Coming soon, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) will enable Duo multi-factor authentication for students, faculty, and staff for accessing the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS). This new requirement was recently approved by your Academic Technology Council to better protect personally identifiable information and other sensitive info like student grades.
Starting in 2016, SMU’s OIT began enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) for services like my.SMU, Office 365, and more. Duo MFA adds a second layer of security to online services. Verifying your identity using a second factor (like your phone or another mobile device) helps prevent anyone but you from using your SMU account to login, even if they know your password. Basically, it is how SMU services will know that you are who you say you are.
On July 1, 2020, the Canvas LMS will begin prompting you for Duo authentication when logging in. No action is needed on your part to activate or enroll. Simply use Duo as you already do for other SMU services. Also, we have extended the time Duo remembers you after you authenticate in order to make things easier during class time. Always make sure you have access to your smartphone or telephone that you have enrolled in Duo when logging into the Canvas LMS after July 1, 2020!
If you have any questions regarding this change, contact the IT Help Desk at help@smu.edu or 214-768-HELP (4357).
