Imagine opening a brand-new bottle of orange juice.
Peel off the plastic. Untwist the cap. Pull back the foil cover.
No one thinks twice about the layers keeping our food products safe.
Now think about your business. Your accounts should have layers too — and that’s what multi‑factor authentication (MFA) does. But many people still skip it, leaving their orange juice more secure than their data.
Yes, MFA adds one extra step. But that one step can protect your business from major cyberattacks. And today, MFA is easier and smarter than ever.
Why Businesses Need MFA
Cybercriminals Target SMBs
A common SMB breach starts with a reused email password purchased on the dark web. Within minutes, attackers access email, reset banking or payroll passwords, and deploy ransomware—often before anyone notices unusual activity.
Small businesses are now prime targets. In 2024, 61% of SMBs experienced a cyberattack, and attackers increasingly look for organizations with limited security budgets and weak login protections.
Credential‑based attacks have exploded—stolen credentials accounted for 22% of breaches in 2025, even higher than phishing which accounted for 16% of data breaches
A Password Alone Isn’t Enough
Without MFA, cybercriminals no longer need advanced hacking skills—just stolen passwords. Reports show a 160% increase in compromised credentials in 2025, fueled by AI‑powered tools. Once attackers obtain a password, they simply log in as the user.
Without MFA, your business is one login away from a breach.
For industries like distribution, HVAC, and manufacturing—where employees access cloud services from multiple locations—MFA dramatically reduces risk without disrupting operations.
3 Key Benefits of MFA
1. Stronger Security
MFA stops attackers even when passwords are stolen. Microsoft reported in 2023 that more than 99.9% of compromised accounts did not have MFA enabled, proving just how effective MFA is as a security control.
This is critical for small to medium sized businesses where password reuse and weak credential hygiene are prevalent. MFA acts as the deadbolt on your door.
2. Compliance With Regulations (FTC Safeguards Rule)
If your business handles financial customer data (including auto or RV dealerships), the FTC Safeguards Rule now mandates MFA for anyone accessing customer information.
3. Protection of Customer Data
Flashpoint’s Global Threat Intelligence Index reported approximately 1.8 billion credentials were stolen in the first half of 2025 (dailysecurityreview.com). For SMBs, this means lost customer trust, downtime, and potentially devastating legal liabilities.
MFA creates a barrier that dramatically reduces unauthorized access—even from credential stuffing and password reuse attacks.
How to Get Started With MFA
1. Assess Your Current Systems
Identify which users need access to each tool (email, POS, Cloud applications, customer data). These are high‑risk login points and should be protected first.
2. Choose an MFA Solution That Fits Your Budget & Tech Stack
App‑based authenticators like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator are highly trusted tools. Most SMBs can enable MFA directly within platforms they already use, however, not all MFA methods offer the same protection. Text/ SMS-based MFA is better than nothing, but app-based or hardware-based MFA provides significantly stronger resistance to attacks.
3. Train Employees
A short enablement session about why MFA is important and how it is being implemented is important. Training reduces friction and increases adoption.
4. START WITH CRITICAL ACCOUNTS
We recommend enabling MFA first for M365, email, banking systems, POS and inventory platforms, VPNs and remote access. These are primary attack vectors for SMB breaches.
Is MFA right for your business?
Cybercriminals are evolving faster than ever. Credential theft, phishing, and identity‑based attacks now dominate the cybersecurity landscape—especially for small businesses. MFA is one of the simplest, most effective defenses against unauthorized access, data breaches, and costly downtime.
For SMBs in retail, distribution, HVAC, and manufacturing, the message is clear: your systems, customer data, and business operations are significantly safer with MFA than without it.
Ready to protect your business? Contact Relentless Solutions to get help implementing MFA today.
