Multi-Factor Authentication

As many of you have witnessed, there has been a dramatic increase in phishing scams that generate thousands of emails that find their way into your inbox. Some of these can be extremely harmful and even destructive. MFA is an essential tool we can utilize to help safeguard access to critical systems or systems storing sensitive and research data. MFA is now commonplace for many of the services utilized in your personal life when dealing with sensitive data or financial accounting. This is because MFA provides much stronger assurance that your information is only accessible to the intended people and that MSU’s systems and services remain highly available for students, faculty, and staff. Below is a list of frequently asked questions to help ease the University community into this transition.

All users of MSU technology systems and services are affected. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) was enabled for staff to protect MyMoreheadState, email, OneDrive, Ellucian, Colleague, and other services in August 2022. Students were enabled on Jan. 13, 2023. Affiliates and alumni will be enabled to use MFA in mid-February 2023, and faculty will be enabled to use MFA in May 2023.

You can visit the MSU IT Service Desk Knowledgebase articles for step-by-step instructions. 

• View instructions using Microsoft Authenticator app

It’s the right thing to do to protect student and employee data from being compromised and minimize disruption and abuse of campus technology resources. In the past year, cyber-criminals have targeted higher education institutions by using stolen credentials to file fraudulent tax returns, hijack direct-deposit transactions, and use institutional email accounts to send an ever-changing stream of phishing scams. Two-factor authentication minimizes this type of fraud as you are notified and required to verify login to your account.

MFA is essential to help safeguard access to critical systems or systems storing sensitive and research data. MFA provides much stronger assurance that your information is only accessible to the intended people and that MSU’s systems and services remain highly available for students, faculty, and staff.

• It helps you to lock down your login.
• Reduces the likelihood you’ll be the next victim.
• Adds an additional layer of security to your account.
• Even if your password is compromised, they’ll need your second “factor” to get in.

All faculty, affiliates, alumni, and students will be enrolled over the next few months. Staff were enrolled in August 2022. Students were enrolled in January 2023. Affiliates and alumni will be enrolled in February 2023, and faculty will be enrolled in May 2023. MFA will be enabled by default on all Office 365 accounts going forward.

Tech Help for MFA

Please contact the IT Help desk:

• Online Support
• Phone: 606-783-4357(HELP)
• Email: ithelpdesk@moreheadstate.edu 

Visit the Service Center located in Ginger Hall 111.