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Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

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Logging and connections
Information security
Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

This landing page contains links to all the University's MFA instructions. You can find more help from this instructions site by using, for example, the search. If you cannot solve the problem with the instructions, don’t hesitate to contact the IT Helpdesk.

Multifactor Authentication (MFA) improves information security by making scam attempts more difficult for cybercriminals. MFA is a feature that provides additional security when logging in to many of the University's services, and it uses a separate device to authenticate.

Phone call option for multi-factor authentication will be discontinued on 1 February 2027

Microsoft will discontinue support for multi-factor authentication (MFA) via phone call from 1 February 2027. After that date, you will no longer be able to use a phone call for authentication when signing in to University services.

Prepare for the change by checking your authentication methods well in advance and, if necessary, replacing the phone call option with another method.

Read more in the Flamma newsletter (login required).

Authentication methods

We recommend you to adapt multiple different authentification methods using two different devices so that you have alternative ways to authenticate your sign-in in case one of the other methods is not available (i.e. your mobile phone is lost or broken). You can add multiple methods of authentification as backup and choose an alternative method while you sign in in case you do not have access to your primary authentification method. 

The longest login interval for personal devices is 30 days, but some user groups have shorter times, such as the staff: five (5) days. On a risk basis, you may be asked to log in more frequently.

We primarily recommend the following authentication methods: 

Other possible authentication methods include:

  • Microsoft Authenticator application. Confirm your login by entering the numbers displayed on your browser screen into the app. 
  • Other authentication applications. Instead of Microsoft Authenticator, you can also use another app that generates time-based one-time passwords (TOTP). When setting up a different authentication app, first select Microsoft Authenticator and then Set up a different authentication app.

Deployment

Read more from the Deployment of Multifactor Authentication instructions.

Resetting the authentication methods

If the MFA authentication fails for some reason, you can reset the authentication methods in the MyAccount service at https://myaccount.helsinki.fi.

Note! Resetting MFA authentication methods requires strong authentication. Log in to MyAccount using one of the following authentication methods:

  • Suomi.fi
  • eIDAS
  • Candour ID
  • one-time password.

For more detailed instructions on resetting MFA authentication methods, see the separate instructions.

Do you suspect that someone is misusing your username?

At https://mysignins.microsoft.com/, you can check where, how and when your username is used to sign in to the Microsoft 365 services.

If you see an authentication or attempted authentication on the list that you did not make, please contact IT Helpdesk.

Breakage or loss of phone

If your phone breaks or is lost, you can try adding a new device on, for example, your work computer at: https://mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info.

For security reasons, we recommend adding MFA authentication to two separate devices. 

Additional authentication when logging in

Due to changes to multi-factor authentication (MFA), you may receive an additional message Stay signed in?, when logging in.

You can check the box Don’t show this again and reply Yes.

 

Problems?

More detailed instructions

Please also read the following more detailed instructions:

Keywords
MFA
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