Since Illinois State University is taking steps to ensure the safety of all faculty, staff, and students, here are some important concepts about multi-factor authentication:

• MFA is required for all faculty, staff, annuitants/retirees, and students.
  • Note: Newly admitted students will NOT be required to set up MFA until they receive access to their ISU email accounts, which occurs shortly before their scheduled Preview or Transfer date.
• Enabling MFA is required before choosing your authentication method. Methods of authentication include: phone call, text message, or the Microsoft Authenticator application notification.
• MFA protects more than just your email account.
• You can set your multi-factor authentication so you are prompted only every 60 days instead of constantly.
  • Note: Authenticating via MFA will be required each time you log in to the university VPN service.

If you want to learn more about this process, you can either call the Technology Support Center at 309-438-4357 or submit a ticket.

These are the most common reasons why your MFA may stop working:

• You acquired a new phone or phone number
• Unusual activity (you may have reported a suspicious sign-in request)
• Account has been compromised 
• Account has been locked 
• Stuck in an MFA Authentication loop
• MFA will not give the code 

To fix these issues, you will need to reset your Multi-Factor Authenticator. To do this, please get in touch with the Technology Support Center at (309) 438-4357 or by email at SupportCenter@IllinoisState.edu. The TSC will need to verify your identity by viewing a government-issued ID, either via our secure file drop system or a Zoom call. A Redbird card will NOT work unless you do the reset in person at TechZone.

If you are a student or employee of Illinois State University, you will need to enable MFA  on your ULID account. For instructions on enabling MFA, see How to Enable Multi-Factor Authentication.

Once you have enabled MFA, you will need to set up a verification method.

There are three options available:

• receiving a phone call at your specified phone number
• receiving a text message with a code
• approving your sign-in using the Microsoft Authenticator mobile app.

For instructions on setting up these methods, click the appropriate link below. 

• Setting Up Multi-Factor Authentication using the Mobile App. This is the most secure method and is recommended as your primary multi-factor authentication method.
• Setting Up Multi-Factor Authentication Using Your Phone Number - Phone Call Verification
• Setting Up Multi-Factor Authentication Using Your Phone Number - Text Message Verification
• Setting Up Multi-Factor Authentication using a FIDO2 Security Key

After enabling MFA and setting up the devices you use to approve sign-ins, you will be required to use MFA when logging in to Microsoft 365, using a Microsoft 365 application, Campus Solutions, iPeople, or VPN.

• Sign in Using Multi-Factor Authentication

The following video demonstrates how to use MFA to log in to Illinois State University applications: Using MFA to Log in to Illinois State University.