What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?

Summary

Microsoft Multi-Factor Authentication (MFa) is used to protect Purdue email and Microsoft accounts.

Body

Overview

Microsoft Multi-Factor Authentication (MFa) is used to protect Purdue email and Microsoft accounts.

Details

Multi-factor authentication is a process where a user is prompted during the sign-in process for an additional form of identification, such as entering a code on their cell phone or providing a fingerprint scan.

If you only use a password to authenticate a user, it leaves an insecure vector for attack. If the password is weak or has been exposed elsewhere, is it really the user signing in with the username and password, or is it an attacker? 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.

For more information and specific configuration directions for Microsoft MFA, please see https://it.purdue.edu/mfa/.

 

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Details

Details

Article ID: 85
Created
Mon 3/27/23 3:12 PM
Modified
Wed 11/12/25 9:06 AM

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