Securing the Gateway: Why MFA for VPNs is Not Optional

Picture yourself logging into your company’s VPN remotely, from a hotel room or cafe etc. You enter your usual username and password. It feels routine. But what if someone else, somewhere across the globe, already has those credentials? Without a second layer of security, your business’s sensitive data is just a password away from falling into the wrong hands. This is not a distant threat; it is a daily reality for companies that skip multi-factor authentication.

What MFA Does for VPNs

MFA adds an extra step—typically something the user has like a smartphone that makes stolen credentials useless on their own.
Now when the hacker attempts to connect to the company’s VPN to access data, they cannot satisfy the MFA as only Emma can on her smartphone.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Employees must be trained to only satisfy the MFA prompt if they are initiated it, e.g. connecting to the companies VPN and not to blindly accept all MFA requests as this will defeat.

Real-World Scenarios Where MFA Saves the Day

• Compromised Credentials from a Data Breach: A third-party service your employee used got hacked—and they reused that password for your VPN. Without MFA, you’re wide open.
• Lost or Stolen Device: An unattended laptop at an airport lounge could be a hacker’s goldmine. But if access requires authentication from the user’s phone, the threat is neutralized.
• Insider Threats: An angry former employee might know old credentials, but without the second factor, they’re locked out.
• Phishing Attempts: Even if your employee clicks a bad link and gives up their password, a push notification or code request alerts them that something’s wrong.

In Summary

Adding MFA to VPNs is no longer a tech best practice, it’s a basic security step. Think of it as turning the deadbolt after closing the door. It’s simple, effective, and could be the difference between a minor scare and a major breach.