Why passwords aren't enough
Passwords get phished, reused and leaked in breaches. On their own, they're simply not enough to protect business accounts anymore.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds a second check, usually an app prompt or code, so a stolen password alone won't let an attacker in.
How much difference it makes
MFA blocks the overwhelming majority of automated account-takeover attacks. It's the reason so many insurers and standards, including Cyber Essentials, now expect it.
For most businesses, it's the highest-impact security control relative to its cost and effort.
Rolling it out well
MFA works best when it's applied everywhere it matters and made easy for staff:
- Enable MFA on email, cloud and remote access
- Prefer app-based or hardware methods over SMS where possible
- Combine it with a password manager
- Support staff through setup to avoid frustration
Beyond the basics
Modern approaches go further with conditional access, applying stronger checks for risky sign-ins while staying frictionless for normal ones. That balance of security and usability is what keeps MFA working in practice.
If you want MFA rolled out and enforced across the business rather than left to individual staff, that is part of our password management and credential security service.
