Multi-Factor Authentication Using The hardware Token
If you would like to setup your account with the hardware token, please fill out the Request For MFA Hardware Token form. Once filled out, you will be notified by email for updates.
Once you get the hardware token, follow the step-by-step instructions on how to use your SMU email account with the token
Step 1
On your computer, visit portal.office.com and login with your SMU email. Click Next when you arrive at the screen below.
Step 2
You will be redirected to the SMU homepage login. Type in your username and password.
Step 3
You will be prompted to enter a 6-digit code as a second factor after entering your SMU email address and password.
Step 4
Press the hardware token's power button, and a 6-digit code will be generated.
Step 5
In the dialogue box, type the code. Please be aware that the code will only be available for about a minute before being replaced with a new one.
Congratulations you have signed in using MFA with your hardware token
What to Expect/How Many Times Do I Need To Authenticate
MFA will ask you to authenticate once a week when using installed apps such as Word/Excel/PowerPoint on the same device. It will ask you to authenticate on other devices you use or to a new device you never used before.
-Teams/OneDrive app and Outlook app can be separate authentications once a week also.
Therefore, it can be up to three authentications once a week. You would know that Outlook or Word apps need to be authenticated when you see an exclamation mark next to your name on the top-right of the app.
-For office365 activity in a web browser, it will ask you to authenticate every time you sign in to a web browser because browsers don't hold token keys. If you login to the browser often, checking the following on the login screen may help. (ensure the box is ticked and click yes. It doesn't work in incognito)
-If Teams need to be authenticated, it may miss calls unless it is authenticated only once a week on the same device for the locally installed teams app.