How to use Amazon S3 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) with CloudBerry Explorer

Note: this post applies to CloudBerry Explorer PRO 2.1 and later.

AWS Multi-Factor Authentication (AWS MFA) is an additional layer of security that offers enhanced control over your AWS account settings. It is an opt-in account feature that requires a valid six-digit, single-use code from an authentication device in your physical possession in addition to your standard AWS account credentials before access is granted to your AWS account settings.

You can use AWS MFA in conjunction with Amazon S3’s Versioning capability for additional protection of your Amazon S3 stored versions. Newer version of CloudBerry Explorer PRO comes with MFA support for object delete operations.

Configuring CloudBerry Explorer to use MFA

First, you have to save MFA Serial Number along with the account detail. Make sure that this MFA device is already associated with your account on AWS Portal.

Click Specify MFA serial number link on the account detail dialog

Enter the MFA Serial number.

Check out the label on your device to find out the Serial number

Configuring bucket to use MFA

Go to the Versioning tab of the property window for the bucket you want to enable MFA. Check Enable MFA delete option. When you click apply or ok button you will see a dialog box asking you provide 6-digit code from your device. Once you enter correct code the MFA delete is on for this bucket.

How to delete object versions when MFA is on

MFA is used to protect delete versions operations from unauthorized and unintended use so that it doesn’t get deleted accidently. When you delete a version it will pop up a dialog where you have to enter a 6-digit code from your device. If you fail to provide correct code you will not be able to finish the operation.

Conclusion

We hope you will find MFA delete support in CloudBerry Explorer PRO useful and it will make you feel more confident about your data security.

CloudBerry S3 Explorer is a Windows freeware product that helps managing Amazon S3 storage and CloudFront . You can download it at http://cloudberrylab.com/

CloudBerry S3 Explorer PRO is a Windows program that helps managing Amazon S3 storage and CloudFront . You can download it at http://pro.cloudberrylab.com/ It is priced at $39.99

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