Microsoft is planning to enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) directly in its Outlook app for many 365 business users.
MFA is an important tool for protecting your online accounts from cyber attackers. Every time you log into an account, it generates a second, one-time passcode. It is normally transmitted to an authenticator app on your phone, which you must first download and install.
Security codes can also be provided via SMS text message, phone call, or a unique USB key that you insert into your computer.
Using a biometric login, such as your fingerprint or facial ID, can often speed up the procedure. It’s a slight inconvenience, but the security it provides much surpasses the handful of seconds it takes to access your account.
Microsoft, on the other hand, is skeptical about those extra seconds. If a tech giant can save you that time, it will. That is why it is attempting to simplify MFA for Microsoft 365 business accounts.
It is implementing the enhancement by integrating MFA straight into the Outlook app with a feature dubbed Authenticator Lite. Previously, it was necessary to use a separate authenticator app or provide login codes.
There is currently no news for those of us who want speedier authentication on our home computers. We’ll keep you updated if Microsoft announces plans to make this feature available on more hardware or operating systems.
If you aren’t currently using MFA for your apps and online accounts, we encourage that you do so as soon as possible. Its added protection safeguards against the great majority of today’s cyber attacks.
Contact us for more information on adopting MFA or getting the most out of Microsoft 365.