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What is MFA

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) helps safeguard access to data and applications. It provides additional security by requiring a second form of authentication and delivers strong authentication via a range of easy to use authentication methods.

What Is It?

‌MFA adds another layer of security to your online accounts

Requires “two factor authentication” (2FA) to verify your identity when you log in to a service by:

- Something you know (such as your password)

- Something only you have (such as your mobile phone, on which you will receive a login confirmation notice via text or phone call)

Why Should I Do It?

Protects users and their data from being compromised

Increasingly, hackers have targeted higher education institutions by using hacked credentials to:

- Fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as username, password and banking details

- Masquarade as you in an attempt to aquire sensitive information from others

What Are The Benefits?

MFA is the most effective way of stopping this type of fraud since you are notified and required to verify login to your account

MFA is essential to help safeguard access to critical systems

MFA provides much stronger insurance that your information is only accessible to the intended people, and that NUI Galways email systems and services remain available for students and staff

  •  MFA is not enabled in any of the Campus PC Suites or on-campus Staff PCs. You will simply need to know your Username and Password to access
  • When setting up MFA for the first time, you must have access to two devices to configure the Authenticator App (i.e. you cannot set up Outlook App for the first authentication on the same device that the Authenticator App is on)
  •  If you do not have access to two devices you can access Outlook via a browser session on your mobile device, you will then need to configure the Authenticator App using the 9 digit code and URL provided as opposed to the QR Code
  • When accessing your mail account via Outlook on the Web (i.e. through a browser) you will be asked for secondary authentication each time you start a new browser session, or each time you log out. MFA does not cache (remember) your secondary authentication via Outlook on the Web
  • When signing in via client / mail app / outlook app, you will need to reauthenticate at least every 60 days. To activate this option, remember to click 'Don’t ask again for 60 days' when you are authenticating
  • After initial set-up, MFA remembers your last used secondary authentication option. To change the secondary authentication see Modify MFA Setup
  • Mobile phone numbers provided for MFA are only used for MFA purposes
  • Should you lose access to your secondary authentication method (i.e. a lost or stolen phone) you will be unable to access your mail account. You will need to contact the Library and IT ServiceDesk to have your MFA credentials reset
  • For more detailed information on MFA, see Microsoft's dedicated MFA site here for more information

Getting Started

Get Started