What is Multi-Factor Authentication and Why Do We Need It?

Recently, cybersecurity has become a priority for businesses, government, and schools which is why Goucher has included this as part of the new strategic plan. One of the first cybersecurity projects Information technology (IT) is implementing is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

MFA is a two-step process of providing access to a website or application for an added layer of security. Banks, colleges, and more now require MFA and most likely you’ve already gone through this process for at least one site outside Goucher.

To help ensure the security of email and data, IT will be implementing changes to how you log on to your email and to the Office 365 portal using MFA through a phone app. Other than the added security that comes from adding MFA to your account, there will eventually be other advantages:

  • Requests to change your password will be moved from 90 days to 180 days
  • You will no longer need to call the Help Desk to reset any passwords

Before you Begin:

Please review the following information prior to setting up MFA:

MFA will only affect Office 365 applications (i.e. Outlook) at this time. You will not need to log in to other applications (i.e. Canvas, UltiPro, Zoom, etc.) with this new method.

You will only be prompted every 90 days to verify your identity. This will occur for each device. For instance, if you use the Outlook app on your phone, you will need to approve access. If you then access your email through a browser, you will again be prompted to approve access. There may be certain situations where you might be prompted sooner than 90 days. Please review the FAQs for more information.

Verification will only occur while you are off-campus. When you use your laptop while connected to the Goucher network, you will not be prompted to verify your identity. However, once your device connects to a network outside of Goucher, you will be prompted as soon as you try to access Outlook (if you have not already been prompted within 90 days). Again, there are exceptions to this rule. Please review the FAQs for more information.

MFA will only work with certain apps on mobile devices. The following apps support modern authentication:

  • Outlook on iOS version 10.x and greater
  • Outlook on Android

Make sure you have the latest OS or application version installed on your device prior to setting up MFA.

MFA will only work with Office 2016 or higher or Office 365. If you are running Office 2013 for Windows or Office 2011 or lower for Macs, on your Goucher-managed laptop, contact the Help Desk to upgrade your system. If you are using Office on a personal computer to check your Goucher emails, please make sure that you are running at least Office 2016 (for Windows users) or Office 365 (for Windows and Mac users). Office 365 can be installed on personal computers for work at home use. For those who cannot upgrade or install Office 365 on your personal computer, you will need to use the web-based version of Outlook to check messages.

Instructions on how to take advantage of Microsoft’s Office 365 home use option

Two authentication methods are needed to be set up to fulfill MFA requirements. Entering your password and setting up one of the methods below is not enough to fulfill MFA requirements. You will need to set up both the authenticator app and the phone methods. The only exception is if you have a non-smartphone device. In that case, only set up the phone method.

Get Started

Once you have reviewed this information, go to Setting Up Multi-Factor Authentication for instructions.

Have more questions? Review the Multi-Factor Authentication FAQs page.

Multi-Factor Authentication FAQs

What is Microsoft Authenticator?

Microsoft Authenticator is a free mobile device application that can be downloaded from Google Play or Apple store. The app notifies you if access to an Office 365 application is being attempted. If you did not initiate the access, you then select the option to not approve it. If you did, then you select “Yes” and you will be given immediate access.

The app also provides a one-time password code in case you need another way to verify your identity. The code changes every 30 seconds for added security.

Why do I keep getting “Activation failed” when setting up the authenticator app?

In order for the authenticator app to work properly, it needs to be able to send you notifications when it needs you to approve access to an Office 365 application. If you see the message below, go to your phone settings and make sure that push notifications are enabled for the authenticator app.

You may also need to make sure that the app has access to your camera if you need to scan a barcode to complete the setup.

Why do we have to use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?

Cyber attacks are more prevalent than before. Goucher needs to take steps in order to prevent any major threats. Setting up MFA is one of many IT projects that will be implemented to address cyber security as part of the strategic plan.

What do I do if I’m not able to download the Authenticator app on my phone?

If you get an invalid link when you scan the barcode or are not able to find “Microsoft Authenticator” app in the Google Play or Apple store, you can use the following links:

Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-authenticator/id983156458

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.azure.authenticator&hl=en_US&gl=US

Access this link from a browser on your phone and it should bring you to the correct app. If you continue to experience a problem, please contact the Help Desk.

I already have Goucher email setup on my phone. Will that cause a problem?

This may cause a problem. We recommend you remove the Goucher email account and make sure your phone is running the latest operating system before going through the instructions.

