SUNY Oswego Campus Technology Services (CTS) is adding a new layer of security for all students, faculty and staff beginning March 14.

“Passwords by themselves are no longer considered to be the most secure way to protect data and digital services,” Nicole Decker, Associate Director of Client Support and Communication, said. “So we have multi-factor authentication that puts another layer of security on top of the password.”

Decker continued by saying if you use online banking, for example, you have most likely already used this technology. 

Following a preset schedule, students will transition to logging on to certain platforms, like Blackboard, by using multi-factor authentication. According to Decker, students will log in like normal, but then will be asked for a code to verify their identity. How they receive the code will be up to the individual based on settings they arrange. 

“It could be a text message to your phone, it could be an actual phone call to even a desk phone,” Decker said. “There are a wide range of options that will be available and people can choose the options that fit their needs best.”

SUNY Oswego is switching from Blackboard to Brightspace for the fall 2022 and in an effort to not overwhelm the campus community, CTS is implementing this change over the next few weeks. Students can begin to opt in to start using multi-factor authentication during spring break. 

“It’s a week of no classes, there’s no teaching,” Decker said. “It’s a week where people can play around with it and start to get comfortable with it without being [pressured] to get things done.”

For those who choose not to opt in early, they will automatically have their accounts switched to the new system in April. SUNY Oswego employees will begin using multi-factor authentication on April 4, residential students will begin on April 11 and non residential students will begin on April 18.

 “We decided to stretch this out and divide it into cohorts so we could balance help with the audience,” Decker said. “If we turn everybody on at once, that’s thousands of people who [may] need help. We only have so many people to help those folks out so we don’t want that frustration on either side.”

The use of multi-factor authentication reduces the chance of identity theft and deters hackers, according to Chief Technology Officer Sean Moriarty, so there is no reason not to implement it on campus. 

“The risks are far greater than they were in the past,” Moriarty said. “ Higher education is now under attack, there have been a number of ransomware attacks on campuses and really the most effective manner to go into protecting our digital resources is through multi-factor authentication.”

Though it may seem unnecessary to some to use multi-factor authentication, Moriarty said CTS is just doing its job to save all members of the campus community’s data from potential threats. 

“I think there’s an expectation from people on campus whose data we’re utilizing and protecting that we use modern day tools to protect that data,” Moriarty said. “It isn’t that much [more difficult] to go in.[It’s] a few more seconds but it’s far more secure.”

When students go to set up their method of multi-factor authentication, Decker suggested that students set up more than one form of authentication in case of emergencies. Any phone number can be entered, so adding a landline or a friend’s number can be used as a non personal smartphone option.

“Accidents happen, phones die, batteries die, they get left in the car, you forget them at home, they get lost,” Decker said. “We just don’t want people to get caught in a situation where they can’t log in.”

For those with poor internet connections, Decker recommended using the Microsoft Authenticator app, which is another way to complete the verification. The app does not need internet connection so it can be accessed anywhere by the user. 

Decker also added that podium computers in classrooms and lecture halls will not be switching to require multi-factor authentication until the fall semester so professors will not be in a position where they cannot access their materials.

Students will receive more guidance about how to set up their multi-factor authentication settings and can contact CTS or visit www.oswego.edu/cts/mfa for more information.