Authentication to suit your taste

Welcome to week 4! Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is just like cake — the more layers the better! When MFA is enabled, it will require anyone logging into an account to navigate a two-step process to prove their identity — usually via a push notification.

How it works: When logging into your account, you first provide your password or passphrase. Next, you will provide an extra way of proving that you’re you; this is typically done through:

• An extra PIN (personal identification number)
• An extra security question like, “What’s your favorite pet’s name?”
• An additional code, either emailed or texted
• A biometric identifier like facial recognition or a fingerprint
• A unique number generated by an “Authenticator App”
• A secure token is a separate piece of hardware (like a key fob that holds information) that verifies a person’s identity with a database or system

Look for this week’s Recipe for Cybersecurity poster on bulletin boards around campus. Thank you for being the key ingredient in our recipe for cybersecurity success!