--- title: Cybersecurity Awareness Month: How Multifactor Authentication Affects Your Cyber Insurance --- # Cybersecurity Awareness Month: How Multifactor Authentication Affects Your Cyber Insurance * * * ## Cybersecurity Awareness Month: How Multifactor Authentication Affects Your Cyber Insurance - Posted on Thursday, October 1, 2026 October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, making it a great time for businesses to take a closer look at the steps they’re taking to protect their systems, data, employees and customers from cyber threats. One of the most important cybersecurity safeguards businesses can implement is multifactor authentication (MFA). You’ve probably encountered MFA when accessing your bank account, email or other online services, but have you enacted MFA throughout your business? Cybersecurity measures like MFA are not only important for protecting your organization; they’re also increasingly important when applying for cyber liability insurance. MFA is a security system that requires two or more authentication methods from independent credentials to verify a user’s identity. Each additional authentication factor adds another layer of cybersecurity. An MFA login process typically includes a combination of at least two of the following: - A password or personal identification number (something you know) - A smart card, authentication code, token or mobile phone (something you have) - A biometric component, such as a fingerprint, face scan or voice sample (something you are) The primary purpose of MFA is to add layers of defense against unauthorized access or transactions. Businesses can use MFA to improve the security of their networks and sensitive data. It can reduce the effectiveness of digital scams like phishing, account misuse and identity theft by requiring multiple forms of authentication. A cybercriminal might compromise one layer, such as a password, but MFA makes it significantly more difficult to gain access to an account or system. Insurance companies will typically review your cybersecurity protocols when you’re shopping for a cyber liability policy, so you can expect questions about MFA. Your cybersecurity measures can affect your eligibility for coverage, available coverage options and premiums. Insurance companies may look for MFA across different areas of your operations, including remote worker access. If you use remote network access, MFA can reduce the potential for a network compromise caused by lost or stolen credentials. Without MFA, stolen credentials could give an intruder access to your network. If those credentials belong to an employee with elevated network privileges, the potential consequences can be significant. MFA controls for administrative accounts can also help prevent intruders from elevating their privileges and obtaining broader access to your systems. These controls may also help contain threats such as ransomware from spreading across an entire network. MFA on email accounts can help reduce the potential for a wider-scale attack. Threat actors often use compromised company email accounts to carry out schemes against employees, clients and vendors. For example, a threat actor might gain access to a CEO’s email and contact the accounting department requesting a wire transfer. Because the request appears to come from a legitimate company email account, an employee may be less likely to question it. Insurance companies will conduct an assessment to determine your organization’s cyber risk. Depending on your business, this assessment might range from a questionnaire to a more complex third-party review. If your business can demonstrate a robust, layered cybersecurity approach that includes MFA, you may qualify for better coverage options or premiums. Businesses without safeguards like MFA may face limited coverage options, higher premiums or difficulty obtaining coverage. Always answer cyber insurance application questions accurately. If your business experiences a cyberattack, the insurance company may conduct a forensic investigation as part of the claims process. Misrepresenting your cybersecurity practices on an insurance application could jeopardize coverage. In addition to MFA, insurance companies may ask about other cybersecurity controls, including: - Network security protocols such as firewalls and intrusion detection and prevention systems - Encryption methods used to protect sensitive information - Cybersecurity training that teaches employees how to recognize, report and avoid cyberattacks and scams - An incident response plan outlining how your organization will respond to a cyber event Cybersecurity should be an important part of every business risk management plan. Implementing MFA can help protect your operations, employees, customers and reputation while also strengthening your position when applying for cyber liability insurance. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a great opportunity to review your current protections. Talk with your IT provider about where MFA is being used within your organization, where additional protections may be needed and whether your cybersecurity practices align with the information provided on your cyber insurance application. If you’re not confident about your cybersecurity practices, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) offers resources specifically designed to help small and midsized businesses strengthen their cyber defenses. When it comes to protecting your business from the financial impact of a cyber incident, talk with your independent insurance agent about cyber liability insurance and the coverage options available for your organization. At Rathbun Insurance, we believe being proactive about risk matters. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a good reminder that protecting your business requires both strong cybersecurity practices and the right insurance protection. ## Insurance Proposal Give us some info and we'll help you find the best coverage options. [Get Started](/insurance-proposal) **Request your insurance proposal online or contact our office to find out how we can help you find a policy that fits your needs.** [Get Started](/insurance-proposal) [Contact Us](/contact) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https://www.rathbuninsurance.com/blog/2026/cybersecurity-awareness-month-how-multifactor-authentication-affects-your-cyber-insurance#blogposting","url":"https://www.rathbuninsurance.com/blog/2026/cybersecurity-awareness-month-how-multifactor-authentication-affects-your-cyber-insurance","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.rathbuninsurance.com/blog/2026/cybersecurity-awareness-month-how-multifactor-authentication-affects-your-cyber-insurance#webpage"},"headline":"Cybersecurity Awareness Month: How Multifactor Authentication Affects Your Cyber Insurance","datePublished":"2026-10-01T14:28:31Z","dateModified":"2026-10-01T14:28:31Z","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.rathbuninsurance.com/#organization","name":"Rathbun Insurance"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.rathbuninsurance.com/#organization","name":"Rathbun Insurance"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://www.rathbuninsurance.com/blog/2026/cybersecurity-awareness-month-how-multifactor-authentication-affects-your-cyber-insurance#image","url":"https://webtricity-assets-2.wbtcdn.com/c6ce3622-8279-4b81-bdb0-96d1c9e6f684/images/upload/screenshot-2026-10-01-102716-1170x780.12ad95f592b48088b65cddf6b118848c0a201042aa68aacf8234029e4328b136.png","width":1170,"height":780}},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.rathbuninsurance.com/#organization","url":"https://www.rathbuninsurance.com/","name":"Rathbun Insurance"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.rathbuninsurance.com/#webpage","url":"https://www.rathbuninsurance.com/","name":"Cybersecurity Awareness Month: How Multifactor Authentication Affects Your Cyber Insurance"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/blog","name":"Blog"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/blog/2026/cybersecurity-awareness-month-how-multifactor-authentication-affects-your-cyber-insurance","name":"Cybersecurity Awareness Month: How Multifactor Authentication Affects Your Cyber Insurance"}}]}]} ```