![Man working on laptop using yellow cell phone to verify account](https://res.cloudinary.com/pensionbee/image/upload/c_fit,h_300,w_560/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1675956705/blog/2023/Q1/hand-of-african-american-man-working-on-laptop.jpg)
At PensionBee, we consider the security of our customers’ accounts to be of the utmost importance. Security measures at PensionBee range from a variety of different controls, including encryption of sensitive data, use of firewalls, anti-virus software and much more. The approach is a ‘defence-in-depth’ model and our staff are also continuously educated on security best practices.
As a customer, there are some simple steps you can take to help keep your PensionBee account secure and stay safe online. One of those is to use two-factor authentication (2FA) also known as two-step authentication, and it’s a feature we’ve built into your PensionBee account.
You may have come across 2FA previously or perhaps you’re already using it to secure other personal accounts you own. If you’re not familiar, 2FA is designed to make sure that you’re the only person able to access your personal account. It helps keep your accounts secure by requiring you to provide a unique piece of information that only you have, in addition to your password, to log into your account. 2FA can take several different forms but typically involves sending a unique code to your personal device.
What makes 2FA effective as a security measure is that even if someone else knows your password they’ll also need that crucial second piece of information to access your account. This follows the principle of Strong Customer Authentication (SCA), which is a control to implement two of the three ways listed below to verify if it’s your account, hence the phrase ‘Two-Factor Authentication’:
- ‘Something you know’ - this is a piece of secret information that only you know, like your password.
- ‘Something you have’ - this is a device you own, like your mobile phone.
- ‘Something you are’ - this is something that is unique to you, like your fingerprint.
How to turn on 2FA in your PensionBee account
If you haven’t already, you can turn on 2FA through our website or mobile app, simply log into your PensionBee account and follow the below steps.
- Head to ‘Account’ and select ‘Two-factor authentication’ from the menu.
- Enter your mobile phone number and we’ll send you a text message with a unique security code.
- Enter your security code onto your Account screen and select ‘Next’.
That’s it! You’re all set up. Now, the next time you log in to your account with your email address and password we’ll text you a security code.
If you haven’t already enabled 2FA we strongly recommend turning it on. Setting it up only takes a few moments and instantly helps keep your PensionBee account secure.