Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) - General Information

General information about UMS Multi-Factor Authentication

For information on how to to enroll please see the article titled "Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) - How do I enroll?"

Information

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Multi-Factor Authentication (aka, MFA or 2FA)?
  • Multifactor authentication (MFA) is a security technology that requires multiple methods of authentication from independent categories of credentials to verify a user's identity for a login or other transaction. 
  • Generally the factors are categorized as:
    • Something you KNOW  (ie, a password)
    • Something you HAVE (ie, a device or token)
    • Something you ARE (ie, biometrics such as fingerprints)
• Why should I use MFA?
  • Credentials such as a username and password alone no longer suffice as a trusted identifier of legitimate users. There has been a sharp increase in the number of attacks that use compromised user credentials to access target resources.
  • MFA offers additional protection to your digital identity and is commonly used in many businesses.  MFA is highly effective in preventing identity-based attacks by allowing users to provide additional genuine evidence of their identity – in addition to the username and password that they they know, something they have or something they are.
  • Beyond all of the security benefits, MFA is really easy to use!
• When will UMS support MFA?
  • Since mid-2022, UMS supports MFA for most faculty and staff for most commonly used applications
  • Currently, only students using specific applications or employed in specific roles are eligible for MFA, but we hope to expand eligibility in the future.
• What will this mean for faculty and staff?
  • Whenever you are presented with the standard UMS login screen (as shown below), you will also be asked to authenticate using a second method.
  • 
• What are possible methods of authentication?
  • Recommended:
    • Installation of the DUO application on a Smart Device (ie, phone or tablet)
      • 
    • Key-ring Token that generates One-Time-Password (OTP) codes
      • 
  • Enabled, but not fully supported
    • Hardware token connect to your device (such as Yubikey)
    • Coming soon....  biometrics supported by your device
• I have more questions... who do I ask?
  • Please contact the UMS:IT Help Desk with your question. 

Environment

• UMS Standard logins