Duo 2FA: Two-Factor Authentication at Medaille University
What is 2FA and What is its Purpose?
2FA is another layer of security to verify your identity while using Medaille University’s applications. In addition to a password, 2FA requires you to provide a second piece of information to confirm your identity when logging into your computer or accessing web-based applications on your computer.
When you log in to a Medaille University resource, such as Medaille360, Blackboard, Banner, Medallion, Microsoft Outlook Web Access, etc., you’re first prompted for your Medaille username and password. Your username and password serve as the first layer of protection. Each system uses them to confirm that you’re authorized to access the resource you’re logging in to.
With 2FA, you’re then prompted to provide a second form of authentication. You can use any device you’ve activated Duo 2FA (typically a smartphone or tablet) to confirm your identity and complete the login process.
Two-Factor Authentication is mandatory for Medaille employees to activate and use.
Why are we implementing 2FA?
- The FBI’s cyber division warned that ransomware poses a huge risk for higher education (June 2021).
- Education is the most affected sector for malware attacks. In the last 30 days, there have been over 6.1 million malware attacks against higher education institutions, compared to 900,000 against the second-most affected industry (Business and Professional Services)
- If you are able to log in to 2FA protected resources, you have access to confidential and/or proprietary data, if only your own. If someone else were to gain access to your Medaille University account, they would have unauthorized access to that same information. Because of the many ways cybercriminals can and do obtain passwords, a password alone provides increasingly limited protection against unauthorized access. Two-factor authentication significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
Activating Duo on Your Smartphone or Tablet
1. Once you receive the Duo Security Enrollment email, please click on the provided link to enroll the device of your choice.
2. You will land on the Duo Setup screen. Click Start setup.
3. Choose device type and click Continue.
4. Enter requested information and click Continue.
5. Confirm the info you've provided is correct and click Continue.
6. If you haven't already, install the Duo Mobile app on your iOS or Android device. Once you have installed the Duo Mobile app, click I have Duo Mobile.
7. Finish activation by clicking Take me to Duo Mobile.
8. Confirm intent to open in Duo Mobile by clicking Open.
9. Duo 2FA activation is complete! Use Duo Mobile as your second form of authentication whenever prompted during login.