Multi-factor authentication, or MFA, can block 99.9% of account compromise attacks, as per a study done by Microsoft, and hence, it is one of the MFA requirements for cyber insurance. It is the factor that makes or breaks your insurance claim, and it must be operative at all times. Preventing has always been better than acting upon damage already done. The severe consequences of not enabling MFA for your organization’s login systems are known to the insurers, and they help you cover any further financial losses occurring. 

In this article we cover the importance of MFA for cyber insurance and dive deep into how [**miniOrange**](https://www.miniorange.com/) MFA can help for your cyber insurance benefits.

## What is Cyber Insurance? {#What is Cyber Insurance?}

Cyber insurance is a type of insurance that helps businesses deal with the financial impact of cyberattacks such as ransomware, phishing, data theft, or service disruptions. In the past, it was mostly sold as a backup plan to cover costs after an attack. Today, it has become an important way to actively manage cyber risks and prepare before anything goes wrong.

Because of the rising number of cyber claims, insurers are now much stricter when evaluating risk. One of the biggest changes is the role of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). What was once just a recommended best practice is now a mandatory requirement for coverage and renewals. If MFA is not in place, a claim may even be rejected, no matter how much the policyholder has paid. This is why MFA is now seen as an essential part of both cyber insurance and overall business protection.



### Why is MFA Now Mandatory? 

Weak or stolen passwords remain the easiest way attackers break in. Studies show MFA can block over 99% of automated account takeovers, making it one of the most effective defenses. Learn more about [why MFA is important](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/why-is-mfa-important/) for strengthening your organization’s security.

That’s why insurers now expect MFA for critical systems like email, VPNs, SaaS apps, and privileged accounts. Without it, organizations face higher premiums, compliance risks, and greater exposure to cyberattacks.

In short, MFA is no longer optional. It is the digital equivalent of locking your doors, protecting your business while also meeting insurer and regulatory requirements.
  
## Why MFA Is Critical for Cyber Insurance Policies {#Why MFA Is Critical for Cyber Insurance Policies}

Cyber insurers have shifted from recommending [Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-multi-factor-authentication-mfa/) to requiring it as a baseline standard. The reason is simple: most breaches involve stolen or weak credentials, often through phishing, brute force, or data leaks on the dark web.  

MFA adds a vital second step to every login and is proven to block over 99% of automated account takeover attempts. For insurers, this single control dramatically reduces the likelihood of a claim. It is now treated as essential as locking the front door of a property before applying for insurance. Renewal forms now commonly ask: Do you enforce MFA on all admin, remote access, and email accounts? A “no” answer can mean higher premiums or even denial of coverage.  

For organizations, MFA is not only about satisfying insurers. It safeguards customer trust, reduces downtime, and strengthens overall security. The best approach is to begin with privileged and high-risk accounts and expand across the business. Documenting your MFA policies and providing evidence of enforcement also helps speed up underwriting and claims processing.  

In short, MFA protects twice. It shields your organization from attacks, and it ensures your cyber insurance will work as intended if an incident does occur.  

**Discover Why** [**MFA is Essential for Banks and Financial Institutions**](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/why-mfa-for-banks-and-financial-institutions/)

## Benefits of MFA Security for Cyber Insurance {#Benefits of MFA Security for Cyber Insurance}

![Benefits of MFA Security for Cyber Insurance](/blog/assets/2025/benefits-of-mfa-security.webp)

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) doesn’t just boost your security. It strengthens your cyber insurance position in ways that directly impact costs, compliance, and risk.

### Lowers Insurance Costs (Premiums) and Reduces Risk

Insurers reward organizations that can show they have security controls in place, and MFA is one of the highest-impact controls you can employ. By demonstrating you have made a substantial reduction in your organization's potential for credential-based breaches, you'll be able to enjoy lower premiums, improve your cyber risk rating, and impact your bottom line directly.

### Makes You Eligible for Coverage

Many insurance companies now require MFA before they will issue or renew cyber policies.  If you employ MFA for all user levels, especially for privileged and remote access, it indicates that you satisfy the basic underwriting standards.  This not only makes sure you qualify for higher coverage limits and better terms, but it also stops policy exclusions that have to do with credential-based assaults.

### Helps for Compliance with Regulatory and Policy Norms

Numerous data protection laws, industry frameworks, and (increasingly) insurance policies require MFA for privileged access and remote entry. Enforcing MFA provides a clear auditable record to rely on for underwriting reviews and compliance audits to support your compliance effort.

