Multi-Factor Authentication For Students

What is MFA?

The best way to prove that it’s you!

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is an additional layer of security that keeps your account safe. With MFA, you will be using something you know (your password) with something you have (your device/smartphone) to confirm your identity.

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Where MFA is used in every day life

When using an ATM, you need your debit card (something you have) and your PIN number (something you know).
When paying for gas with a credit card (something you have) you need to enter your zip code (something you know).
When logging into your bank account online, you enter your password (something you know), and you are prompted to enter a security code sent to your device via text message or email (something you have).

Student Enrolling with Okta Authenticator

All students will be required to enroll in Okta Verify Authenticator to gain access to UW-Green Bay online services by December 5, 2022. Online services include, but are not limited to, Canvas, SIS, Microsoft 365, and more.

UWGB has chosen Okta Authenticator to provide MFA to all students. We recommend you choose to receive notifications with the Okta Verify app. With the app, you can simply tap “Approve” on the push notifications you receive on your device. You also have the option to use SMS text message, phone call, or a security key to enroll in MFA.

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FAQ

Is MFA Mandatory and why is it important?

Yes, students enrolled at UWGB will be required to enroll in multi-factor authentication to deliver an additional level of protection for their accounts. MFA is an essential element of cybersecurity and it will aid in protecting their online information as well as UWGB’s. All students are expected to be enroll in MFA by December 5, 2022 in order to access online services.

Multi-Factor Authentication adds an additional layer of security to your login process to prevent your credentials from being compromised. If someone gains access to your account, not only do they have access to your personal information like credit card numbers, social security numbers, and home addresses, but they also gain access to our UWGB internal ecosystem.

How do I get MFA?

Students who have activated their UWGB account as of Fall 2022 are already enrolled and do not need to take further action. Verify if you are already enrolled. If you have not enrolled, students should login to their Microsoft Account using their @uwgb.edu account and follow the instructions below to get setup.

Microsoft Multi-Factor Authentication Setup

If you have any trouble, please reach out to GBIT.

What do I do if I don't have a smart device or experiencing difficulties authenticating?

Any student that does not have a smart device can use the SMS texting or call me options for MFA. If you are experiencing difficulties with getting MFA configured, please contact GBIT for assistance. An IT professional will work to find a solution that works best for you. Our IT staff can go through the authentication methods to ensure your phone or tablet is set up successfully.

What services require MFA?

As of December 5, 2022 all UWGB online services will require MFA. This includes (but not limited to): Microsoft 365, Canvas and SIS. You will need your UWGB email address, your password and your method for MFA authentication to access to these services.

What device and authentication method should I use?

Any telephone or smart device will work. Smart devices are recommended as they provide the quickest, simplest experience through the approval of notification prompts. Additionally, SMS or text messages can be sent to your phone or you can receive a phone call for verification to the phone number on record. We encourage you to enroll more than one method in case your main device is lost or unavailable.

What if I'm an international/studying abroad student?

For the best experience for students who leave the country and still need to access UWGB online services that have multi-factor authentication, we recommend using the Microsoft Authenticator app. When traveling to your home country or abroad, students may experience issues when trying to authenticate using either the text message or phone call option. The app is available worldwide via the App Store and Google Play Store, but users in China may experience some obstacles downloading it.

To download it on IOS in China: The Microsoft Authenticator app can be downloaded through the Apple app store.
To download it on Android in China:The Microsoft Authenticator app is not available via the Google app store because the Google app store is not available in China. However, the application may be available through the following phone app stores:
- Baidu
- Lenovo
- Huawei
- Samsung Galaxy Store
Functionality limitations in China: Push notifications are not available in China for Android devices because they depend on connectivity to the Google Play Services and Google’s Firebase Cloud Messaging system. Users in China will be able to use SMS or phone call verification, if they are unable to download the Microsoft Authenticator app. For more information on MFA users based in China, visit Microsoft’s post.

The Microsoft Authenticator app also supports the following languages: English, Arabic, Basque, Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, Galician, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Kazakh, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malay, Norwegian Bokmål, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Simplified Chinese, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.

I still need help, who should I contact?

You can contact GBIT for help.