What is the best multi-factor authentication (mfa) for small businesses?

For most small businesses, **Microsoft Entra ID** is a strong default choice if you already use Microsoft 365 or want built-in identity and MFA management; if you need a dedicated third-party MFA platform, **Cisco Duo** is also widely recommended for SMBs.[1][3]

What makes these stand out:

- **Microsoft Entra ID** is recommended as the best MFA option for SMBs by one provider based on customer deployments, especially where Microsoft services are already in use.[1]

- **Cisco Duo** is positioned as a flexible, scalable MFA solution for small to medium businesses and emphasizes phishing-resistant access.[3]

- Broader MFA guidance for businesses recommends **app-based authenticators** over SMS or email codes because they are generally more secure and still usable.[2][4]

A practical rule of thumb:

- Choose **Microsoft Entra ID** if your business is already on Microsoft 365 or Azure-adjacent tools.[1]

- Choose **Cisco Duo** if you want a vendor-neutral MFA layer that works across different apps and devices.[3]

- Prefer **authenticator-app/TOTP or phishing-resistant methods** over SMS whenever possible.[2][4]

If you want, I can also compare **Microsoft Entra ID vs Duo vs Okta** for small business needs like cost, ease of setup, and phishing resistance.