Cybersecurity

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is the single most effective step a small business can take to prevent account takeovers when passwords are compromised. This guide covers the four types of second factor ranked by security strength — SMS codes (weakest), authenticator apps including Microsoft, Google, and Apple built-in authenticator, passkeys (strongest for most users), and hardware keys — which accounts to protect first, and how to enforce 2FA across a Microsoft 365 organization.

Modern phishing emails arrive as convincing invoices from vendors you actually use, fake Microsoft 365 login pages, and urgent messages appearing to come from your own boss. This post covers the five types of phishing hitting Calgary businesses in 2026, five habits that catch most attempts, and an exact five-step response protocol for when someone on your team clicks something they should not have.

Windows 10 reached end of support in October 2025, meaning Microsoft stopped releasing security patches. Attackers are already targeting businesses running Windows 10 knowing unpatched systems cannot defend against the latest phishing and malware techniques. Calgary small businesses still running Windows 10 face compounding risk from an ageing operating system and increasingly sophisticated phishing campaigns.