MFA

MFA is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — security controls in cyber insurance.

MFA stands for Multi‑Factor Authentication.
It means a user must provide two or more proofs of identity before logging in.

Think of it like locking your front door with:

Something you know (a password)
Something you have (a code on your phone)
Something you are (a fingerprint or face scan)

If one factor is stolen, the attacker still can’t get in.

Why this matters for insurance:
Most cyber claims start with compromised credentials. MFA dramatically reduces that risk — but only if it’s implemented correctly. Some companies enable MFA only for email, not for remote access. Others use weak methods like SMS codes, which attackers can intercept.

When a company says they “have MFA,” the real question is:
“Is MFA enforced everywhere it matters — and is it using strong factors?”

And if you’re wondering what “strong” MFA looks like (and where it must be applied), that’s something we’ll cover in a future post.

The takeaway:
MFA is one of the highest‑value controls in cybersecurity.
But its effectiveness depends entirely on where it’s enforced and how it’s configured.

Pop Culture Parallel:
If you’ve seen WarGames, the ease with which the protagonist accesses a high‑value system shows exactly why relying on a single password is risky — and why strong MFA matters.

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