Student How To: Online Services Multi Factor Authentication
Why Multi Factor Authentication
In order to comply with federal law regarding secure communication in higher education, Salem Community College requires all students to use Multi Factor Authentication to access the Online Services Portal, regardless if they are on campus, at home, or traveling.
This article describes how to register for Multi Factor Authentication.
Multi Factor Authentication is a security layer that helps protect your account(s) from malicious actors gaining access, by providing a unique one time passcode (Also known as an OTP) necessary to complete a sign in to a service. This unique code is only valid for a specific period of time, and requires a separate delivery method to the end user. Each time you log into the Online Services Portal you will enter a unique code. This prevents a malicious actor from any location in the world from gaining access to your account, as they would require access to your secondary method.
This unique code (or OTP) is generated using a mobile authenticator application such as Google Authenticator. or you may instead opt to receive a text message instead (Cell coverage not guaranteed on campus). Students may register for one or both methods, but must utilize at least one.
Mobile Authenticator Apps generate OTPs locally on the device; no network connections are required.
Text based OTPs require some sort of network connection to receive the generated OTP.
To learn how to register for Multi Factor Authentication, simply follow the directions below.
Registering for Multi Factor Authentication (click to skip to appropriate section)
Setting up Google Authenticator
Prerequisite - Two Devices Required
When setting up Google Authenticator as a Multi Factor Authentication method, you must start the process (Step #1) from a computer or device other than your smart phone. This is required since you will need to use your Smart Phone with the Google authenticator app to scan a QR code.
Prerequisite - Download the App
Google Authenticator is the recommended and supported authenticator application for Salem Community College. You may use another authenticator application, but we do not provide troubleshooting support for other applications. Having an authenticator application installed on your smart device is a required prerequisite to starting the 2FA registration process. The rest of this article will assume you are using the recommended and supported application, Google Authenticator.
You may download Google Authenticator for your smart device from the following locations:
Android Play Store
Apple App Store
Once you have the Google Authenticator app on your device, you are ready to begin registering for Multi Factor Authentication.
DISCLAIMER - Transferring OTPs to New Smart Devices
Be aware, if you get a new smart device, and have the ability to transfer your data from your old device to your new device, that the Google Authenticator App will transfer over, but the registered OTPs DO NOT TRANSFER. You must manually export and import your registered OTPs from your old device to your new device.
To learn how to transfer your OTPs from your old device to your new device with Google Authenticator, view this article:
How do I transfer OTPs to a new Device?
If you no longer have access to your old device, please contact the Help Desk for support.
Step 1 - Sign Into Online Services Portal
Click the Online Services Portal tile on the Current Students page on the SCC Website. Enter in your credentials, using your Student ID Number as your username and your current password.
If you are a new student, and did not yet change your TEMPORARY password from your credentials email, do not attempt this process. Follow the steps in the Credentials Email to reset your password, then return to this article.
See Figure #1 for reference
Figure #1 - Enter in Your Credentials
Step 2 - Select Mobile Authenticator
Upon logging in, you will be presented with the option to enroll in at least one of the two options: Mobile Authenticator or Phone. Select Mobile Authenticator and select continue.
See Figure #2 for reference.
Figure #2 - Select Mobile Authenticator and select "Continue"
Step 3 - Select your Smartphone Type
After Selecting "Continue", you will be prompted to select your phone type, as well as an "Entry Description".
The "Entry Description" field is how the One Time Passcodes that are generated will be titled in your Authenticator App. This guide will assume that you leave it as default. Once you have selected your phone type and make any changes you, select "Continue".
See Figure #3 for reference.
Figure #3 - Phone Type and Entry Description
Step 4 - Scanning the QR Code
The next screen will present you a uniquely generated QR Code for you (DO NOT SCAN FIGURE #4).
In Google Authenticator, select the "+" icon in the lower right hand corner. Select the "Scan a QR code". At this point, you may be asked to give the Google Authenticator App permissions to your device's camera; allow it to do so.
Hold your Smart Device up to the screen to scan the QR Code. In your app, you should now see the Entry Description in the list, along with a six digit number underneath it. Enter this number without spaces into the Online Services Portal screen as shown in Figure #4, then select continue.
Do note that the number displayed is time limited to 30 seconds; if the code expires before you submit, you must use the newly generated code.
Figure #4 - Scan the QR Code with your Smart Device, and then enter in the six digit code without spaces in the field.
Step 5 - Log In
Provided the code was entered correctly, you will be presented with a Mobile Auth Enabled Successfully screen (See Figure #5). This means you have successfully registered for Mobile Authenticator Multi Factor Authentication. Click the "Continue logging in" link to return to the sign in portal. You will be return to the sign in page, and automatically asked for a 2ND Factor / One Time Passcode entry. Enter in the six digit number from your specific entry (Keep in mind if it's about to expire or not).
Once you have successfully submitted the OTP, you will be logged into the Online Services Portal and able to access any of the tiles as normal.
Figure #5 - Mobile Authentication Registration Successful
Setting up Text Message OTPs
Disclaimer - Cell Coverage
The college cannot guarantee that cell coverage for every provider is available while on campus, at home, or travelling. Using a Text Message as your primary authentication method may result in you being unable to receive the text message in a timely fashion if cell coverage is insufficient in your current location. The college will not be responsible for any missed assignments as a result of being unable to log in due to insufficient cellular coverage to submit an assignment.
If available, we recommend enabling Wi-Fi Calling on your device when using Text Message OTPs. Wi-Fi Calling allows the use of a Wi-Fi network instead of a cellular connection for calls and texting, ensuring prompt delivery of text messages. Wi-Fi is available throughout the SCC Campus.
The college highly recommends if possible to use a Mobile Authenticator application if you have a Smart Device.
Step 1 - Sign into the Online Services Portal
Click the Online Services Portal tile on the Current Students page on the SCC Website. Enter in your credentials, found via your Credentials Email that you received (Note that you must have changed your password before attempting to use the Online Services portal. Failure to change your password before attempting this will result in you being locked out of your account.)
See Figure #6 for reference
Figure #6 - Enter in your Credentials
Step 2 - Select Phone
Upon logging in, you will be presented with the option to enroll in at least one of the two options: Mobile Authenticator or Phone. Select Phone and select continue.
See Figure #7 for reference.
Figure #7 - Select the Phone option and select Continue
Step 3 - Select Your Country and Enter in Your Phone Number
You will now be prompted to select the Country of Origin for your Phone number (For most, the default United States is already selected).
Once your country is set, enter in your phone number and click "Continue". See Figure #8 for reference.
Figure #8 - Select Your Country and Enter in Your Phone Number
Step 4 - Confirm Your Number
You will now be asked to confirm your text number, by entering in a test OTP sent to your cellular device. Wait for the text to be delivered, and enter in the six digit number it sends into the box and select "Login". See Figure #9 for reference.
Figure #9 - Enter in the OTP that was delivered to you via Text and select "Login"
Step 5 - Successful Enrollment
Following successful entry of the OTP, you will be redirected to Step #2 for Google Authenticator. This is due to the fact that Google Authenticator is set as the default enrollment profile for Multi Factor Authentication. Once you've reached this screen (See Figure #10), select the "Skip" button, to be returned to the sign in screen for the Online Services Portal (See Figure #6).
Proceed to login as normal, and be sent a new OTP to login.
If it keeps prompting you to register for a Mobile Authenticator App, refresh the page.
Figure #10 - Select the "Skip" option.