Multi-Factor Authentication

This policy outlines our planning related to the implementation of advanced authentication of users who connect to Nested Knowledge information systems. We are committed to protecting the security, privacy, and integrity of Nested Knowledge information systems.

Who is affected: This policy affects all employees, contractors, consultants, and business partners of Nested Knowledge.

Nested Knowledge will require multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all internal systems by default. Nested Knowledge will make exceptions on an ad-hoc basis. We will evaluate the risk and sensitivity or personal and organizational data, such as personal employee data, user data, intellectual property, and financial information, on an ongoing basis. Evaluation will be based on our data classification system.

When a change in the scope or the nature of information handled by Nested Knowledge occurs, our technical and operational leads will alert the CTO that multi-factor authentication may be warranted. If client information is handled, a representative from the client organization will be included in discussions on MFA. After discussion and evaluation of security risks, the CTO will decide whether or not to implement multi-factor authentication.

Nested Knowledge has no internal network for employees, therefore multi-factor authentication for remote access is not applicable. Should Nested Knowledge establish a network, access to the network through remote access will be managed by a Virtual Private Network (VPN). The VPN will request for username and password, and may involve MFA.

At present, Nested Knowledge stores financial information via a cloud-based accounting software. Our security measures for protecting such data are determined by the software. At present, it requires MFA of all users. The accounting application is a VeriSign SecuredTM product, which is the leading secure sockets layer (SSL) Certificate Authority. It uses firewall protected servers and the encryption technology (128 bit SSL).

In cases where a client grants Nested Knowledge access to data with the explicit requirement of multi-factor or other authentication in order to access the data, we will adhere to the level of authentication required by the client. Where clients upload data to the Nested Knowledge platform or to any cloud managed by Nested Knowledge without explicit requirement, we will adhere to the level of authentication outlined in this policy.

Our most sensitive systems, such as our cloud resources on AWS do require MFA–we use virtual MFA device authentication (specifically, the Google Authenticator app.

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