What is Multi-Factor Authentication?
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a security system that requires you to provide more than one form of identification at the time of login to ensure you are who you claim to be.
It combines at least two forms of authentication: something you know (e.g., a password) and something you have (e.g., a cell phone or a code generator). In this way, even if someone steals your password, they cannot access your account unless they also have your mobile device or code generator in their possession.
A simple example of Multi-Factor Authentication is withdrawing money from an ATM. To take money out of your bank account at an ATM, you need to insert your bank card (something you have) and provide your PIN (something you know). Missing either piece of identification will prevent the transaction.
Required Users
The following members of the Brock community are required to use Multi-Factor Authentication when accessing their Brock accounts:
Students
Faculty
Staff
Setting up Multi-Factor Authentication
If this is the first time you’re enabling Multi-Factor Authentication on your Brock account, refer to the guide below for step-by-step instructions on how to do so. You will need access to a computer and have your mobile device on hand to complete the process (depending on the MFA option you select, you may not be able to complete the setup process on your mobile device alone).
NOTE: Once you successfully complete setting up MFA on your account, your MFA status becomes on-boarded. While on-boarded, you will not receive prompts to authenticate your logins until your account becomes enforced (exception: you will receive a MFA prompt if you attempt to modify your O365 authentication information). Enforcement of MFA on your account will be activated by ITS.
Modifying Your Multi-Factor Authentication Settings
Once Multi-Factor Authentication is enabled on your Brock account, if you wish to change the way you verify your identity, please refer to the guide below for instructions on how to update your MFA settings.
Some reasons why you may want to make changes to your settings:
- you no longer trust your mobile device
- you no longer possess your mobile device because you lost it or it was stolen
- you have a new phone number
- you want to change the default method you use to authenticate
- you want to add a new authentication method
Adding the Microsoft Authenticator App
Microsoft recommends that you select App based authentication – notification as your default sign-in method, and that you move away from the less secure telephony methods (call and text). Refer to our guide Adding the Microsoft Authenticator App for instructions on how to download and configure the app to work with your account.
Support
Please contact the ITS Help Desk if you need assistance with Multi-Factor Authentication. Here’s how you can contact us:
Call Us
(905) 688-5550 x 4357