For instructions on how to remove and add your Goucher account back to your phone please check the following link https://blogs.goucher.edu/knowledgebase/2018/07/05/adding-your-office-365-email-account-to-your-mobile-device/

Why do we have to select two methods? Isn’t one method and entering my password enough?

As you know, a password is one of the easiest things that can get hacked. Therefore, we cannot rely on passwords alone. Providing two additional methods provides a backup method just in case you experience a problem with the other.

For instance, You set up the authenticator and phone as your MFA methods. If for some reason the authenticator app doesn’t work, you can then select to use the phone method to receive your verification code.

I don’t have a smartphone. Is there another option to set this up?

Although the authenticator app is one of the preferred methods, we understand that not everyone has a capable phone. If that’s the case, you should only set up the phone method to receive your verification code via phone or text.

I use Mail for my Goucher email already. Can I still use that instead of the Outlook app?

The Mail client is not as reliable as the Outlook app. It is highly recommended you use the Outlook app to avoid any problems.

I went through all the steps, but I’m getting a message that I’ve been blocked. What do I do now?

Make sure you’re using the Outlook app instead of the Mail app if you’re an iPhone user.

If you are using the Outlook app, remove the Goucher email account and add it back in. If you continue to experience a problem, contact the Help Desk.

Why am I being prompted to enter my credentials when it hasn’t been 90 days yet?

There could be two reasons for this:

Changing IP address. If you take your device on campus and then bring it back home, there is a possibility that the IP address change from one location to another triggers the authentication. The same applies if you travel from one location to another even off-campus.

A general use account setup in Outlook. If you have a department or shared account setup in Outlook, you may continue to get prompted to enter credentials because the account hasn’t been setup in MFA yet. If you go through the steps for that account, please make sure to only select E-mail and Phone for the authentication methods. Contact the Help Desk if further assistance is needed.

I tried to set up phone sign-in via the app and it says that it’s not enabled. How do I set up the phone method?

The phone method can only be set up through the MFA Setup website. The phone sign-in is another option that the authenticator app provides that we are not implementing at this time.

Important Related Links: What is Multi-Factor Authentication and Why Do We Need It? and Setting Up Multi-Factor Authentication

How to Use Webcam in Classroom

Connect Webcam to Laptop

Locate the USB cable connected to the webcam

Connect the cable to your laptop’s USB port. If using a laptop equipped with a USB-C port, then use the USB hub that was provided with your laptop.

Zoom Settings

If the connected webcam is not detected by default, navigate to the bottom of the screen.

Click the arrow next to the “Stop Video” icon.

Select the USB webcam in use. For example,  “AUKEY PC- LM1E Camera,” or “Logitech C920.”

To use the connected webcam’s microphone, navigate to the bottom of the screen.

Click the arrow next to the “Mute” icon.

Under “Select a Microphone” click the microphone corresponding to the make and model of the webcam. For example, “AUKEY PC-LM1E.”

Under “Select a Speaker” click on the appropriate speaker output. For example, “HDMI” if using the AV system.

Instructional Videos

How to Connect Your Windows Laptop

How to Connect Your MacBook (Coming Soon)

Setting Up Multi-Factor Authentication

Before you Begin:

Review the information provided in the What is Multi-Factor Authentication and Why Do We Need IT? article prior to going through these instructions. Also, take the time to review the instructions before going through the steps.

Instructions:

Everyone must follow the instructions in Step 1 to set up the Microsoft Authenticator App on their phone. Once Step 1 is complete, you can then follow the instructions in Step 2 for Phone verification. For those without a smartphone, you can skip to Step 2.

Please read the instructions below carefully prior to following the steps.

Step 1: Microsoft Authenticator App

Once installed, this will be set as your default sign-in method. You can change this if you prefer to use a different method as your default.

  1. Visit the MFA Setup link and sign in with your Office 365 username ([username]@goucher.edu) and password.
  2. From the Security info page, click Add Method then select Authenticator App.
  3. Then click the Add button.
  4. You will then be prompted to download the app to your phone. From your phone, launch the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
  5. Search for and download the Microsoft Authenticator app. Once downloaded, click Next on the Microsoft Authenticator window on your computer. Then click Next again.
  6. Open the Microsoft Authenticator app and select to allow notifications (if prompted).
  7. Select Add Account from the Customize and control icon (3 vertical dots) in the upper-right corner.
  8. Then select Work or school account (Android) or Scan a QR Code (iPhone).
    NOTE: If this is the first time setting up the Microsoft Authenticator app, you might receive a prompt asking whether to allow the app to access your camera (iOS) or to allow the app to take pictures and record video (Android).  Please select “Allow” so the authenticator app can access your camera to take a picture of the QR code in the next step.
  9. Scan the QR code provided on the screen which will add the account to the device automatically. Once this is complete, click Next on your computer.
  10. From your phone, click Approve to allow your account to be added to the Authenticator app.

