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Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a security feature to provide an additional level of identity verification to help prevent unauthorized access to UWindsor’s protected resources when they are being accessed from outside of the University’s networks – essentially from off-campus locations.

“MFA combines two or more independent credentials or "factors" -- what you know (e.g. your password) with something you have (e.g. your mobile phone),” says Marcin Pulcer, assistant director for client services in Information Technology Services. “This combination of factors creates a second layer of security for your UWin account.”

MFA rollout at UWindsor will begin Jan. 30. In preparation, all UWin account holders should set up their authentication options. To do so:

1. Navigate to myprofile.microsoft.com in a web browser and sign in with your UWinID@uwindsor.ca and UWin Account password.

2. In the Security info box, click the UPDATE INFO link.

3. Click the + Add method button to add an authentication method.

• Authentication methods include: Phone – text or call and Microsoft Authenticator App – verification code or notification.
• While there are different authentication options, one of them will be designated as the default method. This can be changed at any time.
• You can return to the Security info screen at any time to change or delete an authentication method.

It is strongly recommended that UWin account holders setup multiple authentication options for redundancy.

For more detailed information about authentication setup, see this knowledge base article.

Also note that once MFA is fully rolled out at UWindsor, setting up authentication options will be mandatory as access to UWindsor’s networks from off-campus locations will be denied without one.

“With the introduction of the new login process and MFA, UWindsor is enhancing its cybersecurity while easing the challenge of remembering and entering passwords,” says Pulcer. “In addition, once MFA is in place, the University’s password change interval will be extended from 120 days (or once per semester) to 365 days (or once per year).”

To learn more about MFA, visit www.uwindsor.ca/itservices/multifactor. You can also ask a question or open a UWin Account ticket.

Two changes coming this month will make more secure the process of verifying the identities of users before allowing them access to campus networks, advises Information Technology Services.

“Authentication is important at UWindsor,” says Marcin Pulcer, assistant director of client services, IT Services. “It enables us to keep our networks secure by permitting only authenticated users to access our computer systems, databases, websites, and other network-based applications or services such as UWinsite Student and Blackboard.”

Later this month, IT Services will introduce two changes to authentication:

New Login Process

Starting Jan. 16, UWindsor faculty and staff using Windows 10 on a centrally managed device will be able to log in to their device and gain access to several UWindsor online resources without having to re-enter their credentials. If IT Services visited you during the Fall 2019 semester, this is likely you.

Other UWindsor community members (including students) will continue to log in to their devices. They will, however, see a new login page when accessing UWindsor online resources. And, once they have logged into one of these resources, they will gain access to others.

Multi-Factor Authentication

IT Services will enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) starting Jan. 30, requiring a secondary credential or factor. This security feature provides an additional level of identity verification to help prevent unauthorized access to UWindsor’s protected resources when they are being accessed from outside of the University’s networks — largely from off-campus locations.

Before using MFA to access UWindsor applications, UWin Account holders (students, faculty, staff, applicants, retirees, etc.) will need to set up their secondary authentication factors. For instructions, read this knowledge base article.

It is important to note that once MFA is fully rolled out, setting up at least one secondary authentication factor will be mandatory as access to UWindsor’s networks from off-campus locations will be denied without it.

For more information about the new login process and MFA, see the IT Services website.