Setting up your account security and recovery options is an important step to making sure your account is secure and that you are able to get back into your account when you need to -- without having to contact the Computer Services Help Desk. Missouri State University uses two Microsoft services to secure your account and allow you to recover your access when needed, these are commonly referred to as MFA and SSPR.
Microsoft's multi-factor authentication (MFA) service provides an extra layer of security to user accounts by requiring both a password and a second method of authentication before a user gains access to their account. Additionally, Microsoft's self-service password reset (SSPR) and account unlock service allows users to verify their identity using different authentication methods in order to recover access to their accounts, either by resetting the account password or unlocking the account when there have been too many unsuccessful sign-in attempts. The instructions below will show you how to set up your authentication options to recover your account.
Step-by-Step Guide
How to Set Up Your Account Security and Recovery Options
- Navigate to https://missouristate.edu/Account and select Check or Update Security Information.
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Log in with your Office 365 Account. This is your BearPass Login followed by the Missouri State domain you were assigned after creating your account, and you will use your regular BearPass password:
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BearPassLogin@Login.MissouriState.edu (new faculty/staff/students after December 11, 2019)
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BearPassLogin@MissouriState.edu (faculty/staff with accounts prior to December 11, 2019)
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BearPassLogin@Live.MissouriState.edu (students with accounts prior to December 11, 2019)
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If you have never set up any account authentication options, you will see this prompt before you are taken to the recovery options setup:
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You will be taken to the Security info page. Select Add method to set up your first recovery option.
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Select the first recovery option that you want to set up.
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The Microsoft Authenticator app is the recommended option; you can download it from the app store on your mobile device. Click Next once you've downloaded the app. For more information about setting up and using this app, see How to Set Up the Microsoft Authenticator App.
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Once you've downloaded the Microsoft Authenticator app, click Next. Keep this webpage open.
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Within the Microsoft Authenticator app, select Add Account > Work or school account.
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The QR scanner will open, use it to capture the QR code that appears on the Keep your account secure page.
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Now that the app has been configured, the site will ask you to test it to verify that the app is connected to your account.
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It will send a push notification to your Microsoft Authenticator app; select Approve within the app to proceed.
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The Microsoft Authenticator app is configured and verified. Select Next to add your second verification option.
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A second recovery option is required. Select Add method again to choose your second option. A phone number is recommended, but you can also use a non-Missouri State email address. (Please note that an email address cannot be used for MFA, so you will need a phone number set up as well.)
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To set up the phone option, enter a phone number where you can be reliably contacted. A cell phone number is recommended, but you can use an office phone number if desired. However, if you need to reset your password or unlock your account, you will need to be in your office to use the phone verification option.
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After verifying your phone number, select Next.
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You have successfully set up two verification options. Click Done to finish signing in to your Office 365 account.
To request help related to this article, please see our Service Catalog.