Tip: If you are not able to scan the QR code or are denied access, you can still receive approval by providing the one-time password code found in the Microsoft Authenticator app.

Step 2: Phone

As a backup option to the Microsoft Authenticator app, it is recommended to add a second method. To receive a phone call or text to verify your identity, follow these steps:

  1. From the MFA Setup page, click Add Method then select Phone.
  2. Enter your cell phone number and choose the option to either Text me a Code or Call Me.
    • If you choose the text option, you will receive a message on your phone with the code you need to enter.
    • If you choose the call option, you will get a phone call for verification. Please follow the prompts to continue.

Your Security info page should look like this once both methods are set up:

Verifying Your Identity

Once all the methods are set up, you can then attempt to access your Goucher email. If you are off-campus, you should be prompted to enter your password, then an option should appear to verify your identity. Here’s how the app should look once it’s been set up:

If the authenticator app is installed on your phone and set as the default sign-in method, then you’ll be prompted to approve access. If you selected a different identity method, then a verification code will be sent via text or phone call.

You will only be prompted for MFA once the feature is enabled for your account. If you do not receive a prompt while off-campus then it hasn’t been enabled for you yet.

Troubleshooting tip: If you already have your Goucher email setup on your phone, you may experience a problem with the authentication. If that is the case, remove the Goucher account from your email app then add it back again.

For instructions on how to remove and add your Goucher account back on your phone please check the following link https://blogs.goucher.edu/knowledgebase/2018/07/05/adding-your-office-365-email-account-to-your-mobile-device/

Please contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@goucher.edu if you experience a problem during setup.

 

Important Related Links: What is Multi-Factor Authentication and Why Do We Need It? and Multi-Factor Authentication FAQs

 

How to Pull Audits in Degree Works

Go to http://degreeworks.goucher.edu and log in with your Goucher username and password.

You’ll then see a student search page.  If you know the student’s ID number, you can enter it here.  If you want to search by name, click Advanced search.

Clicking Advanced search will open the following screen.  Enter the student’s name.  Both names don’t need to be entered.  After entering the name, click the Search button.

A list of students that match your search will be displayed. All students that match are checked by default.  You can uncheck all the names by clicking the check box next to the “Id” column and then re-select just the student you want to review.

Clicking the Select button at the bottom left will take you back to the Worksheets page.

To start reviewing audits, click on the Select Student box and choose from the list of students.

If you have any questions or experience any issues, please contact the helpdesk at x6322 or at helpdesk@goucher.edu.

PDFelement FAQs

PDFelement is an alternative application to Adobe Acrobat. It allows you to create, edit, sign, convert, and OCR documents. We are currently testing this application with a limited number of licenses. Here are some common questions that will help current users.

What is the difference between PDFelement and Acrobat?

The main difference is that Acrobat is a product of Adobe and PDFelement is provided through a company called Wondershare. Wondershare has created PDFelement as a low-cost alternative to Acrobat while providing all of the same features that Acrobat provides. Anything that you’ve been able to do in Acrobat, you will be able to do with PDFelement.

I need to add my signature to documents. Can I get a PDFelement license?

Not necessarily. Since we have limited licenses, we can only provide it to faculty and staff who do a lot of editing of PDFs. You do not need PDFelement to add signatures to a document. Adobe Reader provides that functionality as well as commenting and some editing features. If you’re not sure if Adobe Reader will do everything you need, please contact the Help Desk for guidance.

I get a message about a watermark when I try to save a document? How do I fix this?

You could be getting this message because PDFelement is unable to verify the license. Please check the upper right corner to make sure that your username is listed. If it states “Log in” then your license isn’t applied. Click the Log In button and enter your Wondershare ID and password. Note: This is different from your Goucher username and password.

My Goucher username and password aren’t working to login. Do I need to reset my password?