### Prevents Breaches Before They Happen

The vast majority of cyber incidents start with stolen or guessed passwords, and MFA would stop them before any escalation. By implementing a second form of verification, you can decrease the probability of a breach and protect the uninterrupted operation of your organization, as well as have a safety net of insurance to help recover from a loss event.

### Fast Incident Detection, Response and Recovery

MFA systems make thorough logs of authentication attempts and send out notifications in real time for unusual login attempts, like failed codes, out-of-band verifications, or logins from strange places.  When you connect these signals to your SIEM or incident response platform, they enable your security team to find and stop threats in only a few minutes.  Faster detection and automatic containment lower dwell time, limit financial exposure, and speed up the claims procedure if something does happen.

### Less Damage Means Fewer Risks and Less Costly Claims

By combining excellent MFA practices with your insurance, you are not only protecting your firm from risks today but also the financial safety net that keeps it strong.

By pairing strong MFA practices with your policy, you’re not only defending against today’s threats but also protecting the financial safety net that keeps your business resilient.

## MFA Requirements for Cyber Insurance Providers {#MFA Requirements for Cyber Insurance Providers}

Cyber insurers went from considering Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) an optional measure to making MFA a hard requirement to help mitigate claim risks and increase your eligibility.

- **Privileged Accounts** - There must be MFA on all varieties of accounts that have administrative, domain, and system-level access to prevent serious attacks against credentials.
- **Remote Access Points** - MFA must be applied to VPN, [RDP](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/remote-desktop-mfa) and other remote network entry points to help prevent unauthorized login attempts from outside the corporate perimeter.
- **Cloud Services and Email** - MFA must be required on services including Microsoft 365, [Google Workspace](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/integrations/google-workspace-sso) and any other cloud software that holds sensitive data or communications.
- **Third-Party Vendor Access**- MFA must sometimes be in place for contractors, Managed Service Providers (MSPs), and other partners that may have access to any network or data to mitigate supply chain risk.
- **Full Enforcement Evidence** - Cyber insurers may ask for screenshots of the settings from the policy settings or audit logs to confirm MFA was enforced across all relevant accounts.
- **Acceptable [**MFA Authentication methods**](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-methods) to use** - Be specific about what secure methods technology and people can use, including authenticator apps, hardware tokens, and biometrics, and the insurer can deny a policy when using choices that were considered weak, such as SMS.
- **No MFA enforcement Consequences** - An insurer can choose to have a higher premium, exclude certain types of claims in relation to coverage, or deny coverage related to any credential being compromised with no MFA policy enforced.
Meeting MFA normalizations not only meets your provider's conditions, but it ultimately enhances your protections, protects you against higher premium costs, and enables your policy to pay out in times you need it most.

## Choosing the Right MFA Method for Cyber Insurance {#Choosing the Right MFA Method for Cyber Insurance}

Cyber insurers are expecting more MFA that is secure and demonstrably enforced. Although some insurers may still accept SMS codes likely for limited use cases like customer portal access, MFA is increasingly developing toward [phishing-resistant methods](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-phishing-resistant-mfa/), which both reduce account takeover risk and meet underwriting requirements.

MFA methods to consider:

- **Hardware Security Keys ([**FIDO2**](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/fido2/), YubiKey)** - Provides the highest protection against phishing and is often viewed by insurers most positively.
- **[**Authenticator Apps**](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/authenticator-application/) (Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator)** - Provides good security while still being easy to use.
- [**Biometric authentication**](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/types-of-biometric-authentication/) - Requires little to no effort from users on supported workflows. Still refer to using another factor for multi‑factor authentication.
- **SMS or Email OTPs** - Everybody understands [SMS and email OTPs](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-a-one-time-password-otp/). However, this method is discouraged by lots of providers who do not allow SMS codes and email codes since it can be intercepted, or if using SMS, SIM swap can be exploited.

Choose your method that balances security strength, user adoption, and compliance with your policy. Remember to roll out high‑risk accounts, document your rollout (good for audit), and ensure that it's aligned with your insurers' requirements and security best practices. These steps will both increase coverage eligibility and limit exposure to breaches.

## Cyber Insurance MFA Checklist (Practical Guide) {#Cyber Insurance MFA Checklist (Practical Guide)}

Use this checklist to ensure your MFA program meets common cyber insurance stipulations - this will help you demonstrate compliance and lower underwriting risks.

