2FA is a common security recommendation and is universally regarded as a good layer of protection for any application. Today, however, we want to highlight how 2FA is especially necessary for accessing cloud platforms, as a breached cloud account could be one of the most damaging attack vectors.
2FA is a common security recommendation and is universally regarded as a good layer of protection for any application. Today, however, we want to highlight how 2FA is especially necessary for accessing cloud platforms, as a breached cloud account could be one of the most damaging attack vectors.
2FA, or two-factor authentication, is a strategy where a user needs to validate their identity with a device or code generator assigned to their identity. The most common 2FA variant is an SMS text message that’s sent to the user’s phone number when logging into an account.
2FA is a type of MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) which broadly describes multiple authentication steps and could, in rare scenarios, describe authenticating with more than two identity proofs.
2FA is particularly important in today’s age where 78% of people re-use passwords, where a single password breach could lead to multiple subsequent breaches. But beyond the social perspective, 2FA forces attackers to compromise two distinct identity systems simultaneously. While possible, it deters attackers who’ll likely focus on less secure systems that just have a single layer of authentication.
The importance of 2FA escalates for cloud accounts. While seemingly obvious, today we want to really contextualize why 2FA is so important for cloud accounts.
Let’s begin by examining the impact of lacking 2FA on cloud accounts. There are some historical events that couldn’t better advocate for 2FA on cloud systems. One is United Healthcare, where a single compromised account led to 100+ million patient records being exposed. Another is Colonial Pipeline, where hacked private network credentials led to a shutdown that rippled across the entire economy and led to a congressional hearing. Once, Snowflake suffered a data breach where 165+ companies were compromised through credential re-use because they didn’t have 2FA. And finally, Dropbox had a customer breach so badly that it immediately forced the platform to implement 2FA.
The adoption of 2FA for cloud platforms has shifted from being a best practice recommendation to an essential security requirement. Despite its proven benefits, voluntary adoption often falls short. Many employees postpone enabling 2FA, viewing it as cumbersome or unnecessary. There’s also widespread reluctance to share personal phone numbers, while authenticator apps can feel inconvenient since they don’t integrate with features like Apple’s automatic code suggestion.
This gap between 2FA availability and actual adoption creates significant security vulnerabilities. Organizations can no longer afford this discrepancy, especially as regulatory frameworks increasingly mandate stronger authentication measures. Standards such as GDPR, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001 now effectively require multi-factor authentication for compliant operations.
The business case for mandatory 2FA implementation is compelling. Major cloud providers are transitioning to 2FA by default, recognizing its importance. When weighing the minimal effort of implementing 2FA against the devastating costs of breach recovery, the decision becomes clear.
Organizations can’t just suddenly turn on 2FA—that could inadvertently lock employees out of their accounts, leading to other damage.
Begin with a risk-based prioritization approach. Immediately secure admin accounts, financial systems, and platforms containing customer data, as these represent your highest-value targets. Within 30 days, extend 2FA to employee productivity suites and development environments. Complete the rollout within 90 days by securing vendor access points, testing environments, and archive systems.
Different platforms require tailored implementation approaches. For major cloud providers, utilize AWS IAM policies, Azure Conditional Access, or GCP IAM settings. SaaS platforms like Salesforce, Office 365, and Google Workspace each have organization-level security settings for enforcing 2FA. Don’t overlook development tools—GitHub organization policies and Docker Hub team requirements should be configured to mandate stronger authentication. Financial systems, including banking platforms, payment processors, and accounting software, deserve particular attention given their sensitivity.
Maintaining 2FA compliance requires ongoing vigilance. Implement automated auditing of 2FA status across all platforms, set up real-time alerts for violations or exceptions, establish regular compliance reporting cadences, and integrate with SIEM systems for comprehensive security monitoring. These measures are more or less necessary to achieve continued compliance with frameworks like SOC 2 Type II.
2FA is no longer optional. Today, it’s a minimum viable cloud security measure. Organizations that fail to implement it will almost certainly be hacked — and if they aren’t, it’s pure luck. Don’t roll the dice and mandate 2FA across the board.
