WOU has implemented DUO, a two factor authentication tool.

To login to a system you have to have both:

Something you know (your password)
Something you have (a passcode, a phone, or mobile app)

Why should I use it?

Strong passwords are essential, but they aren’t enough.
With the increasing rise of cybercrime, your accounts are more vulnerable than ever. Two-factor authentication can reduce the risk that phishing attacks and data breaches have on your account.

 

Methods of Authentication

There are two ways to authenticate with Duo at WOU.

Duo Mobile app

The easiest method of authentication is to use the Duo Mobile app (available on both iOS and Android). Here’s how it works. Once the app is installed on your phone and you have connected it to your account, the next time you log in to Portal, you’ll get a push notification to your phone. Either choose to login by touching the green checkmark to confirm, or, if you did not initiate the login process, choose to cancel by touching the red “X” to deny.

Benefits of the mobile app:

  • You almost always have your mobile phone on your person (unless you leave it at home, but, not to worry, we have a solution for that!)
  • Duo push notifications are fast and convenient
  • The app can also be used to protect your own personal accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Gmail, Amazon, etc.)

Physical hardware token

The second method of authentication is with a physical hardware token. Here’s how it works. Once it’s been registered to you (by going to UCS, showing your ID, and running through the hardware token enrollment process with the Service Request Desk), the next time you log in to Portal, you’ll be presented with a Duo prompt that has an “Enter a passcode” button. Push the button on the screen, as well as the power button on your token, then enter the code displayed on the token to the box on your screen. Sound complicated? It’s not too bad, really, once you get used to it, but the Duo Mobile app is definitely the simpler method of authentication. 

Get it on Google Play   Download on the App Store

Are other universities doing this?

University Employee Student
University of Arizona Mandatory Mandatory
Arizona State University Mandatory Optional (except direct deposit)
Mandatory planning underway
University of California, Berkeley Mandatory Mandatory
University of California, Los Angeles Mandatory Mandatory
University of Colorado Boulder Mandatory for specific applications Mandatory for specific applications
University of Oregon Optional Optional
University of Southern California Mandatory Student employee mandatory
Not available for other students
Stanford University Optional Optional
University of Utah Mandatory Optional
University of Washington Mandatory Optional
Purdue University Mandatory Mandatory
Colorado State University Mandatory Mandatory for specific applications
Iowa State University Optional Optional
North Carolina State University Mandatory Student employee mandatory
Optional for other students
University of California, Riverside Mandatory Mandatory
University of Tennessee Optional  (Fall 2019 mandate) Optional  (Fall 2019 mandate)
Ohio State University Mandatory Mandatory
Oregon State University Mandatory Optional
Pennsylvania State University Mandatory Optional
Portland State University Optional Optional
University of California, Davis Mandatory Optional (June 2019 mandate)
University of Florida Optional & Mandatory None
University of Illinois Mandatory Grads – Mandatory
Undergrads – Optional
Reed College Mandatory Grads – Mandatory
Undergrads – optional (mandatory fall 2019)
Southern Oregon University Mandatory for executive staff and some departments, optional for the rest Optional
University of Wisconsin Mandatory Optional (Q4 2019 mandate)