ISD 192 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA Updates

12/16/2024

Infinite Campus – Single Sign-On has now been enabled

Starting today Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Infinite Campus will be more streamlined. The MFA process will now be similar to MFA for district email (Outlook/Microsoft 365). As long as one has “allowed notifications” for Microsoft Authenticator, users will now be prompted automatically for their MFA 2-digit code by the Authenticator app. If you already have Authenticator notifications configured on your device, no additional action is needed.

One will no longer have to manually launch the Authenticator app, find Infinite Campus in their list of configured apps, read the 6-digit code and enter it in the authentication box within 30 seconds. Rather, one will be prompted to “Approve sign in request” and enter the 2-digit number in Authenticator, and select “Yes” IF you were the one initiating access to Infinite Campus.

05/06/2024

Skyward and SpEd Forms – Single Sign-On has now been enabled

Single Sign-On provides the convenience of unified access to additional district systems using the same district login credentials. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a highly effective method of helping protect and secure sensitive information by requiring an additional method of authentication beyond just knowing a username and password/passphrase. MFA is now the minimum standard for protecting personally identifiable and sensitive data in enterprise and cloud-based systems. As a district, we are required by our cyber insurance underwriters and auditors to enable MFA on all critical systems to better protect sensitive data. 

04/26/2024

Skyward and SpEd Forms – Single Sign-On w/ MFA Coming May 6th!

Starting Monday, May 6th both Skyward (also formerly known as ERMA) and SpEd Forms will start utilizing Single Sign-On with Multi-Factor Authentication for district users. Just like our Outlook email, Skyward and SpEd Forms will use the same Microsoft Entra ID authentication, so the process will perform similarly to how you access your district Outlook email. Since multiple systems are using our same Microsoft Entra ID for verification, if you have previously authenticated in the browser for access to a different web-based application, depending upon the timing and duration of your browser session, your verification credentials may be current enough and you may not be prompted to sign in again for the new access.

01/02/2024

Multi-Factor Authentication now requires a 2nd method to be setup. Due to security changes, if you only have 1 method setup you will now be required to setup an additional method. There are many different combinations to choose from. The available options include, Microsoft Authenticator App(preferred), call or text to a personal cell phone, call to office phone, or a secondary email address. The next time you are prompted for MFA it will ask for you to set up the second method. Please, don't skip this and follow the prompts.

05/22/2023

Multi-Factor Authentication with Infinite Campus has been enabled for all staff that have access. As the use of technology continues to increase in schools, it has become increasingly important to ensure the security of student information. One of the most effective ways to do this is by enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) for a district's Student Information System (SIS). 

Enabling MFA for our SIS, Infinite Campus, will help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive student information. This is particularly important as schools are often seen as soft targets for cyber attacks, as they have valuable data such as student names, family information, addresses, birthdates, and medical information. Given the age of the individuals, stolen personally identifiable information used to create stolen identities may not be discovered for years. Gaining access to a central SIS can also potentially assist in the unauthorized access to connected systems as well.

Enabling MFA for Infinite Campus is a crucial step in safeguarding learner, family, and staff information and ensuring the security and privacy of district data. Thank you for your help and ongoing support in keeping our collective data secure!

04/17/2023

MFA 2-Digit Onscreen Verification with Office 365 (Email) has been enabled for all staff. To improve our network security, we will begin utilizing 2-digit onscreen verification with the Microsoft Authenticator app and Office 365 (Email) Multi-Factor Authentication. Our tech team has reliably used this more secure access method for months and our admin team for several weeks 

No additional setting changes are needed by you. The Microsoft Authenticator app you have been using for MFA will automatically display the improved dialog window after you have confirmed your password. Simply enter the two randomly generated digits appearing on your screen; review the map location; and IF this was you requesting access to your email account, select “Yes.”

With this additional security, for those who use the Outlook application or email client, we are able to reduce the frequency of MFA prompts while off district networks from once every 5 days on a separate network, to once every 15 days. 

Individuals that use a web browser and Outlook Web Access for email access will continue to always be presented with MFA, in that attackers outside of our networks most likely will use a web browser to try and compromise an email account.

05/23/2022

Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) for Office 365 (Email) has been enabled for all staff. All users will be required to use MFA in order to access your Farmington email account or Office 365 products. MFA is a method to help better secure your Office365 email access from scammers and/or hackers.

Please note: For security reasons, individuals that use a web browser and Outlook Web Access for email access will always be presented with MFA, in that attackers outside of our networks most likely will use a web browser to try and compromise an email account.