Passwords get stolen. They get guessed. They get leaked. Two-step login means a stolen password alone is never enough to get in.
What to do:
- Enable two-step verification on every business account. Start with email first, then everything else.
- Use an authenticator app (like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator) rather than text message codes. Apps are more secure and work without cell service.
- Make it required for all employees, not optional. One person skipping it is all it takes for a security breach.
Common mistake: Business owners often turn on two-step login for their own account and consider it done. But a breach doesn’t have to start at the top.
Attackers regularly compromise lower-level employee accounts first, then use that access to work their way up.
One employee who skips the setup because nobody made it mandatory becomes the entry point for the entire business. Enforcing it for everyone, not just leadership, is the difference between protection and the appearance of protection.
How to know it’s done:
- Two-step verification is enforced (not just offered) across all employee accounts
- You’re using an authenticator app, not text messages
- Your IT provider can confirm it’s turned on for everyone