### Policy and Scope

- MFA is required for all remote network access (e.g., [VPN MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/vpn-mfa-multi-factor-authentication), RDP, cloud apps).
- Applied to all privileged accounts (admins, super users, IT), and
- Applied to all users with access to sensitive or regulated data.

### Method of Authentication

At least two of the following:

- Something you know (password or PIN),
- Something you have (authenticator app or hardware token, smart card), and
- Something you are (fingerprint, face ID)

Try to avoid SMS codes as your only second factor - this is usually seen as a red flag by insurers. Newer and stronger methods like [context-based authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/5-reasons-to-deploy-context-based-authentication-for-your-organization/) based on the user's behavior are seen as more authentic.

### Standards for Implementation

- MFA with SSO so that you can consistently enforce,
- [Adaptive MFA](https://www.miniorange.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication-mfa), which asks for MFA based on risk (e.g. device, geo-location, time anomalies), and
- Central repository for logging MFA events so that you can show you are audit-ready.

### Usability and Coverage

- Implementation covers on-premises and cloud applications.
- Applied to both desktop and mobile access, and
- A relevant process for fallback account recovery and guidelines so that users do not work around MFA controls.

### Evidence and Documentation

- Have an updated written MFA policy with whatever the items are that your insurer requested
- Document and retain screenshots or configuration exports that are indicative of your MFA enforcement and
- Document your process for handling exceptions for granting pre-approved non-MFA accounts.

*"**Pro Tip:** Use the checklist in concert with a miniOrange deployment diagram that identifies your applications that have MFA enabled; the combination will help produce quicker and more efficient insurer audits identifying your proactive security posture."*

## How miniOrange Helps Businesses Meet MFA Insurance Requirements {#How miniOrange Helps Businesses Meet MFA Insurance Requirements}

Meeting MFA requirements to be eligible for cyber insurance is no longer optional; it is a key component in eligibility and premium negotiations. miniOrange provides organizations with [MFA solutions](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-solutions) that align with insurers' expectations to allow businesses to provide evidence of compliance with their policy requirements. This reduces underwriting risk exposure, presents evidence of credibility for claims and provides businesses with more leverage when renewing policies or negotiating.

miniOrange platform provides a variety of MFA methods, such as [adaptive authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/what-is-adaptive-authentication/), biometrics, and SSO, at a tailored [pricing](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/pricing) based on your company’s requirements. It allows organizations to easily deploy security for different users or devices. miniOrange aims to minimize operational friction for its clients, allowing organizations to provide security updates without impacting operational efficiency. This approach provides organizations with a layer of protection for sensitive data while also maintaining compliance with evolving criteria from insurers with minimal operational disruption.

By implementing miniOrange [MFA software](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa), organizations are provided a robust security model, along with demonstrable compliance benefits. Organizations will be capable of meeting current cyber insurance requirements and rapidly adapting to future changes to policy language while supporting long-term resilience and risk mitigation. For insurers, this reflects a proactive security culture - which builds trust, minimizes claims exposure, and can even translate to financial benefits for the organization insuring their risk. [Contact miniOrange](https://www.miniorange.com/contact) to learn how we can help you comply with cyber insurance MFA requirements.

## Future of Cyber Insurance MFA with miniOrange {#Future of Cyber Insurance MFA with miniOrange}

The future of cyber insurance is clear: Multi-Factor Authentication is no longer optional, it is essential. Insurers now expect organizations to prove they have strong authentication in place before granting or renewing coverage.  

This is where miniOrange makes a difference. Our MFA solutions are simple for employees, flexible for IT teams, and strong enough to meet the toughest insurer requirements. By combining ease of use with advanced features like biometrics and adaptive checks, we help organizations strike the right balance between security and productivity.  

With miniOrange, MFA becomes more than a compliance checkbox. It strengthens your defenses, reduces risk, and even helps you secure better insurance coverage with lower premiums. In other words, it protects your business twice: by preventing breaches and by ensuring your insurance coverage is there when you need it. 

miniOrange makes it easier to manage your factor authentication for cyber insurance, taking care of all the complexity so you can focus on what matters. Opt for an [IAM free trial](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/free-trial) today.

## FAQs {#FAQs}

### Can you get cyber insurance without MFA?

Most insurance carriers today require multi-factor authentication (MFA) to issue or renew cyber insurance. If you don't have an MFA, coverage may be denied or partially denied, and the premium is generally much higher due to the level of risk involved.

### What MFA methods satisfy insurance providers?

Insurers usually accept the following MFA methods, such as authenticator applications (Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, and others), biometrics (fingerprint or facial), hardware tokens (USB or smart card), and push notifications received on a registered, secure device.

