Why MFA Matters: Closing the Security Gap for MSPs
MFA is one of the most effective and simple ways to boost security. A 2023 study by Cornell University found that MFA can cut security risks by 99.2%. Yet, only 22% of Microsoft customers use MFA. This gap isn’t due to neglect but a lack of awareness.
For MSPs, managing MFA across many clients has been tough—until now. Augmentt MFA is a low-cost, easy-to-use tool that helps MSPs manage MFA across all clients. Here’s a guide for MSPs to use MFA effectively and show clients why it matters, with Augmentt MFA as the solution.
A Brief History of MFA Adoption
When Microsoft launched MFA, it was only for premium accounts. After making it free, MFA use rose from 1% to 2%. Still, many users resist it because they don’t like the extra login step. This is where MSPs come in. MSPs need to educate clients and give them tools like Augmentt MFA to make MFA easy and secure.
Ways to Enable MFA
MSPs should know the different MFA options and pick the best one for each client.
Good: Entra ID (Azure AD Per User)
Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) lets MSPs manage MFA for each user. But it’s manual and time-consuming. Microsoft is phasing out this method for easier, more scalable options.
Better: Security Defaults
Since 2019, Microsoft has made MFA automatic for new Microsoft 365 accounts. This helps, but it doesn’t work with older apps that don’t support MFA. MSPs must decide if enforcing security defaults is worth the potential disruption to these apps.
Best: Conditional Access Policies
Conditional access policies are the best way to manage MFA. They offer flexibility, letting MSPs set rules based on user roles, locations, and devices. This method also works with older apps and third-party MFA tools. Once set up, new users can be added easily, making this the most flexible option.
With Augmentt MFA, MSPs can manage these policies across multiple clients from a single dashboard, making the process simple and effective.
MFA Authentication Methods
MFA methods vary in strength. MSPs should guide clients toward stronger options when possible.
Good: SMS, Voice, and Email
These are the most common methods but are also the weakest. While better than no MFA, they are easy to hack. Still, they’re a good starting point.
Better: Authenticator Apps
Authenticator apps generate one-time passcodes (OTPs) that are much harder to hack. These apps are more secure and easy to use.
Best: Biometrics, U2F Tokens, and FIDO2 (WebAuthn)
Biometrics, hardware tokens, and FIDO2 are the strongest MFA methods. They offer the highest level of security by ensuring only the right person can log in.
How Augmentt MFA Solves MSP Challenges
Even though MFA is effective, MSPs have struggled to manage it across many clients. Configuring MFA manually, monitoring risky accounts, and fixing login issues can take a lot of time. Augmentt MFA solves these problems by providing:
- MFA monitoring across all clients in one dashboard. You can quickly see which accounts have MFA enabled and which are at risk.
- Easy MFA management for multiple clients. With one click, you can switch between clients, set up MFA, adjust settings, and fix issues.
- Support for future changes as Microsoft phases out older methods. Augmentt MFA helps you migrate clients to modern authentication with ease.
Why MSPs Should Choose Augmentt MFA
Affordability and simplicity are the core of Augmentt MFA. We know MSPs need to deliver value while keeping costs low, so we made it an easy investment. It’s the perfect tool for MSPs looking to start offering security services for Microsoft environments.
But Augmentt MFA is more than just a tool. It’s a way for MSPs to grow their business. As you roll out MFA, you can offer more security services, like monitoring and alerting, making you the go-to expert for Microsoft security.
