Multi-Factor Authentication is coming!

Being part of the digital community, cyber theft is a real threat we all face, and at La Trobe, we value your privacy and identity!

From April, all La Trobe students will be required to register for Multi-Factor Authentication. Without Multi-Factor Authentication, you will not be able to access La Trobe Office 365 applications, like your email!

Multi-Factor Authentication is the second step to verify your identity when you sign into La Trobe applications. It prevents anyone, except you, from gaining access to your account, even if they’ve stolen your password.

Ensuring you use a strong password in conjunction with Multi-Factor Authentication prevents malicious access to your account and personal information.

The Information Service team will email you directly with instructions on how to set-up Multi-Factor Authentication. You will receive an email one week before Multi-Factor Authentication is activated on your account and one day before.

You must take action to prepare for Multi-Factor Authentication.  

The email you receive will give you all the information you need. To access all La Trobe Microsoft 365 applications, you must read the Multi-Factor Authentication How-To Guide instructions. It is recommended to download the guide and save it onto your desktop.

FAQ about Multi-Factor Authentication

Why is La Trobe University doing Multi-factor Authentication?

La Trobe University is rolling out Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all La Trobe University student account users, which is the best practice to address the threat of cyber attack. It is important to La Trobe University that we have secure verification processes to protect all our La Trobe University users’ identities and intellectual property.

What is Multi-Factor Authentication?

Multi-Factor Authentication is an additional step to verify your identity when using La Trobe applications.  It prevents anyone, except you, from gaining access to your account, even if they’ve stolen your password.

How does Multi-Factor Authentication work?

When logging into selected La Trobe systems and applications, you will be prompted to verify your identity via the Microsoft Authenticator application installed on your Smart Phone. This verification process on your smartphone is in addition to your username and password on your device that you access La Trobe applications.

You will be asked to verify who you are when you open a Microsoft application for the first time or use a device you have not used before.

The Microsoft Authenticator application will not have any access to any personal information (such as bank details, passwords, photos, messages, calls or browsing history) on your smartphone.

What do I need to install the Microsoft Authentication app and Multi-Factor Authentication?

To install the Microsoft Authenticator application, you will require:

1. A device to access the La Trobe environment; like a desktop computer or a laptop.

2. A smartphone. Follow the step-by-step instructions on the Multi-Factor Authentication webpage.

How do I update my password?

Visit the Password FAQ resources

How do I create a strong password to protect me from cyber attacks?

Visit the password guidelines page