A few months ago WSU started sending out notices about security changes to our email going into effect August 4. Like many of our critical online tools, they are beefing up the security and running our email through the OKTA/MFA authentification. This is supposed to deter all those email hackers from gaining access to our email accounts. However, for this to work, we all have to be running a compatible version of Outlook to access our email.
Many of you have been receiving reminder notices that you currently are not up to date with how you access your email account. I know that has been frustrating. You have the up to date version of Outlook on your computer, but you’re still getting these. Why? Probably because this isn’t the only way you access your email. WSU can tell how you access your email. The system can “see” what type of computer or device and the software used to access your email account. So, if you are using an Apple Mail on an iPhone, they will know and send you the notification that you need to get Outlook to continue accessing your email. If you are a Mac user using Apple Mail, you will also get the notifications.
The options you have for accessing your WSU email include:
- Using Outlook from Office365 on your computer
- Using the Outlook App on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device
- Using the online version of Outlook through office365.wsu.edu
If you deleted the ITS Notification that has their explanations and instructions, I’ve pasted the contents below. (FYI when they refer to “clients” they mean software or Apps)
Office 365 and Outlook Email Using MFA
On Aug. 4, Information Technology Services (ITS) will begin requiring Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Office 365 applications, including Outlook email, for all WSU users.
As an individual who is not using a current version of Outlook email software, we ask that you complete some preparatory changes to your email application to be MFA-ready.
Why is ITS making this change?
This change is critical to improved email security, protecting WSU data, and reducing the number of phishing and malicious emails, particularly in response to increasing information security risk associated with malicious actors who increased effort during COVID-19.
Why does this matter to me?
If any of the following applies to you, your email is not ready for MFA, and you need to follow the instructions listed below:
If you use:
-
-
-
- Outlook 2013, 2010, or 2007 to access your email, or
- A client like Thunderbird or any other IMAP or POP client to access your email, or
- Mac Mail or Calendar apps, or
- Mobile email application other than Outlook on iOS or Outlook on Android, or
- You set up email on your mobile device prior to May 11, 2020, or
- You have another email provider setup to download emails from WSU
-
-
You must do one or more of the following prior to MFA implementation, to access your email application after Aug. 4:
-
-
-
- Upgrade your email client to the most recent version of Outlook.
- Upgrade your mobile email client to the most recent version of Outlook.
- Switch to using Outlook for your WSU email.
- Ensure you can login to Okta using MFA
-
-
What clients can I use for Okta and Multi-Factor Authentication?
The below list of email clients are the only clients that will be supported by ITS for Multi-Factor Authentication with Office 365.
-
-
-
- Windows: Outlook 2019 or 2016
- Mac: Outlook 2019 or 2016 for Mac
- Mobile Device: Outlook App for iOS and Android
- Web browsers: Outlook on the Web (office365.wsu.edu) using an up to date web browser
-
-
When will this change take effect?
MFA authentication will be enabled for all faculty, staff, and students using Office 365 email on Aug. 4, 2020. All prior forms of basic authentication will also be disabled at this time.