In today’s digital world, online safety is more important than ever. Unfortunately, not all businesses prioritize cybersecurity. Small businesses, in particular, are highly vulnerable to data breaches, theft, and privacy violations, which can lead to significant losses in time, money, and customer trust. There’s one simple step all businesses (and individuals) can take to safeguard their online assets: Multi-Factor Authentication.
What Is Multi-Factor Authentication?
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is the practice of requiring users to provide additional credentials beyond a password to access sensitive information on a device, service, system, or server. This could involve a PIN, a fingerprint, a voice ID, or other methods. It acts as a first-line defense against cybersecurity risks for all organizations. Despite its effectiveness and ease of access, MFA is not fully adopted by businesses throughout the US.
Why Organizations Are Reluctant
It cannot be stressed enough that MFA helps keep data safe. Yet, many organizations (72% to be exact) continue to resist this proven cybersecurity process. Why? One concern is that adding extra steps to access information will annoy employees or customers. Another common misconception is the belief that simple passwords are secure enough; they are not. Furthermore, some IT providers are hesitant to insist that clients change their long-held behaviors in favor of what might be perceived as a minor inconvenience.
ITC Insists
At ITC, we believe that security is one of the most important things we can offer our customers. Your data is the backbone of your business, which is why we strongly recommend that all our clients implement multi-factor authentication. Not only will this help prevent cyberattacks, but it will also prevent accidental logins and other unintentional access. While it’s not always 100% convenient, MFA is a process that’s evolving to become more user-friendly. With the increase in biometric authentication, password less logins, and other technological advancements, MFA is quickly becoming more accessible to all businesses.
If you need help implementing multi-factor authentication in your organization, contact ITC. As one of the area’s premier managed technology services providers, our experts can discuss the importance and ease of adding this crucial layer of security to your devices and systems.
