Introducing Multi Factor Authentication as part of your university sign-in

We will be introducing Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) as part of your University sign-in process from September.

From this time, MFA will be implemented for all off-campus access to the University's Microsoft 365 services (such as Outlook, OneDrive, Office365 and Teams) and other University online systems*. Therefore, you will be unable to access these services unless you have set your MFA preferences.

What is Multi Factor Authentication?

MFA adds an extra layer of security, following the input of your username and password, when you access some university services and systems while off campus.

MFA uses additional methods to verify who you are when you sign in; this could be an app on your work or personal smartphone, or a phone call. You will probably have come across MFA already when doing online banking or online shopping.

Why do we need MFA?

Cyber crime continues to rise and as a result it is increasingly important that your personal information and university data is protected. Adding an extra validation step after a username and password has been entered makes it significantly more difficult for hackers to access that service or system.

The extra validation step used by the University's MFA service helps to prove who you are by adding 'something you have' to 'something you know'.

Something you know - your password.

Something you have - a security token generated by an app on your phone or a phone call to your phone.

Set up guide

When you first try to log into one of the MFA-enabled systems, you will be prompted to configure a secondary authentication method. You only need to do this set up once.

This can be via the mobile app or a telephone call. It is recommended to use the Microsoft Authenticator app, configured to 'Receive notifications for verification', as it provides the simplest method of MFA approval.

Once set up, depending on your authentication preference you will either receive a notification to approve your sign-in, be asked to enter a 6-digit code from the Authenticator app or receive a call to your telephone.

Full instructions on how to set up MFA are available here > 

Once set up, you can edit your MFA preferences via your additional security verification options.

If you have any questions, please have a look at our MFA FAQs 

*Services and systems requiring MFA includes but is not limited to:

• University Portal and associated apps
• Solent Online Learning (SOL) and associated apps
• Microsoft 365 including:
• Microsoft Office 365 applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPointand Outlook
• OneDrive
• Teams
• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Planera (non-VPN access only)
• Quercus (non-VPN access only)
• Tableau (non-VPN access only)
• Contensis
• My Study Life

For a full list please see the MFA FAQs.