By Ryan Johnson, technology training coordinator

What is two factor authentication?
Two-factor authentication adds a second layer of security to your online accounts. Verifying your identity using a second factor (like your phone or other mobile device) prevents anyone but you from logging in, even if they know your password. With increasing security attacks across higher education, passwords along are not a sufficient way to protect resources.

At Penn State, access to many online systems is tied to a Penn State Access Account — the key to logging in to email, ESSIC and many other services students, faculty and staff commonly use. To implement and improve two-factor authentication across the University, Penn State has partnered with Duo Security, a cloud security company. The Duo Security app can be used on a variety of mobile devices as well as on land line phones and tokens.

Soon, Penn State will enable two-factor authentication on many systems and services across the
University. Signing up now means you’ll be prepared and protected as soon as services are integrated with two-factor authentication. To learn more about two-factor authentication and for information on how to enroll, visit http://bit.ly/1ALG6Oy.