What is MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) and why is it important?

Why is MFA Important? Users who enable MFA are 99% less likely to get hacked, according to Microsoft. Why? Because even if one factor (like your password) becomes compromised, unauthorized users will be unable to meet the second authentication requirement ultimately stopping them from gaining access to your accounts. Best of all, MFA is typically no or very low cost!!!

What is MFA? Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is an authentication/login method that requires the user to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource such as an application like E-mail, Office 365, Online Bank Account, VPN, Etc. Rather than just asking for a username and password, MFA requires one or more additional verification factors, which decreases the likelihood of a successful cyber attack. Each additional authentication factor added to the login process increases security. 

 A typical MFA login would require the user to present some combination of the following: 

• Something you know: like a password or Personal Identification Number (PIN); 
• Something you have: like a smart card, mobile token (SMS/Text sent to your phone or a mobile authentication app), or hardware token
• Some form of biometric factor (e.g., fingerprint, palm print, or voice recognition).

For more information regarding MFA (multi-factor authentication) please see the following article posted by the cisca.gov (Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency) by visiting cisa.gov/mfa