Do You Really Need to Use Multi-Factor Authentication?
The Power of Multi-Factor Authentication: Why You Should Use It For All Your Accounts
There’s no question that we live in a digital world. We do everything from our phones – from ordering food to hailing a ride to checking our bank account – and we store all our important information online. But as convenient as this digital world is, that convenience comes with risks.
Seemingly every day we hear about new data breaches, and it can be hard to know how to keep our information safe.
One very good step in protecting your online information is to use multi-factor authentication (MFA), also known as two-factor authentication or 2FA. MFA is an extra layer of security that requires you to confirm your identity with a second factor, such as a code sent to your phone. In other words, even if someone knows or figures out your password, they won’t be able to access your account unless they also have your phone.
While MFA may seem like an inconvenience, it’s actually a very powerful tool to protect your online information. In this post, we’ll explain the benefits of MFA and why you should use it for all of your accounts.
5 Benefits of utilizing MFA:
1. Added security
The primary benefit of MFA is the added level of security it provides.
With MFA, even if someone manages to obtain your password, they won’t be able to access your account without the second factor of authentication. This makes it much harder for hackers to gain access to your sensitive information.
2. Protection against hacking and phishing attacks
MFA can also protect you against hacking and phishing attacks.
Hackers often use keylogging software or phishing emails to steal login credentials, but MFA can prevent them from accessing your account even if they manage to obtain your password.
3. Easy to set up and use
Setting up MFA is usually pretty straightforward and easy.
Most account services, including social media, email, and banking, offer MFA as an option in their security settings. Once set up, the second factor of authentication is usually sent to your phone or generated from an authentication app.
$9.4 Million
Average cost of data breach in 2022
4. Reduced risk of identity theft
MFA helps to reduce the risk of identity theft. By adding an extra layer of security, MFA makes it much harder for hackers to steal your personal information, such as your name, address, and financial details.
5. Compliance with industry standards
MFA is becoming increasingly important for businesses and organizations that deal with sensitive information.
Many regulatory standards, such as PCI and HIPAA, require MFA for compliance.
In conclusion, MFA is a very powerful tool that can help to protect your online information from hackers and other malicious actors. With easy setup and added protection, MFA is a simple and effective way to secure your accounts and reduce the risk of identity theft.
Need help?
It can often feel daunting knowing how start setting up MFA for your business and personal accounts. We know it’s also hard to gain compliance from employees in utilizing MFA. PCA Technology Solutions can be your Technology Coach and offer in-house training to help you achieve compliance with both MFA set-up and use. Contact us to ask how we can help.