What is the strongest MFA?
Phishing-resistant MFA: hardware security keys (FIDO2) or passkeys. Push-based authenticator apps are next strongest. SMS codes are weakest and should be avoided where possible.
Should I use SMS for MFA?
Only if no other option exists. SMS can be intercepted via SIM swap attacks. Push notifications or hardware keys are dramatically safer.
Can Northstar IT roll out MFA?
Yes. North Star deploys MFA across Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, VPNs, and business apps for Canadian SMBs every week.
Will MFA stop all attacks?
No, but it stops the vast majority of credential-stuffing and phishing attacks. Combined with EDR, training, and backups, MFA is the single highest impact security control most SMBs can deploy.
Quick answers.
Are MFA and 2FA the same thing?
2FA is two-factor authentication. MFA is multi-factor authentication. 2FA is a subset of MFA. In casual use the terms are interchangeable, but MFA can include three or more factors.
What is the strongest MFA?
Phishing-resistant MFA: hardware security keys (FIDO2) or passkeys. Push-based authenticator apps are next strongest. SMS codes are weakest and should be avoided where possible.
Should I use SMS for MFA?
Only if no other option exists. SMS can be intercepted via SIM swap attacks. Push notifications or hardware keys are dramatically safer.
Can Northstar IT roll out MFA?
Yes. North Star deploys MFA across Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, VPNs, and business apps for Canadian SMBs every week.
Will MFA stop all attacks?
No, but it stops the vast majority of credential-stuffing and phishing attacks. Combined with EDR, training, and backups, MFA is the single highest impact security control most SMBs can deploy.
Have a specific situation in mind?
Book a free 30-minute scoping call with a Northstar IT engineer. We will walk through your environment, your questions, and what good looks like for your team.
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