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How-To: Setup MFA for your RSC Account

How-To: Setup MFA for your RSC Account

Multifactor Authentication (MFA) is a process where you are prompted during sign-in for additional forms of identification. This prompt will ask you to enter a code into the authenticator app we are about to set up. When you require a second form of authentication, security is increased, as this additional factor isn't something that's easy for an attacker to obtain or duplicate.

Mobile App Setup

The RSC IT Department now REQUIRES the use of the Mobile Authenticator App over the Text/Phone Call option due to the increased security it offers.

If this is your first time setting up MFA, it MUST be done on a computer or laptop, not your phone.

  1. On your mobile device, download and install the Microsoft Authenticator App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. It will usually be the second result, underneath a sponsored result. Please ensure you download the Microsoft Authenticator, other apps will try to charge you money.

    1. Apple App Store Link: Microsoft Authenticator for iOS

    2. Google Play Store Link: Microsoft Authenticator for Android

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This is the icon we are looking for.

 

Click allow if the app asks for any permissions. If this is your first time using the app, it will prompt you to sign in with a Microsoft Account. We can hit skip on this prompt in the top right corner.

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We want to get to the screen that says, “Let’s add your first account!”

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Once you get here, we will now move to the computer.

  1. Now that we have downloaded the app. When you sign in to an app that requires MFA for the first time on a computer, (i.e. Passport, Self Service, Moodle or Gmail) you will be prompted to set up MFA for your account. You should see a message like this:

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Click the “Next” button to get started.

You will then see a screen prompting you to install the authenticator app.

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Since we have already done so, click next again.

You will see another screen telling you to allow notifications if prompted by the app.

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Again, we should already have done this, so click next.

Now, we should arrive at the screen with a QR code. (This code is for example only, do not scan it.)

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Open up the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile device and perform the following steps.

  1. Press the + icon in the top right-hand corner of the application (or add account if you have no other accounts present):

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  2. Select “Work or school account” :

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  3. Select “Scan QR Code”:

  4. Scan the QR Code from the previous section on your screen. Your phone may request permission to access the camera, which you will need to allow.

     

Once the code is scanned, it will add an entry in your authenticator app titled Russell Sage College, with your email address beneath. (iPhones often try to scan twice and will give an error that the code has already been used. If this entry is in your app, you are clear to proceed.)

  1. Click next on your computer. A 2-digit code will appear on the computer screen. A window will pop up on your phone requesting this code. Enter this number into the Authenticator app.

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    Once the notification is approved, press next, and then done.

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  2. Once the 2-digit code has been entered, the process will activate your mobile app and finish. You will then be logged into the site you were trying to access. At this point, you can now use the Microsoft Mobile Authenticator to sign in to Sage services requiring MFA. When you sign in to a Sage service requiring MFA, you will receive a notification and a pop-up that looks like this:

 

View or Change Current MFA Settings

To add additional factors, or to remove old ones that are no longer in use, you can go to myaccount.microsoft.com and follow the instructions in this article to edit your MFA factors.

How-To: Update your MFA Information

Please note, that if you are planning on getting a new phone, you MUST delete your old device before getting rid of your old phone, as you will need to authenticate to sign in to this page. After removing your old device, you will be automatically prompted to set up MFA again and can follow these instructions again with your new device.

Wrapping Up

This article has demonstrated how to set up Microsoft Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for your RSC account. If you have any questions or run into any issues with MFA, please stop into the IT office or go to link.sage.edu/mfa for assistance.