You wouldn’t drive without buckling your seat belt. You wouldn’t leave your office door unlocked. So why would you go online without using multi-factor authentication (MFA)?
MFA serves as an additional lock on your digital entryway. Instead of depending solely on a password, which can be compromised, guessed, or obtained through phishing, MFA introduces another layer of security, such as a text message code, an authentication application, or a fingerprint scan. Even if a cybercriminal acquires your password, they will face a dead end without that extra step.
Easy Steps to Stay Secure
If securing your front door at night is akin to your password, then activating your security system before going to sleep represents multifactor authentication (MFA). While it may not be absolutely required, it provides peace of mind knowing you’re protected even if one method fails.
That’s essentially what MFA accomplishes. You might come across MFA being called “two-step verification,” “two-factor authentication,” or a “one-time password,” but they all refer to the same concept: having two or more steps to authenticate your identity before granting access to sensitive data.
MFA is available in various forms, such as confirmation emails when creating an account, security questions from banks, text messages with codes, push notifications, and phone calls. Most of these options only require a simple tap.
How MFA Outsmarts Hackers Every Time
MFA is simple and quick to use; you just press a button or input a code, and that’s it. However, it is a different story for hackers. If someone unauthorized attempts to access your account, MFA will send you a notification or a code to input. This alerts you to the potential password compromise and allows you to change your password to something more secure, safeguarding your data.
MFA also stops anyone from accessing your systems with a stolen password. Even if a hacker manages to deceive an employee into revealing their login information, they still cannot gain entry without that additional step.
According to Microsoft, implementing MFA decreases the likelihood of account breaches by more than 99.2%, and for accounts that have MFA activated, the risk is reduced by 99.99%
Where to Use MFA and How to Set It Up
It’s essential to activate MFA on very important, personal accounts, such as:
- Banking and finance apps
- E-mail and cloud storage
- Social media accounts
- Work logins with client or proprietary information
Setting up multi-factor authentication (MFA) is typically straightforward. Numerous leading platforms offer built-in MFA options; simply activate the one that best fits your needs and incorporate it into your routine. Utilizing an authenticator app can enhance the security of employee logins.
MFA is a quick and no-cost method to thwart the majority of account breaches. Taking just a few moments to implement it today can avert extensive damage control and data loss in the future.
The simplest way to establish MFA is to contact your IT service provider.
If you’re in need of a cybersecurity specialist, schedule a consultation with our team today.
