October 27, 2025
You wouldn't drive without a seat belt. You
wouldn't leave your office unlocked overnight. So why go online without
multifactor authentication (MFA)?
MFA is like a second lock on your digital door.
Instead of relying on just a password - which can be stolen, guessed or phished
- it adds another layer of protection, such as a text code, authentication app
or fingerprint scan. Even if a hacker gets your password, without that second
step they'll hit a dead end.
One Step Can Make All The Difference
If locking your front door at night is
your password, arming your security system before heading to bed is MFA. Sure,
it isn't strictly necessary - but isn't it nice to know that you're still safe
if one protection fails?
That's exactly what MFA does. It simply
adds a quick extra step to confirm that it really is you logging in. There are
several terms for MFA, such as "two-step verification," "two-factor
authentication" or a "one-time password," but it all means the same thing - two
or more steps to confirm your identity before granting access to confidential
information.
MFA takes a number of forms: account-creation
confirmation e-mails, bank security questions, text codes, push notifications
and phone calls. The majority of these are only a one-tap process.
Real-Life Moments That MFA Saves The Day
While MFA is pretty easy and quick to
deal with on your side of things - just click a button or enter a code and
you're done - the same can't be said about things on the hackers' end. If an
unauthorized user attempts to log in to your account, having MFA enabled will
first send you a notification or code to enter, alerting you to the password
breach. This gives you a chance to change your password to something more
secure, without all of your data getting stolen.
MFA will also stop anyone trying to use a
stolen password to access your systems. Even if a hacker tricks an employee
into sharing their login, they still won't get in without that extra step. In
fact, Microsoft
found that enabling MFA reduces the risk of account compromise by over 99.2% - and
by 99.99% for accounts with MFA enabled.
Where And How To Set Up MFA
The most important places to have MFA
enabled are:
- Banking and finance apps
- E-mail and cloud storage
- Social media accounts
- Work logins with client or proprietary information
Setting up MFA is usually
straightforward. Many major platforms offer built-in MFA; simply enable one
that works best for you and build it into your workflow. Adding an authenticator
app can make staff logins more secure.
In short, MFA is a quick, free way to
block the majority of account hacks. Taking a few minutes to enable it today
can save you from weeks (or years) of damage control and data loss down the
line.
The easiest way to set up MFA is to
contact your IT provider. A knowledgeable MSP will make the process even
smoother. If you're in need of a cybersecurity expert, click here or give us a call at (210) 582-5814 to set up a Discovery Call with our team now.
