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Home > Help & Support > Knowledge Base > Security > 2FA Information > 2FA Roadmap
Additional 2FA Applications | Unify Login | Student Enrollment | Simplify Authentication | Timeline | Current Status |

2FA Roadmap

The following information is intended to provide faculty, staff, and students with information about the upcoming expansion and changes to the Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) program at Mason.

Last Updated: October 6, 2020

Background

George Mason University remains committed to your security and keeping your information protected. One way we achieve this is by using Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) with many of the university’s applications that may contain sensitive information. 2FA and your Patriot Pass Password are #Better2gether.

Building on the work completed during the 2019-2020 academic year, throughout academic year 2020-2021, ITS will continue to expand the use of 2FA to better protect personal information and Mason resources wherever you use your Mason NetID and Patriot Pass Password. To accomplish this, ITS will be:

  1. Protecting additional applications
  2. Enroll and require 2FA for students

The following is an overview of what’s come.

Jump to the Timeline.

Protecting Additional Applications

To best protect your personal information and Mason’s resources, 2FA will ultimately be used everywhere you use Mason Credentials (NetID and Patriot Pass Password). It is currently used for the following services as of the dates below:

  • Future: Blackboard and related services
  • June 2020: Employee Office 365 email, calendar, OneDrive for Business, MS Teams; Zoom; and other applications that use Active Directory Federated Services (ADFS) for authentication. For more information about 2FA for Office 365, see 2FA for Office 365 Tips.
  • March 2020: Salesforce, LinkedIn Learning, Qualtrics, Webex, and other applications that use Mason's Shibboleth authentication services
  • April 2018: Patriot Web, Travel Request System, Parking Services, and other applications that use Mason’s Central Authentication Services (CAS)
  • November 2016: Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Enroll and Require 2FA for Students

Protect your personal information in Patriot Web and other Mason applications. All students are now able and encouraged to voluntarily enroll in 2FA. Beginning September 27, 2020, students will be required to enroll in Duo 2FA:

  • Current Students: Before you change your Patriot Pass Password at password.gmu.edu
  • New Students: When initially claiming your NetID and setting your Patriot Pass Password for the first time

See the Get Started With 2FA Checklist for additional information and instructions on how to enroll. You will need:

  • Access to the internet and 2fa.gmu.edu
  • A phone - a smartphone is preferred - the use for the initial identity identification and future authentication
  • A non-Mason email address to use for emergency account recovery

2FA will be required for students to have Direct Deposit in Patriot Web.

Timeline

What's Happening When to Expect It Status
Summer 2019 Retire voice callback and SMS text for NEW enrollees July 23, 2019 Complete
Open enrollment for students July 23, 2019 Complete
Fall 2019 Retire voice callback and SMS text November 19, 2019 Complete
Spring 2020 Windows 7 End of Service Life January 14, 2020 Complete
Implement unified login experience March 8, 2020 Complete
Release 2FA for additional applications March 8, 2020 Complete
Summer 2020 Release of 2FA for Office 365 to all employees June 1, 2020 Complete
Voluntary student enrollment in 2FA available July 27, 2020 Complete
Fall 2020 Complete release of 2FA for Office 365 August 15, 2020 Complete
Release new Password Management website September 27, 2020 Complete
Begin current student required enrollment at password change September 27, 2020 Complete
Begin NEW student required enrollment during account claiming September 27, 2020 Complete
Spring 2021 Complete student enrollment in 2FA March 31, 2020 In Process

 

Current Status (Updated: September 1, 2020)

  • 2FA for Office 365:
    • Nearly 26,000 accounts are 2FA for O365 enabled; 6,200 accounts remain (~3,000 active)
    • 2FA for Office 365 is available for all employees upon request
    • All new employee accounts are 2FA required at time of creation as of March 2020
    • All Office 365 accounts to be 2FA enabled by October; weekly enrollments will resume the week of September 14, 2020
  • 2FA for Students:
    • Voluntary enrollment is ongoing and being marketed
    • Over 8,000 students already enrolled in 2FA
    • Communications for required enrollment under development and will begin by mid-September

Key Tasks Recently Completed

  • 8 weeks of 2FA for Office 365 (employee) cutovers complete during Summer 2020. 95%+ of faculty (non-adjunct) and staff are enrolled
  • 2FA for students voluntary enrollment marketed through summer and start of school through various media including ITS Website, Blackboard, social media, and Mason departmental communications

 

Last modified: November 12, 2020

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Related Downloads

  • 2FA Office 365 Tip Sheet

Related Articles

  • List of 2FA Authentication Options
  • How to Enroll Additional 2FA Devices
  • How to Remove an Enrolled 2FA Device
  • 2FA for Office 365 Tips

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