### Does MFA reduce cyber insurance costs?

Yes, using MFA lowers the risk of a cyber incident and fewer claims, which helps with the insurance premiums and gives opportunities with the terms of the policy.

### Is SMS-based MFA enough for cyber insurance?

SMS MFA may satisfy some insurers; however, many may prefer stronger and phishing-resistant MFA methods (i.e., authenticator applications, hardware tokens, biometrics) because of the inherent weaknesses of SMS.



Cyber insurance needs phishing-resistant MFA. It stops credential theft and unauthorized access and keeps your business operational and compliant with insurers' security norms.

MFA Requirements for Cyber Insurance for Your Business Needs


As the cyber threats increase at a rapid pace, the security and authentication flows should grow with it. Organizations can benefit from proactive authentication frameworks, which provide the right access to the right resources and the right person. This is where the AAA protocols, including RADIUS and TACACS+, hold the most advantage.

RADIUS and TACACS+ are both network authentication protocols, but they serve different purposes: RADIUS focuses on [remote access authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/products/secure-remote-access) and accounting, while TACACS+ provides granular command-level authorization for network devices. The key difference lies in their approach.

In this guide, [miniOrange](https://www.miniorange.com/) will compare RADIUS and TACACS+, understand their approaches, explain their strengths, and help you choose the right protocol for your network.

## What Are AAA Protocols?  {#What Are AAA Protocols?}

![AAA Protocols](/blog/assets/2025/what-is-aaa.webp)

AAA protocols are security frameworks that govern network access through three fundamental processes: Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting. The three fundamental protocols, [Authentication, Authorization](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/authentication-authorization-difference/) & Accounting, have significant differences. These protocols ensure that only verified users can access network resources, define what they're permitted to do, and track their activities for security and compliance purposes.

### The Three Pillars of AAA

**Authentication** - Verifies user identity through credentials like usernames, passwords, certificates, or multi-factor authentication before granting network access.

**Authorization** - Determines what authenticated users can access and which commands they can execute based on their roles and permissions.

**Accounting**- Logs user activities, session duration, and resource usage for auditing, billing, and compliance monitoring.



### Why are AAA Protocols Essential for Enterprise Networks?

Modern enterprise networks rely on complex infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, VPN gateways, and wireless access points. Without proper access control, these critical network devices become vulnerable to unauthorized access, configuration changes, and security breaches. AAA protocols provide centralized management of network access, ensuring that:

1. Network administrators have appropriate privileges for their roles
2. Device configurations remain secure from unauthorized modifications
3. All network access attempts are properly logged and monitored
4. Compliance requirements are met through detailed audit trails
5. Remote access to network infrastructure is properly controlled



## RADIUS and TACACS+ as AAA Protocols {#RADIUS and TACACS+ as AAA Protocols}

Both RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) and TACACS+ (Terminal Access Controller Access-Control System Plus) are widely adopted AAA protocols that provide these essential security functions. While they share the same AAA foundation, each protocol takes a different approach to implementing authentication, authorization, and accounting, making them suitable for different network scenarios and security requirements.

### What is RADIUS? 

RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) is a networking protocol that provides centralized authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) management for users who connect and use network services. 

Originally designed for dial-up connections, RADIUS has evolved into a standard AAA protocol used across enterprise networks to control access to routers, switches, wireless networks, VPNs, and other network infrastructure. 

RADIUS operates as a client-server protocol where network access servers act as clients, forwarding authentication requests to a central [RADIUS server](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/radius-server-authentication/) that validates user credentials and defines access permissions. 

### How RADIUS Works?

![How RADIUS Works?](/blog/assets/2025/how-radius-works.webp)

RADIUS follows a client-server model where network devices (NAS - Network Access Servers) act as RADIUS clients, forwarding authentication requests to a centralized RADIUS server. The protocol uses UDP (User Datagram Protocol) for communication, typically on ports 1812 for authentication and 1813 for accounting. 

Security is maintained through shared secret encryption, where both the client and server use a pre-configured shared key to encrypt sensitive data like passwords. When a user attempts network access, the NAS sends an Access-Request packet to the RADIUS server, which responds with Accept, Reject, or Challenge messages based on the authentication outcome.