Your Goucher username and password will not work with PDFelement. When the license was first assigned to you, you should have received an email with your Wondershare ID and your initial password. Your Wondershare ID will always be your Goucher email address in the format firstname.lastname@goucher.edu. You should always change your initial password to prevent anyone else from logging in as you. If you can’t remember your Wondershare password, click Log In to access the Account window. Then click the Forgot Password? link and follow the steps to reset your password.

I get an error when I try to add a signature after combining PDFs? What am I doing wrong?

You are doing the steps correctly. There is a known bug that is causing the error. Here is a workaround until the bug is fixed:

  1. Open the first document in PDFelement.
  2. Click the thumbnail view.
  3. Right-click the document and choose Insert pages and select From PDF and select the second document.
  4. Click OK to complete the insert process.
  5. Follow steps 2-4 again for any additional documents that need to be inserted.
  6. Select the document in thumbnail view go through the steps of applying the signature.

How can I find out how to use PDFelement?

Wondershare has an extensive video library on their YouTube channel. You can access it by going to Wondershare PDFelement.

Can I install PDFelement on more than one computer?

You can install PDFelement on as many computers as you like. However, Wondershare only allows you to be logged in on two computers at a time. So, if you want to use a different computer then you’ll need to log off one or the license will be revoked as soon as you sign in on another computer.

PDFelement takes a while to load on my computer. Why is that?

We’ve noticed that this happens mainly on Windows computers for some reason. Although Wondershare stated that they improved the performance, it still opens slower than expected. One reason why it could take longer is because once PDFelement launches, it has to check in with the Wondershare licensing server to make sure that a) your license is valid and b) your license is not active on more than two devices. Once it does that, any subsequent documents that you open or save tend to process much quicker.

I’m getting errors for things I’ve done before. What could be causing this?

Make sure you’re running the latest version of PDFelement. Wondershare will usually prompt if there’s an update. You can select “Later” but then you’re also be delaying a fix that you need. Take the time to run the updates as they come quite regularly. If after installing the latest updates and you still get an error, please open a ticket with our Help Desk so we can reach out to Wondershare support for a possible fix.

 

 

 

Work at Home Guide

During these last few months, we have quickly transitioned from work in the office to work in the home office. One big difference is not having tech support readily available to assist with home office issues. This guide was created to help prepare you for working at home if you’re new to Goucher and to provide some troubleshooting tips if you’ve started to encounter some technical problems.

Click the FAQ title to access the information for that section.

RPNow Proctored Exam FAQs

 

**Discontinued**

RPNow was a online test proctoring service put into place during the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Questions related to the availability of this service in the future should be addressed to the Office of the Provost.

How to Upgrade to Office 365 for Macs

Every Mac user will need to have Office 365 installed by October 13, 2020. That is when Microsoft will no longer support Office 2010 and Office 2016 for Macs. If you’re not sure which version you have installed on your computer, perform the following:

  1. Launch Word.
  2. Click the Word menu in the top left.
  3. Select About Microsoft Word.

If the version shows 2010 or 2016 then you need to upgrade. Here are two options on how to upgrade to Office 365:

Upgrade Option 1: Self Service

  1. First, connect to the VPN.
  2. Launch Self Service from the dock or do a search. The Self Service icon is the Goucher Gopher icon with a black background.
  3. Click the Applications option from the left side menu.
  4. Then click Install for the Microsoft Office 365 (AY21) application. It will perform a silent install which will take about 10-30 minutes depending on your connection.
  5. When it’s done, the button will change to “reinstall.” Make sure that the Office applications are installed on your computer.
  6. After installation, launch one of the applications. You should then be prompted to enter your Office login.
  7. Enter your [username]@goucher.edu in the username field and your Goucher password.
  8. Then accept the license agreement to continue.

Upgrade Option 2: Office.goucher.edu

  1. Go to office.goucher.edu and enter your Office login: [username]@goucher.edu and Goucher password.
  2. Once logged in, click the Install Office menu located on the top right side. Then select Office 365 apps to begin the download.

    The install window instructions will appear and the Office install package will start to download on your computer.

  3. Depending on your browser, launch the Microsoft Office 16 installer package either from the bottom of the browser, Download folder, or the down arrow link at the top right corner.
  4. Select Yes to install then follow the prompts to complete. The install should take between 5-10 minutes.
  5. After installation, launch one of the applications. You should then be prompted to enter your Office login.
  6. Enter your [username]@goucher.edu in the username field and your Goucher password.
  7. Then accept the license agreement to continue.

