What is Two-Step Authentication in Office 365?

2-Step Authentication is an additional layer of security that several institutions (more and more every day) use to "double check" you are who you really say you are when logging into their services.  

Such authentication most usually takes the form of a challenge from the service's website to respond by a text that they send your mobile asking you to enter the digits they provide via the text message on their site.  The thought is this:  You have registered your phone number with the site so, along with the fact you already entered the password for the service, it is extremely unlikely that you had your phone stolen by any same such person who could now be trying to hack your account.  Many banks and credit cards do this by default now.  But, it is becoming default for most mail and online office services too!  (Google, Apple, and yup, Microsoft.) 

At MCA if you have self-serve password reset set up there is a similar process in place when you reset your passwords but you are not prompted every time you log in. That would be true Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) or in this case a simple 2-step authentication.

At MCA we have not turned this on by default for staff so, if you are a staff member seeing it, it would be because you have initiated it on your own.* 

Two services are impacted by this if you are encountering it in Office and there is a need to be sure they are updated and managed by any individual at MCA who has them set up; they are: 

1.  Setting up 2-step Authentication for Office 365

2.  Creating an App Password for Office 365

You should follow both of the above links and follow the instructions if you think you need to but you should always do them in order! 

*It is extremely important to recognize that if you are checking another mail account in your Office 365 Outlook (say, Gmail, for instance) then if you are having trouble with that account you will need to check with that service.  Office 365 and Microsoft, nor MCA, can assist with personal accounts.  Here is the link to Google for their 2-step authentication information.