What is MFA?

Multi-Factor Authenticator (MFA) is a security feature that uses multiple factors to verify whether it’s you, signing into your Microsoft account. MFA has 3 category factors to verify a log-in attempt:

Something that you are (Fingerprint or Face ID).

Something you have (Smartphone).

Something you know (Password).

Because you use a password to log in to your account, you’re already using one of the three factors which fall under the Something that you know, but a password alone is not enough.

The way this works is when you sign into any Microsoft app with your work email, you will receive a message with a One-Time-Pin (OTP) to insert to verify whether it is you signing in which represents the Something you Have.

You can get a prompt from the Authenticator app to verify your login attempt using your fingerprint or face ID, this falls under the Something that you are. Even if someone gets your password, they will be stopped from signing in because they don’t have your fingerprint, face ID, or cell phone number.