### Key Features of RADIUS 

- **Centralized Authentication** - Single point of user credential validation across multiple network devices and services
- **Authorization Control** - Defines user permissions and access levels through attribute-value pairs (AVPs)
- **Comprehensive Accounting** - Tracks user sessions, connection time, data usage, and network resource consumption
- **High Scalability** - Supports thousands of concurrent users and can be deployed across distributed network environments
- **Vendor Interoperability**- Standardized protocol works with equipment from multiple network hardware vendors
- **Proxy Support** - Can forward authentication requests to other RADIUS servers for distributed authentication 


### What is TACACS+ in Networking? 

TACACS+ (Terminal Access Controller Access-Control System Plus) is a Cisco-developed AAA protocol designed specifically for network device administration and management. Unlike RADIUS, [TACACS/TACACS+ authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/tacacs-authentication) focuses primarily on providing granular administrative access control to network infrastructure equipment such as routers, switches, and firewalls.

TACACS+ separates AAA into distinct processes, allowing network administrators to have fine-grained control over what commands users can execute on network devices, making it ideal for securing network infrastructure management.

### How TACACS+ Works? 

![How TACACS+ Works?](/blog/assets/2025/how-tacacs+-works.webp)

TACACS+ operates using a client-server architecture where network devices act as TACACS+ clients that communicate with a central TACACS+ server. The protocol uses TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) for reliable communication, typically on port 49. 

Unlike RADIUS, TACACS+ provides full-packet encryption using a shared secret key, encrypting the entire packet payload rather than just the password field. This enhanced security approach ensures that all communication between the client and server remains confidential, including usernames, commands, and authorization responses.

### Key Features of TACACS+ 

- **Separated AAA Functions** - AAA operates as independent processes for enhanced flexibility
- **Command-Level Authorization** - Granular control over individual commands and privilege levels on network devices
- **Full Packet Encryption** - Complete payload encryption provides superior security compared to partial encryption methods
- **TCP Reliability** - Uses TCP for guaranteed packet delivery and connection-oriented communication
- **Detailed Accounting** - Comprehensive logging of administrative commands, configuration changes, and user activities 
- **Cisco Integration** - Native support across Cisco network infrastructure with deep integration capabilities 
- **Flexible Authorization** - Supports complex authorization policies, including time-based and location-based access controls


## Top 10 Key Differences Between RADIUS and TACACS+ {#Top 10 Key Differences Between RADIUS and TACACS+}

| **Feature** | **RADIUS** | **TACACS+** |
|-------------|------------|-------------|
| **Transport Protocol** | Uses UDP for fast, connectionless communication | Uses TCP for reliable, connection-oriented communication |
| **Encryption Security** | Encrypts only the password field, leaves other data in plaintext |Provides full packet encryption for complete data protection |
| **AAA Function Separation** | Combines authentication and authorization in a single process | Separates authentication, authorization, and accounting into distinct functions|
| **Authorization Granularity** | Basic access control with attribute-value pairs | Command-level authorization with granular permission control |
| **Primary Use Case** | Designed for remote user access authentication (VPN, Wi-Fi) |Built specifically for network device administration and management |
| **Vendor Support** | Industry standard supported by all major network vendors | Cisco's proprietary protocol with limited third-party support |
| **Network Performance** | Faster processing with lower latency, but no delivery guarantee | Reliable delivery with higher overhead and connection management |
| **Accounting Capabilities** | Session-based accounting for basic usage and billing tracking | Detailed command-level logging for comprehensive audit trails |
| **Scalability** | Highly scalable for thousands of concurrent user authentications | Optimized for smaller administrative user groups and device management |
| **Implementation Complexity** |Simple configuration with basic shared secret setup | Complex policy configuration requiring detailed authorization rules |

##  Which One is Better? {#Which One is Better?}

The choice between RADIUS and TACACS+ depends entirely on your specific security requirements and network environment. RADIUS excels in scenarios requiring network access control, such as Wi-Fi authentication, VPN connections, and ISP dial-up services, where its lightweight UDP-based approach and broad vendor support make it the preferred choice. Its simplicity and widespread compatibility across network devices make it ideal for organizations prioritizing ease of deployment and management.

TACACS+ is superior for device administration and privileged access scenarios where granular control and detailed auditing are critical. Its TCP-based reliability, full packet encryption, and separation of authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) functions make it the go-to protocol for managing administrative access to routers, switches, and other critical network infrastructure.


