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Protecting Your Microsoft 365 account: Why Multi-Factor Authentication is Essential

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As an IT support company in Yorkshire, we understand the constant struggle businesses face in safeguarding their digital assets against evolving cyber threats. You’re likely managing crucial data and communications within your Microsoft 365 accounts, making them prime targets for cybercriminals.

With cyberattacks becoming more sophisticated and frequent, relying solely on a password is no longer enough to secure your valuable information. Adversaries are constantly seeking new ways to compromise accounts, even those protected by basic security measures, which is why robust defence is more critical than ever.

The most effective solution to significantly enhance your Microsoft 365 security is to implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). MFA, or Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), adds an essential extra layer of security by requiring you to provide at least two different methods of verification to access your account. This means that even if a cybercriminal manages to obtain your password, they would still need a second factor, like a code sent to your phone or a verification from an authenticator app, to gain access. Microsoft data shows that MFA can prevent 99.9% of account compromise attacks, dramatically reducing your risk. We highly recommend using the Microsoft Authenticator app for a more secure and faster experience, as it’s considered one of the most secure verification options.

You can start setting up MFA for your account by visiting: https://aka.ms/mfasetup, sign into your Microsoft 365 account, select ‘+Add sign-in method’ and select ‘Microsoft Authenticator’ (see below for a setup guide video).

We know that rolling out new security measures can sometimes feel complex. That’s where Cactus IT comes in. Our team of experts considers enabling MFA on your Microsoft 365 accounts an essential task for all businesses and is ready to assist you. If you require any assistance with setting up Multi-Factor Authentication, or need advice on the best approach for your organisation, please do not hesitate to contact us.

You can reach the Cactus IT team by calling 01943 666 711 or emailing support@cactus-it.co.uk.

We’re here to ensure your business is protected in the best possible way.

We have included a link below that shows you how to set this up for your account once it’s been enabled by your admin.

Setup Microsoft 365 MFA multi factor

Cyber Security: Why you should have email filtering.

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Microsoft Defender for Office 365 features

The number of SPAM, junk and phishing emails we receive each day is at the highest level that I can remember…. and I have been providing IT services for over 30 years! It’s a global problem and we are here to help you to protect your brand and company information.

Small businesses face significant cyber threats, with over 90% of cyberattacks originating from email, and phishing being the leading cause of breaches. These attacks often exploit vulnerabilities through malicious URLs, compromised accounts, or malware attachments, leading to serious consequences like account takeover and data loss. The increasing sophistication, including the use of AI in attacks, means traditional defences are struggling to keep pace.

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 offers a comprehensive, multi-layered defence against these threats (at a very resonable cost!):

  • Anti-phishing policies leverage AI and mailbox intelligence to combat impersonation and detect fraudulent senders and domains, learning normal communication patterns to identify unusual behaviour.
  • Safe Links protects against malicious URLs by rewriting them and performing time-of-click checks, preventing users from accessing dangerous sites even if a link becomes malicious after delivery.
  • Safe Attachments detonates unknown malware in a secure virtual environment, providing zero-day protection for email attachments. It can use Dynamic Delivery to minimise delays, delivering the email body while attachments are scanned.
  • Furthermore, Zero-Hour Auto Purge (ZAP) can retroactively remove malicious emails from inboxes if they are later identified as threats.

This integrated solution, building on Exchange Online Protection’s anti-spam capabilities, significantly reduces email-borne risks and helps small businesses maintain a secure email environment.

We already have this solution rolled out and setup for the majority of our customers, this is also the solution that we choose to use ourselves so we are confident in it’s effectiveness and reliability as part of an overall cyber security solution.

Whether you’re a small team or a growing business, it’s never been more important to take cyber security seriously. If you would like to increase your companies defences against the most common type of cyber attack, please get in touch so that we can assist you.

We are ofering a free 1 month trial of this filtering service for any of our IT support customers. Contact us today to book your review and take the first step toward stronger protection for your business.

📞 Call us on 01943 666711
📧 Or email: info@cactus-it.co.uk

Staying Ahead in Cyber Security: How We’re Enhancing Protection for Our Customers

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In today’s fast-moving digital world, the pace at which cyber threats evolve is nothing short of relentless. As an IT support company based in Yorkshire, we understand just how overwhelming this can be for businesses. One day everything seems secure, the next you’re hearing about the latest ransomware strain or a new type of phishing scam. We work with businesses of all sizes, and we know that keeping up with these changes can feel like a full-time job in itself.

That’s why we believe it’s our responsibility—not just to fix problems—but to actively protect our customers from the growing tide of cyber risks. We’re not just a support provider; we’re your cyber security partner. We’re here to ease the pressure and keep your systems resilient, giving you the confidence to focus on what you do best.

Why We’ve Upgraded Your Endpoint Protection

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve upgraded the endpoint security we provide from ESET Protect Entry to ESET Protect Advanced to better secure our customers IT.

This upgrade includes more than just improved antivirus and malware protection. It introduces cloud-based sandboxing to detect and block new, never-before-seen threats before they can impact your systems. This works by isolating suspicious files in a secure, virtual environment to analyse their behaviour before they can harm your system. It’s ESET’s latest defence against Ransomware and helps to protect your systems from never before seen threats. Our upgrade to ESET Protect Advanced also adds full disk encryption, helping you stay compliant with GDPR and keeping your data safe even if a device is lost or stolen.

We’ve chosen ESET Protect Advanced because it reflects the level of protection modern businesses need: multi-layered, intelligent, and proactive. This move is part of our wider commitment to continuously improve the service and value we provide to you.

Get a Free 1-Hour Cyber Security Review

If you’re not currently a customer but want to understand where your business stands when it comes to cyber risk, we’re offering a free 1-hour cyber security review. This no-obligation session includes a review of your current setup, identifies any critical gaps, and offers practical, tailored advice.

Whether you’re a small team or a growing business, it’s never been more important to take cyber security seriously. Contact us today to book your review and take the first step toward stronger protection for your business.

📞 Call us on 01943 666711
📧 Or email: info@cactus-it.co.uk