We are excited to announce the implementation of both Google and Microsoft Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all faculty and staff members at Oxy College.
Dear Oxy Staff & Faculty,
We hope this message finds you well. ITS is excited to announce the rollout of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Oxy's accounts and for accessing Oxy’s Virtual Private Network(VPN), as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the security of our systems.
You are likely already familiar with using MFA for personal services that require more than just a username and password to log in. Most commonly you get a temporary code via a text or email that you need to enter along with your password. This is called Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and this tool helps to prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to your accounts.
We will roll out MFA in phases throughout the next several months and we are encouraging everyone to review the instructions below and set it up any time. Everyone can opt-in to use MFA at any time. MFA will be required when logging in to any Oxy systems in the future so now is a good time to set it up. Below are step-by-step instructions to enroll your account to use MFA at Oxy.
Oxy primarily uses two authentication mechanisms for web based services, Google Workspace and Microsoft Azure. Google’s MFA is used for email, drive, and other Google services. Azure’s MFA is used to authenticate external services such as Zoom and Moodle. Azure MFA will also be required for all Oxy community members requiring remote access using Oxy’s Fortinet VPN. Each system has its own processes and instructions but the end result is largely the same. After entering your credentials into Gmail and/or Azure you will be able to use your phone to approve the login and verify it is actually you connecting.
While using your mobile phone is the most convenient method for MFA, it is not mandatory. Your options for MFA are:
- Authenticator app on a smartphone or tablet
- Text messages on a mobile phone
- Voice calls on a mobile, office, or landline phone
- Hardware security key from ITS
Google Workspace MFA instructions
Microsoft Azure MFA instructions
We anticipate the process will take no more than 10 minutes to complete both enrollments.
Thank you for your cooperation and dedication to maintaining the security of Oxy's computing environment. Should you have any questions or require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at helpdesk@oxy.edu or (323) 259-2880.
Be well,
James Uhrich
Vice President & CIO
Information Technology Services
uhrich@oxy.edu | (O) 323-259-2506