Rolling out MFA in an SMB: the five-step guide
Multi-factor authentication blocks most intrusions through stolen passwords. Where to start, what to protect first, and how to avoid a user revolt.
14 September 2026 · 1 min read · ALLSAFE SOLUTIONS
MFA is the security measure with the best effort-to-result ratio there is. It is also the one companies postpone the most, for fear of annoying users. Here is how we roll it out without friction.
1. Start with the accounts that open every door
Microsoft 365 or Google administrators, domain administrators, access to the firewall, the phone system, the backups. These accounts get MFA the same day, with an authenticator app, never SMS.
2. Protect remote access
VPN, remote desktop, exposed web portals. Remote access without MFA is the entry point ransomware uses most. FortiGate and WatchGuard include MFA natively; we enable it before anything else.
3. Pick the right method for each group
- Authenticator app (Microsoft Authenticator, Google, AuthPoint) for most people.
- Hardware keys for administrators and executives.
- Backup codes printed and kept offline for emergencies.
- SMS only as a last resort, never for sensitive accounts.
4. Roll out in waves, with support
A pilot department, clear communication (why, when, how), enrolment help on day one, then general rollout. Conditional access lets you require MFA outside the office and relax it on trusted devices.
5. Verify and maintain
Monthly report of accounts without MFA, immediate revocation when an employee leaves, review of registered methods. MFA is a state to maintain, not a project to close.
MFA is included in our managed cloud service and in the fundamentals of our cybersecurity offer.
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