SUNY Oswego is taking the next step to enhance campus digital security and protect personally identifiable information and intellectual property. In continuation of the multi-factor authentication (MFA) security initiative the campus has been undergoing with various SUNY Oswego digital applications, Campus Technology Services (CTS) will enable MFA on LakerApps, our Google suite of Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Classroom and associated collaboration applications such as Google Chat and Meet.
Implementation schedule
The campus implementation will be staggered across various cohorts.
- Employees started opting-in March 22 with a completion date of March 31.
- Students start opting-in March 28 with a completion date of April 7
- Other cohorts including alumni, retirees, and departmental accounts are being scheduled and will be announced at a later date.
Implementation details
Starting at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28, students will start receiving notifications to configure MFA when they login to any web-based Google app. It will look like the following:
(Image reads: Don’t get locked out. Your domain will soon enforce 2-Step Verification to ensure better account security. This policy will be enforced from Mar 31, 2023 which means that you will be asked to enter a one time password when signing in. To avoid being locked out of your account please enroll into 2-Step Verification now. A link to learn more about 2-Step verification is included and goes to https://safety.google/authentication/. There is a blue button to enroll or a link to do it later.)
Google MFA works differently than other MFA-enabled applications and will require a separate configuration. Options available are similar to ones you may already be using for other applications including a phone call, text message, or an app like the Microsoft Authenticator app. Students have through April 7 to opt-in to the service. Instructions for enrolling into the service are available from the CTS MFA website.
Once you have Google MFA enabled, please note the following:
- When you login to your primary computer, you will be prompted for MFA the first time you login to a web-based Google app on that device. You can opt to “trust” that device which will stop prompting you for your MFA credentials on that device. You will still be asked for your password.
- You will be prompted for Google MFA verification when you use other devices. If these devices are public computers or ones you do not use on a regular basis, it is recommended to not trust the device.
- Computers in departmental and general access computer labs can not be exempted from Google MFA. Therefore, you will be prompted each time. While you may be able to “trust” a computer, the computer will forget the setting by the next day.
- Currently configured smartphones and tablets should not be impacted unless using Google apps through a web browser.
If you have any questions, please contact the CTS Help Desk during our normal business hours. Additional information is also posted on the CTS MFA webpage.
Sean Moriarty
Chief Technology Officer
Campus Technology Services