“If you only do one thing to protect your Microsoft 365 tenant, enable MFA.”
In the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, password-based attacks remain one of the most common ways accounts are compromised. Fortunately, Microsoft 365 offers a powerful and proven solution: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
Why MFA Matters
Microsoft reports that MFA can prevent over 99.9% of account compromise attacks. Yet, many organizations still don’t enforce it for all users.
MFA adds an extra layer of defense by requiring:
- Something you know (password)
- And something you have (authenticator app, SMS, hardware token)
This drastically reduces the chance of unauthorized access — even if passwords are stolen.
How to Enable MFA in Microsoft 365
Microsoft offers several ways to implement MFA:
1. Security Defaults (Good for small orgs)
- Enabled by default for new tenants
- Enforces MFA for all users
- Blocks legacy authentication
2. Per-User MFA
- Useful for enabling MFA selectively
- Simple but lacks conditional logic
3. Conditional Access + MFA (Best Practice)
- Use Azure AD Conditional Access to require MFA under specific conditions:
- Login from new location or device
- Accessing sensitive apps
- After risky sign-ins
Pro Tips for MFA Rollout
- Start with admins: Enforce MFA for all global and privileged role users first
- Educate users: Show them why MFA matters and how to set it up
- Use Microsoft Authenticator app: More secure and user-friendly than SMS
- Monitor MFA reports: Use Azure AD sign-in logs to track enforcement
- Implement fallback options: Add backup methods for account recovery
Bonus: What About Passwordless?
Microsoft is pushing toward a passwordless future. Admins can start piloting options like:
- Windows Hello
- FIDO2 security keys
- Authenticator App push notifications
Summary
If MFA isn’t already in place, it’s time to make it non-negotiable.
Your Microsoft 365 environment — and your users — depend on it.
Need help rolling out MFA or Conditional Access policies across your tenant? Contact Techatix — we help businesses secure their M365 cloud confidently.