The College is committed to protecting you from cyber threats. We’re rolling out Multifactor Authentication (MFA) and Passwordless Authentication (PWA) to all students over the next few months to help increase account protection.
The Cyber Security Operations Center strongly recommends that students use the Microsoft Authenticator app (free on iOS and Android) for MFA and PWA, downloadable from your device’s app store.
What you will need
- Your mobile device
- A workstation, laptop, or tablet
What you need to do
First log in to https://aka.ms/mfasetup from your workstation, laptop, or tablet and watch the video below. Follow the instructions in the video on how to complete the setup. Give yourself 10-15 minutes to complete the process. You’re more than half done!
You must complete step 2 (Set up MFA) before completing this section.
- Open the Microsoft Authenticator App on your mobile device and select the Work/School Account.
- Find and choose the ‘Enable phone sign-in' selection.
- Review the prompts detailing ‘Device registration’ and ‘Set passcode’ and then tap ‘Continue’.
- Type your myBVC password to verify your account and sign-in.
- Watch for the ‘Approve sign-in?’ message to pop-up on the screen. Choose ‘Approve’.
- Click ‘Continue’, and you will now notice that ‘phone sign-in' is enabled.
The next time you sign-in to accounts connected with your myBVC account, you must select the option to ‘Use an app instead’ when asked to enter your password. This will trigger the Microsoft Passwordless sign-in.
Here, you will see a number on the screen that must be matched with a number in the Microsoft Authenticator App as a first factor of authentication to approve your sign-in. A second factor of authentication will now be required on your device such as a fingerprint, face ID, or pin code when authenticating.
You’re done!
Additional details
Alternately, step-by-step print-based instructions on how to install and configure the app can be found Multifactor Authentication (MFA) and PWA Installation Instructions.
The Microsoft Authenticator app is a commercial application, so even if installed on your personal mobile device, it does not contain/install Bow Valley College software nor does the app allow access to your phone by BVC, though the app will register the device name with BVC to confirm the device is owned by a user for authentication purposes.
If mobile or internet service provider networks are down, the Microsoft Authenticator app allows authentication over alternate networks, providing resiliency in disaster scenarios.
This app is also strongly encouraged for personal use as it increases account protection. Additional details for personal use can be found at the Multifactor Authentication (MFA) for personal use.
Passwordless authentication is the process of verifying a software user’s identity with something other than a password, using methods like mobile devices for authentication.
The Passwordless sign-in process will only change how the Microsoft Authentication App notifies you. Instead of presenting a message for you to tap and approve, the App will present a number for you to verify on your phone and computer or laptop.
Please contact the Cyber Security Operations Center at csoc@bowvalleycollege.ca. An in-person appointment with the IT Service Desk will be required during this process.
Please contact the Cyber Security Operations Center for additional guidance at csoc@bowvalleycollege.ca.
Additional support resources
Drop-in Support (2nd floor Library) Monday – Friday 10am – 3pm.
