You hear it everywhere – your bank, your email account, the Help Desk, and even this newsletter! But what is MFA, and why is it so important?

What Is MFA?

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a security method that requires you to provide two or more pieces of evidence (or “factors”) to verify your identity when logging into an account. These factors typically fall into three categories:

• Something you know (like a password)
• Something you have (like your phone or a hardware token)
• Something you are (like a fingerprint or facial recognition)

At Clark, we use MFA to protect many of our systems, including email, Canvas, and beginning on October 19 – CUWeb.

Why Is MFA So Effective?

Passwords alone aren’t enough anymore. They can be guessed, stolen, or leaked in data breaches. MFA adds an extra layer of protection, making it significantly harder for attackers to gain access—even if they have your password.

In fact, Microsoft, Google and others suggest that 99% of phishing attempts can be stopped by using MFA.

Imagine you get a phishing email that tricks you into entering your password on a fake login page. Without MFA, the attacker now has full access to your account. With MFA, they’re stopped cold—because they don’t have your phone or authentication app.

Clark University recommends using Microsoft Authenticator for MFA. It’s more secure than SMS-based codes and easy to set up. If you haven’t enabled MFA yet, now’s the perfect time. Click here to learn more, or contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@clarku.edu or 508-793-7745.

Final Thought

Cybersecurity isn’t just about fancy tools, it’s about smart habits. MFA is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to protect yourself and the university. So this October, take a few minutes to double up your defenses. Your future self will thank you.