a few more questions for you:
- Can you provide more details on the specific data you are concerned about protecting with two-factor authentication?
- Are there any other security features you would like to see implemented for Team users?
- Would you be open to a separate add-on security package for Team users, if it cannot be included in the base price?
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Ian Tam
Jon Darbyshire Thanks for replying Jon. I would be open to the idea for a separate add-on security package for Team users if that is the recommended solution. I think including it as part of the existing package is a better method. Even if you charge for 20% more (I mentioned 10% earlier) it is only $2 more per month or $24 for the year. I am not sure it is worthwhile for Smartsuite to create another security package for Team users to increase just $2 per month.
In terms of specific data, I think most businesses would have customer's personal contacts, financials (if linked to a bookkeeping system), and supplier relationship information. All these are sensitive data for any type of businesses - large or small.
At this stage I do not see a higher security is required for Team users other than Two Factors Authentication. In Australia, we have had some very high-profile companies being hacked such as telecommunication, health insurance and charity organisations for the past 12 months. The government is promoting two factor authentications all over TV. It is no longer a de facto standard. It is the expected security standard for all. Just about all the business applications I use have moved across already or they are on the way of offering this.