If you run into a problem with one of the upgrade options, then try the other option. If neither works, please contact the Help Desk for further assistance.

Goucher Zoom Accounts

Goucher College uses Zoom to host online web meetings. Current faculty, staff, and students can use Zoom to collaborate synchronously online with or without a webcam. Use the following instructions to get started, upgrade your account (faculty/staff only), test your settings, see tips, or get technical assistance.

Sign In / Create an account (Web browser) 

Accounts are created automatically the first time a user logs in successfully on our site.

    1. Go to http://goucher.zoom.us and click Sign In (NOT Sign Up) to launch a Goucher login page* with a campus picture on it.
      *If the Sign In link or Goucher login page do not appear, your browser is logging you in  to a Zoom account automatically. To sign into a different account, you will need to…
      – Click your profile icon and choose “Sign Out”, then CLOSE YOUR BROWSER
      – Open and sign-out of the Zoom software installed on your Mac or Windows computer, then CLOSE THIS SOFTWARE
      – Restart your browser and start step one over.      *You might be prompted to “switch accounts” if you previously had a personal Zoom account registered under your Goucher email address. This is correct. Please follow all prompts and instructions for switching your account over to Goucher’s hosted site. 
    2. Enter your Goucher username (NOT email) and password to continue. A licensed account will be created for you automatically. 

Sign In From Desktop Software

Once your account is created (see above), you will often be prompted to “Open Zoom Meetings” to join or run meetings using the Zoom desktop software. Should you need to sign-in from the software screen, click the “Sign In with SSO” button, and then type goucher as the company domain to proceed.

 

Join A Test Meeting

You can join a test Zoom meeting to familiarize yourself with Zoom controls and test your microphone/speakers before joining a Zoom meeting. You can also test your video or audio while in a Zoom meeting. Note that users in a Zoom test meeting are added as participants, not hosts, so host features such as sharing and recording are not available for testing.

Use Zoom Add-ins

Add Zoom To A Canvas Course
Instructors can schedule and start Zoom meetings directly from their Canvas course(s) using the Canvas Zoom tool. To start, add Zoom to your Canvas course navigation through the course settings. Once added, click the link to access your Zoom meeting information. Here you can create new meetings or start meetings already scheduled.

Students will see a list of scheduled meetings for just this class along with a JOIN button. They will not see meetings scheduled with other classes. Click here for more details.

Add Zoom Outlook Plug-in
The Outlook Plug-in for Zoom is available to add to your Outlook calendar for synchronized meeting scheduling. The plug-in is available to download and install on the Goucher Zoom site meetings screen. When prompted to Sign In, click the “Sign in with SSO” button underneath the password fields, and then type goucher as the company domain to proceed.

Add Live Transcriptions to Your Meeting as a Host (Highly Recommended)

Zoom hosts can enable a side panel in their meetings that automatically transcribes spoken words to text for participants to follow (much like closed captioning).  Here’s how…

IN-MEETING FOR HOSTS

When hosting a meeting, click the LIVE TRANSCRIPT button on the host toolbar (1), and then select ENABLE AUTO-TRANSCRIPTION from the pop-up window (2). If your window is too small to display the entire host toolbar, you will need to click the MORE (3) button first.

IN-MEETING FOR PARTICIPANTS:

When enabled by the host, you will see a notification above Closed Caption/Live Transcript in the meeting controls, informing you that one of these services is available. If live transcription is available, click Live Transcript, and then select Show Subtitle.

 

VIEWING IN CLOUD RECORDINGS:

Audio transcription is turned on for cloud recordings by default*. When recordings are played, the transcribed text appears on the right-hand side of the video. To display the transcript as closed captions while playing a recording, click the CC icon at the bottom right of the screen.
*Note that the audio transcript may take additional time to process after the cloud recording video/audio has processed.

For more detailed information on downloading, viewing, and editing audio transcription saved to a cloud recording, visit this Zoom Support article.

Get Training and Technical Assistance

Have a question about using Zoom? We rely on the Zoom Help Center to provide technical assistance for our Zoom users. Refer to this this page first for helpful instructions, training videos, and answers to questions about how to use Zoom. The video tutorials are particularly useful.

Goucher users can submit a support request to Zoom by online submission or by initiating a chat using the chat bubble available on the Zoom web page.

Questions not answered after contacting the Zoom Help Center should be directed to helpdesk@goucher.edu.