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MFA matters… But it isn’t enough on its own . Unprotected usernames and passwords offer little defense against account takeover attacks. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) has quite rightly become the de facto standard for strengthening access controls. There’s a reason almost all cybersecurity guidelines recommend it – Microsoft research suggests that enabling MFA can block over 99% of automated credential-stuffing and phishing attacks. Yet even the best MFA implementations leave a critical gap: weak, reused or compromised passwords. When an attacker bypasses or circumvents MFA (whether by tricking a user into approving a push notification or exploiting a fallback) those same poor passwords become the attacker’s key to your systems. That’s why a layered approach to identity security must include both robust password hygiene and MFA on every login point. The benefits of MFA are undeniable Before we explore why passwords still matter, let’s briefly recap what MFA brings to the table: Why MFA alone can leave you exposed Despite its strengths, MFA is not a silver bullet and it can be bypassed. Overreliance on it can lull organizations into complacency around the most basic authentication factor: the password. Layered defense depends on each layer holding its weight, and a password is the entry point for the MFA challenge. If that password is weak, reused or already known to attackers, they’re one step closer to breaching your perimeter. Lost or broken devices, forgotten tokens and service-desk resets often revert back to password-only access. Without a strong password policy, these “break-glass” scenarios become easy entry points. User behavior also doesn’t change overnight – organizations that adopt MFA without reinforcing password education frequently see users continue to pick weak or predictable passwords. This undermines one of your strongest defenses. On top of that, MFA itself can be targeted. Techniques such as SIM swapping, MFA prompt bombing, and social engineering around help-desk procedures can trick users or staff into approving fraudulent logins. Five tactics attackers use to bypass MFA Layering strong passwords and MFA No single control can stop every attack. By pairing comprehensive password defenses with robust MFA on every critical system (Windows logon, VPNs, remote desktop, cloud portals and more) you create multiple hurdles for adversaries to overcome. Even if one layer is bypassed, others remain to block or detect the intrusion. To harden your defenses, incorporate these best practices: MFA dramatically reduces the risk of unauthorized access, but it should never replace strong password hygiene. Treat passwords as the important security layer they are. Enforce policies that keep them long, unique, and uncompromised – then add MFA as the critical second line of defense. Together, they form a resilient authentication strategy that will keep your organization and your end users far safer. Need advice on MFA or password security? Get in touch. Sponsored and written by Specops Software.