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Division of Information Technology

Multifactor Authentication

As cybersecurity tools become more sophisticated, hackers shift toward targeting users, not computers. If a hacker can discover an authorized user’s password, they’re far less likely to sound any alarms as they access the university’s data and resources.

Welcome to the future of authentication.

Computing has changed drastically in the past 30 years. We share and consume more data today than at any previous point in history. There are also more people attempting to make a living by stealing that data.  It is time the ways we authenticate begin to catch up with modern needs. Multifactor authentication is a key piece to that puzzle.

Multifactor authentication (MFA), sometimes referred to as two-step or two-factor authentication, is an overly technical-sounding term for a very simple solution. Think of it as “password plus.” It operates on the assumption that just because someone knows your password, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are who they claim to be. It is an easy way to make sure that the only one using your credentials is you. It also helps prevent data breaches.

MFA is currently being used by USC students, faculty and staff for sites like my.sc.edu, PeopleSoft and myaccount.sc.edu. The Division of Information Technology will be turning on MFA for certain Office 365 applications for additional security.

To register for Duo:

  1. Install the Duo Mobile app on your smartphone.
  2. Log in to myaccount.sc.edu and select Update Account Settings. Log in using your Network Username and password, answer your security question, and then select the Multifactor tab.
  3. Click Duo Device Management Button (after 8/29/24).
  4. Select the Method of authentication that you wish to set up and follow the prompts. Repeat steps for each method.

You’re enrolled! Students, faculty and staff will use Duo Mobile for websites with confidential information and for Office 365 applications such as Outlook for Email. 

To register your new phone:

  1. Log in to myaccount.sc.edu and select UpdateAccount Settings. Log in using your Network Username and password, answer your security question, and then select the Multifactor tab.
  2. Click Duo Device Management Button.
  3. Select the prompt to remove older devices. 
  4. to add new methods , select the Method of authentication that you wish to set up and follow the prompts. Repeat steps for each method.

To reactivate your phone:

  1. Log in to myaccount.sc.edu and select UpdateAccount Settings. Log in using your Network Username and password, answer your security question, and then select the Multifactor tab.
  2. Click Duo Device Management Button.
  3. Select the prompt to remove older devices. 
  4. to add new methods , select the Method of authentication that you wish to set up and follow the prompts. Repeat steps for each method.

“Users without a mobile phone with the Duo Mobile app can procure a FIDO2-compliant security key (YubiKey) or use their operating system’s built in security features if available. For more information about operating system authenticators, see this link to Duo .

Contact the Service Desk at 803-777-1800 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.


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Duo Security

Duo Security is a multifactor authentication service that provides additional security for access to institutional and personal data. Duo offers several options for authenticating users: a mobile push notification, hardware-bound security keys (YubiKey), or platform-specific authentication such as Windows Hello, Android Biometrics, and FaceID/TouchID. Ask your local systems administrator or SA contact if Duo Security is right for you.


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