![Key Differences Between RADIUS and TACACS+ Explained by miniOrange](/blog/assets/2025/differences-between-radius-and-tacacs+.webp)

## Pros and Cons of RADIUS and TACACS+ Protocol {#Pros and Cons of RADIUS and TACACS+ Protocol}

### Advantages of TACACS+ over RADIUS

**More Granular Access Control**

TACACS+ provides command-level authorization, allowing administrators to control exactly which commands users can execute on network devices, including specific arguments and privilege levels.

**Full-Packet Encryption**

Unlike RADIUS, TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet payload using a shared secret, ensuring complete confidentiality of usernames, commands, and all communication data.

**Ideal for Device Management**

Purpose-built for network infrastructure administration with deep integration into Cisco devices, offering native support for advanced device management features.

**Reliable TCP Transport**

TCP-based communication guarantees packet delivery with built-in error correction, flow control, and connection state management for critical authentication transactions.

**Separated AAA Functions**

Independent authentication, authorization, and accounting processes provide flexibility to customize each function according to specific security requirements. 

### Advantages of RADIUS over TACACS+

**Simpler Deployment**

Straightforward configuration with basic shared secret setup and minimal policy management, making it easier to implement and maintain across organizations.

**Faster with Less Overhead (UDP)**

UDP-based communication eliminates connection establishment overhead, providing faster authentication response times and reduced network latency.

**Broader Device/Vendor Support**

Industry-standard protocol supported by all major network vendors, ensuring interoperability in multi-vendor environments without compatibility concerns.

**Lightweight and Efficient**

Minimal resource consumption on both client and server sides, making it suitable for high-volume authentication scenarios with thousands of concurrent users.

**Cost-Effective Scalability**

Lower processing requirements and simpler architecture enable cost-effective deployment for large-scale user authentication across distributed networks.

## When to Use RADIUS vs TACACS+ {#When to Use RADIUS vs TACACS+}

Choosing between RADIUS and TACACS+ depends on your specific network requirements, security needs, and infrastructure setup.

### Use RADIUS in Case 

#### You need authentication for general network access (Wi-Fi, VPN)

RADIUS excels at handling remote user authentication for wireless networks, VPN connections, dial-up access, and internet service provider scenarios where users need network connectivity.

#### You manage a multi-vendor environment

As an industry-standard protocol, RADIUS works seamlessly across equipment from different vendors, including Cisco, Juniper, HP, Aruba, and others, ensuring interoperability.

#### You want a lightweight, fast AAA solution

UDP-based communication and minimal processing overhead make RADIUS ideal for high-volume authentication scenarios requiring fast response times and efficient resource utilization.

#### You have budget constraints

RADIUS implementations are typically more cost-effective due to simpler configuration, lower administrative overhead, and reduced hardware requirements.

#### You need to scale for large user populations

RADIUS can efficiently handle thousands of concurrent authentication requests, making it perfect for organizations with extensive remote user bases.

### Use TACACS+ in Case

#### You manage network devices and need command-level control

TACACS+ provides granular authorization for network infrastructure, allowing precise control over which commands administrators can execute on routers, switches, and firewalls.

#### You require full-packet encryption for higher security

Complete payload encryption ensures that all communication between clients and servers remains confidential, meeting strict security requirements for sensitive environments.

#### You operate a Cisco-centric infrastructure

Native integration with Cisco devices provides advanced features, seamless deployment, and optimal performance in Cisco-dominated network environments.

#### You need detailed audit trails for compliance

Command-level accounting and comprehensive logging capabilities support regulatory compliance and forensic analysis requirements.

#### Security takes priority over performance

TCP reliability and enhanced encryption make TACACS+ suitable for environments where security is more critical than authentication speed.

## miniOrange AAA Solutions for RADIUS and TACACS+ {#miniOrange AAA Solutions for RADIUS and TACACS+}

miniOrange provides a comprehensive [authentication solution](https://www.miniorange.com/products/authentication) with AAA support, covering both RADIUS and TACACS+ protocols, enabling organizations to implement robust authentication with the [miniOrange MFA solution](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/solutions/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-solutions) across their network infrastructure.

### Our AAA Solutions Include:

**RADIUS Server Implementation**

Complete RADIUS server deployment with [MFA software](https://www.miniorange.com/products/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) for secure user authentication, user management, and integration with existing directory services like Active Directory and LDAP.

**TACACS+ Server Solutions**

Advanced TACACS+ implementation with granular command authorization, detailed audit logging, and seamless integration with network device management workflows.

**Hybrid AAA Environments**

Deploy both RADIUS and TACACS+ within the same infrastructure, using RADIUS for user access and TACACS+ for device administration.

