Two-Factor Authentication

By Cathy McVey, information technology services

They say nothing in life is certain except for death and taxes, and April 15 will be here before we know it.

As you collect your receipts, tax forms and Tylenol, it may be time for a refresher course on a security feature that affects access to Miami’s electronic W-2 forms: Two-Factor Authentication.

Two-Factor Authentication (TFA) reduces the potential of security breaches and theft around certain sensitive resources. TFA means that two items (factors) are required to access protected resources. These two factors are:

• Something you know — your Miami password.
• Something you have —a single-use verification code, usually generated on a smartphone app or obtained via text or voice message.

Currently, only two situations require all employees to use TFA:

• When they access tax forms (such as W-2s).
• When they change direct deposit information.

If you are not yet enrolled in TFA, visit MiamiOH.edu/twofactor. Enrollment takes about ten minutes, and you can choose the delivery methods and backups for retrieving codes with which you are most comfortable.

 If you are a smartphone or tablet user, you can download the Google Authenticator app (available for iOS, Android and BlackBerry) and configure it to deliver TFA codes. If you own multiple devices, enroll all of them at the same time to receive your single-use verification codes at your convenience.

Another benefit of TFA is that you no longer need to be on campus to access tax forms in BannerWeb. Simply log in with your Miami credentials. When you are prompted to enter a single-use verification code, enter a code from a printed list, a text or voice message, or from Google Authenticator. That’s it!

For up-to-date information, including tutorials and video resources, visit MiamiOH.edu/twofactor. Support is also available from human resources in 15 Roudebush Hall and from the IT services support desk at 513-529-7900 or ITHelp@MiamiOH.edu.