Multi factor authentication now secures office 365 users

Microsoft announced a recent update which secures all the office 365 user accounts with a secure login with multi factor authentication.

Multi factor authentication is similar to that of the 2-step verification of Google and 2 factor authentication of Facebook. Microsoft’s rivals already provided this type of security to all its users and now Microsoft is into it and provided a free update to all office 2013 users.

What multi factor authentication means ?

Multi factor authentication is a 2 level authentication system which enables users with a secure login feature. All your accounts may have certain passwords but are you trusting your account security ?!  I think most of you aren’t right. Yes, this is the requirement which made Google, Facebook and Microsoft for establishing this secure feature.

Most of the users will register their mobile numbers for accessing some emergency information or getting calender invitations, reminders, the same mobile number can be used for a second level authentication. Once an user entered his secure password then a second level authentication triggers, a secure code will be send via SMS or a voice call or a smartphone app. Once user entered the code then the account will be accessed.

How to enable multi factor authentication for office 365 ?

• Office 365 administrators will need to sign-into the Office 365 Admin Panel and enroll users for multi-factor authentication.
• The multi-factor authentication page lists the users with user names and their status.
• The user signs in and is prompted to set up their second authentication factor (phone call, text message, app notification, or one-time code).
• Smartphone apps are available for Windows Phone, iPhone, and Android devices for uses who opt for the app notifications or one-time code.

Microsoft is providing few more features for office 365 users, one of the most useful is the facility of using app passwords in the office desktop applications. These are like application specific passwords feature provided by Google. App password is a 16 character randomly generated password that can be used as a password instead of users original password. Hope Microsoft rolls a multi factor authentication for office apps like outlook also.