**Cloud and On-Premise Options**

Flexible deployment models, including cloud-hosted, on-premise, and hybrid solutions to meet your organization's specific requirements.

### Key Benefits:

- Multi-factor authentication (MFA) support
- Single Sign-On (SSO) integration
- Detailed reporting and analytics
- 24/7 technical support
- Competitive pricing for all organization sizes

Ready to implement robust AAA solutions? [Contact our experts](https://www.miniorange.com/contact) for a customized consultation, or explore our [pricing options](https://www.miniorange.com/pricing) to find the perfect solution for your network security needs.

## Conclusion {#Conclusion}

Both RADIUS and TACACS+ serve essential roles in network security, but they excel in different scenarios. RADIUS remains the go-to choice for user authentication across diverse network environments, offering simplicity, speed, broad vendor support, and compatibility with various [methods of authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/different-types-of-authentication-methods-for-security/). TACACS+ provides superior security and granular control for network device administration, particularly in Cisco-centric infrastructures, and often works well alongside [context-based authentication](https://www.miniorange.com/blog/5-reasons-to-deploy-context-based-authentication-for-your-organization/) to enforce stricter access policies.

The decision between these protocols shouldn't be viewed as mutually exclusive. Many organizations successfully implement both protocols simultaneously, using RADIUS for user access and TACACS+ for infrastructure management. This hybrid approach leverages the strengths of each protocol while addressing different security requirements within the same network environment.

## FAQs {#FAQs}

### What are the disadvantages of TACACS+?

TACACS+ has higher implementation complexity, increased processing overhead due to TCP transport, limited vendor support outside Cisco ecosystems, and higher resource consumption compared to RADIUS. It's also not suitable for high-volume user authentication scenarios.

### Is TACACS still used?

Yes, TACACS+ (the plus version) is widely used for network device administration, especially in enterprise environments with Cisco infrastructure. The original TACACS protocol is largely obsolete, but TACACS+ remains actively deployed for secure network management.

### Which is more secure?

TACACS+ is generally more secure due to full-packet encryption, separated AAA functions, and TCP reliability. RADIUS only encrypts passwords, leaving other data in plaintext. However, both can be secured with proper implementation and additional security measures.

### Can I use both RADIUS and TACACS+ together?

Yes, many organizations use both protocols simultaneously. RADIUS for user authentication (VPN, Wi-Fi) and TACACS+ for network device administration. This hybrid approach leverages each protocol's strengths for different network security requirements.

### Does RADIUS do AAA?

Yes, RADIUS provides Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) services. However, it combines authentication and authorization in a single process, unlike TACACS+, which separates all three functions independently.


Strengthen your access control strategy. Learn how RADIUS offers speed and simplicity, while TACACS+ delivers granular command-level control and auditing for enterprise-grade security.

RADIUS vs TACACS+: Which One’s Best for Your Enterprise Security?


As modern enterprises strive to enhance network security and streamline access control, implementing AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) with a TACACS (Terminal Access Controller Access Control System) server has become a mandatory step in network security best practice. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of **configuring AAA with a TACACS server** for enterprise networks, enabling centralized authentication, granular authorization, and detailed accounting.

### What is AAA? {# What is AAA?}   

In the network security space, **AAA stands for Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting**. It is a framework or concept used for securing enterprise networks through identity management & access control, enforcing security policies, and tracking user activity. This framework provides a comprehensive approach to managing user authentication, determining access privileges, and recording usage information for auditing and accountability purposes. **Radius and TACACS+** are two popular protocols used in AAA services.  


Let us dig more into the three components of the AAA framework:

1. **Authentication:**  
The process of verifying the identity of users or devices attempting to access a network is known as Authentication. This is a fundamental step in the AAA framework, ensuring that only legitimate users gain entry. Some examples of authentication methods are passwords, certificates, biometric factors (fingerprint, facial recognition), or token-based authentication.  
2. **Authorization:**  
The next step in the AAA framework is authorization, which determines the level of access and permissions granted to the authenticated entity. Granular access control policies should be implemented to ensure that users have appropriate privileges based on their roles and responsibilities within the organization.  
3. **Accounting:**  
This step aids in security auditing and fraud detection because it records important information such as login/logout times, session durations, data transferred, and specific actions performed. AAA frameworks provide centralized accounting mechanisms for easy monitoring and analysis of user activity.  


### What is TACACS? {# What is TACACS?}  

**TACACS or Terminal Access Controller Access Control System** is a network protocol and framework used for controlling access to network devices and services. TACACS provides authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) functionality, allowing organizations to secure and manage access to their network infrastructure.

