Preamble


What is MFA?

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that requires the user to provide two or more verification factors to access a digital account. In this case, the first factor is the username and password, and the second factor is the code or notifications sent to your personal device.


Why do I need MFA?

With the increasing adoption of cloud computing, more and more information systems are moving away from locally hosted servers to the internet. This means more data is being saved on third-party infrastructure that we do not have direct control over. Your class teams and class notebooks are an example of something already hosted entirely online! Because this data is important for the daily workings of the school both inside and outside the classroom, it is crucial that access to this data (i.e. your accounts) are protected to the best of our ability.

Depending on company policy, you may be asked to further confirm your identity when logging in to a Microsoft service by using one of the supported multi-factor authentication (MFA) options. MFA is a common place technique used to protect digital accounts from unauthorised access with an extremely high success rate.



How to Setup Microsoft MFA


This guide details how you can setup MFA on your personal device to confirm your identity when signing in to Microsoft services using your school account.

NOTE: After setting up MFA on your school Microsoft account, you can update or modify your chosen authentication methods by navigating to the following link.

https://aka.ms/MFASetup


Getting Started

  1. If not automatically prompted when signing in to school Microsoft account (see screenshot), open the following link in your web browser and sign in with your school account.

https://aka.ms/MFASetup



  1. Please select either "Authentication phone" or "Mobile app". NOT "Office Phone". Continue by completing either of the following procedures, depending on your choice of authentication method.


Authentication Phone

  1. Find Australia from the list of country codes available and enter your mobile phone's number.
  2. Choose either method ("Send me a code by text message" or "Call me") and click next. It may be less disruptive to use the text message method.

  3. You will then receive a call or text with a code. Please enter this code to verify your device.

  4. Sign in using your credentials and your newly setup MFA configuration to confirm the process completed successfully.


Mobile App

  1. Choose either option ("Receive notifications for verification" or "User verification code") and click "Set up". It may be quicker to authenticate using the notifications option.

  1. Download and install the "Microsoft authenticator" app from your device's app store. In the app, add an account and choose "work or school account", and click "Scan QR code". Scan the QR code provided.



NOTE: If you are unable to scan the QR code, click "Or enter code manually" and enter the code and URL provided.

  1. Once the app has added and displays the account, click "Next".
  2. Select either option "Receive notifications for verification" or "Use verification code".
    1. The notification option will push a notification to your device that can be used to approve the request.
    2. The verification code option will ask you to enter the one-time code that can be found in the authenticator app under your account.

  1. Find Australia from the list of country codes available and enter your mobile phone's number. Click "Finished".

  1. Sign in using your credentials and your newly setup MFA configuration to confirm the process completed successfully.