In order to increase security, Canisius will be requiring all full-time faculty and staff to set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) for their accounts. MFA adds a simple to use layer of protection to your login process that will greatly enhance the security of your accounts. This requirement takes effect October 1st. Failure to set up MFA by this date may result in being locked out of your account. The setup is easy to complete and available in the Canisius portal now, under “My Applications”, “Multifactor Authentication (MFA) Config”. After enrolling in MFA, your password will expire every 365 days instead of every 180 days.
Instructions are available here: https://wiki.canisius.edu/x/Zy_8BQ
Users are strongly encouraged to set up more than one method of authentication.
Advanced users can also use a digital authenticator app. This is NOT required but is available as an alternative authentication method. Instructions are available here:
The Canisius Help Desk is available for any questions or problems you may encounter. For assistance, stop by the Help Desk in Horan O’Donnell 016, call 888-8340 or email helpdesk@canisius.edu
Additional information:
What is Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) and why is it going to be required?
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is defined as a security mechanism that requires an individual to provide two or more credentials in order to authenticate their identity. In IT, these credentials take the form of passwords, hardware tokens, numerical codes, biometrics, time, and location. Canisius will be using challenge questions and numerical codes that can be sent to alternate email addresses and texted to cell phones. An encrypted external authenticator application may also be used.
One example that we all encounter is when you log into your online banking portal and you’re given a code on your cell phone to be able to log into the online accounts. Everyone should understand the need to protect our financial and student data from those who wish to do bad things with it. We see daily headlines in the news about companies that have had data breaches. It’s just a fact of life now in the 21st century and our digital age. There are bad actors everywhere on the internet and users often are “tricked” into revealing their credentials. MFA helps to protect the college from these situations and keeps these intruders out of our systems.
By requiring our community to use MFA, our accounts and the data we access about students, college financials and other confidential information will be more secure and less likely to be obtained by others.
Submitted by: Scott Clark, director of user services, ITS