### TACACS Vs.TACACS+ {# TACACS Vs.TACACS+}  
TACACS protocol was first developed by Cisco Systems to facilitate Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting or AAA Services to secure enterprise networks like routers, switches, VPNs, etc. **TACACS+ protocol** is an enhanced version of the older TACACS protocol, also developed by Cisco. TACACS+ provides a more flexible authorization framework, supporting fine-grained access control and a wider range of attributes. It has broader vendor support and is considered more secure than TACACS.

### TACACS+ Vs. HWTACACS {# TACACS+ Vs. HWTACACS}  
**HWTACACS protocol** is another variant of the TACACS+ protocol, which was specifically designed to work with **Huawei networking devices**. But when it comes to TACACS+, it not only works well with Cisco network devices but also supports multiple other vendors and is widely adopted by various manufacturers. HWTACACS is tailored to meet the specific requirements of Huawei devices and may have unique features or integrations with Huawei's ecosystem, whereas TACACS+ is known for its flexibility, advanced authorization options, and stronger encryption.  

### AAA TACACS Server Configuration {# AAA TACACS Server Configuration}
Configuring a TACACS server involves several steps to set up authentication, authorization, and accounting services. Here's a general outline of the process:  

#### Install and Configure TACACS Server Software:
1. Choose a TACACS server software that suits your needs (e.g., miniOrange, Cisco Secure ACS, TACACS.net).  
2. Install the server software on a dedicated server or virtual machine.  
3. Configure the server software by specifying parameters such as IP address, port number, shared secret key, and authentication methods.  

#### Define User Accounts:  

Create user accounts on the TACACS server, specifying usernames and passwords.
Optionally, you can define additional user attributes like group memberships, access privileges, and authorization settings.  

### Configure Network Devices for TACACS Authentication:

1. Access the configuration interface of your network devices (e.g., routers, switches).
2. Configure the devices to use the TACACS server for authentication by specifying its IP address and port.
3. Set the shared secret key to match the one configured on the TACACS server.

#### Authorization Configuration:

1. Configure authorization settings on the TACACS server to control user access privileges and permissions.
2. Define access policies based on user roles or groups.
3. Specify the level of access granted for various commands or resources.

#### Accounting Configuration:

1. Enable accounting on the TACACS server to track and log user activities.
2. Specify the accounting methods (e.g., start-stop, interim-update) and the type of data to be logged (e.g., login events, command history).

#### Testing and Verification:

1. Test the TACACS authentication by attempting to log in to the network devices using the TACACS server credentials.
2. Verify that the authorization settings are correctly applied, allowing or denying access based on the defined policies.
3. Monitor the accounting logs to ensure that user activities are properly recorded.

### Implementing AAA TACACS with miniOrange {# Implementing AAA TACACS with miniOrange}

You can easily manage and increase the security of all of your network devices like routers and switches with **miniOrange AAA service with TACACS/TACACS+**. Get a centralized dashboard where you can add all your TACACS/TACACS+ devices and configure their authentication source like verifying user identities from your existing databases and directories **like Active Directory or AD**. For increasing or adding the extra layer of Security, you can enable Multi-Factor Authentication(MFA) on top of regular authentication and enable any of the **15+ MFA methods** that miniOrange provides. We support diverse use cases that enterprises require, like **AD authentication + MFA, local authentication + MFA**, and many more.  

You can get a TACTACS+ AAA solution specifically designed to secure all your **Cisco devices like Cisco Routers and Switches** in your entire organization. Secure all your Network Devices like Wi-Fi, Routers, Network Switches, and Firewall and enable MFA without installing any external proxy with the miniOrange solution. Test how our solution will function in your environment with a [one-month full feature free trial/ POC](https://www.miniorange.com/iam/free-trial)

### FAQ {# FAQ}

**What are the other Vendor Network Devices supported by the miniOrange TACACS+ solution other than Cisco devices?**  
  


The miniOrange TACACS+ solution supports multiple vendors like Huawei, Juniper, Fortinet, Arista, Palo Alto, and many more along with Cisco network devices to effortlessly enable AAA services to secure their network devices like Wi-Fi, Routers, Network Switches, and Firewall, etc. Also, if you want to add next-level security, the miniOrange solution can enable MFA by simply using an external proxy.


Implement AAA services for your enterprise network with Tacacs and Tacacs+ servers. This blog provides you with complete knowledge.

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